Bradstone Brook

Bradstone Brook is a Georgian brick house in Chilworth, within Shalford parish just outside Guildford in Surrey. Built in 1791, it has been protected as a Grade II listed building since 1967. It is not a museum but a working office building, so it suits visitors who enjoy architecture and a quiet look at local heritage.

What is Bradstone Brook?

The house was commissioned by Thomas Gibson, a London merchant; the national heritage listing names no architect. The original block is three bays wide and five deep, with two storeys above a basement and an attic lit by three flat-roofed dormers on the entrance front. It is built of red and brown brick under a hipped roof of plain clay tiles.

What makes the architecture stand out?

Several details are worth looking for:

• a mid-18th-century doorcase that was brought from another house, with an Ionic half-column surround, open pediment and fanlight;
• glazing-bar sash windows, some set within arched recesses;
• a wrought-iron balcony on the first floor beside the music room;
• a square clock turret on the north-west corner, with a clock by Henry Triggs of Guildford;
• Coade stone pediments above the first-floor windows of the 1860s wing.

The building grew in stages: an extension to the left in the 1860s, another to the rear in 1870, and in the 1920s a music and billiard room, when a former coach house and clock tower were absorbed into the main house. Interiors from that period were restored in a "Georgian" manner and include a mid-18th-century staircase with barley-sugar balusters and detached Doric columns in the hall.

Is there anything else to see on the grounds?

A separately listed Grade II garden building stands in the grounds (listed 1992): an octagonal summerhouse from the late 18th century, probably around 1791. It has a shingled roof and an 18th-century timber fireplace inside.

Can you go inside?

The house is used as offices and does not offer regular visits. The best approach is to view it from the public road, Kings Road, and respect the private grounds. For access inside, contact the current occupier.

How do you get there?

Bradstone Brook lies between Chilworth and East Shalford, a few kilometres south-east of Guildford town centre. It is easy to reach by car or bike, and the surrounding lanes are pleasant for a walk past the parish's historic houses.

Frequently asked questions

When was Bradstone Brook built? The main house dates from 1791, with extensions in the 19th and 20th centuries.

Is it a protected building? Yes. The house and its summerhouse each have a separate Grade II entry on the National Heritage List for England.

Can I visit the interior? There are no regular tours because the building houses offices. It is best admired from outside.

Who built it? It was commissioned by Thomas Gibson, a London merchant.