Building Role

The primary role of the main building is to act as a residence and entertainment or meeting venue. The main building can be used independently of the other wings (which can remain moth-balled) and smaller parts of the main building can be used for smaller groups.

Additionally the main building footprint also contains all the catering facilities and there is considerable attic storage space.

A Brief Overview for Residents and Visitors

As a guest or resident we typically enter the whole New Pemberley complex through the main doors. These are protected from the weather by a substantial porch, sufficiently wide (3.9m) for a car or buggy. Once through the doors we have a cloak and boot room on the left and the manager’s office to the right.

Ahead of us is the grand staircase leading to up to bedrooms floor, with a passenger elevator behind it, also leading to the bedroom level. Beyond both of these is the orangery, extending over two floors and having extensive windows. The central staircase is lit from above by large clerestory windows set into a drum above the attic level.

In general, visitors will turn to the left to use the library, reception and dining rooms. Permanent residents will turn right for the more family orientated accommodation. This include less formal rooms, including a separate stand-alone apartment for one or two people and a large open plan lounge / diner with a family kitchen. The majority of rooms on the south side have doors to the patio and garden areas. All rooms have large doors from the main corridor but also smaller doors for quick access to adjacent rooms.

Taking the main staircase we find 17 bedrooms, a sitting room and a reading room with balcony. Each bedroom can be used individually but they can be combined in various ways to support larger groups. All rooms interconnect with at least one other but also those on the north west and north east sides all cross-connect to provide suites allowing groups of up 10-12 to share space; with the north west suite having a separate sitting room.

Additionally the large family room in the south west corner has a private staircase connection to the lounge / dining area below it, providing a complete duplex apartment for a large family if required.

Staff and Other Facilities

In addition to the facilities manager’s office (which doubles as private accommodation for the same) there are extensive, but discreet staff facilities. The basement will be described in detail elsewhere but contains a major catering facility as well as underground links to the other wings, sufficient for buggies and large items as well as personnel.

There are two enclosed staircases for staff use that reach all floors, along with a dedicated goods life, again reaching all floors.

The catering area is connected by two “dumb waiters” to a private preparation area adjacent to the dining and breakfast rooms. One of these dumb waiters also extends to the bedroom level where it emerges into a smaller private area.

There is a laundry chute extending from the bedroom level down into the basement level – laundry can also be inserted at the ground floor level.

The extensive attics can be accessed by either of the staff stair cases or the goods lift. For now all the space is set aside for storage but roof lights and dormer windows could be added if more living space is required.

Detailed Descriptions

Each level is described in greater detail, including floor plans in the following pages:

Elevations and Circulation Plans

Front Elevation