Donhead House is a Grade II-listed manor house nestled in the rolling woodlands of southern Wiltshire, near the Dorset border. Originally built as a rectory in the early 18th century in the Queen Anne style, the house underwent substantial alterations in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. A comprehensive renovation was needed to resolve the building’s architectural pluralism and address its spatial disjointedness, restoring cohesion and a natural elegance to the property while respecting its historical character.
Working to create a country retreat that would function for modern family and social life, P. Joseph transformed the circulation within the house, rearranging the ground and first floors along an enfilade and uniting the different parts into a natural, free-flowing layout. The main staircase was moved and extended, creating an intuitive vertical circulation at the house’s centre. On the ground floor, communication between the interior spaces and the outside was prioritised, recovering the original rectory’s intimate connection to the landscaped gardens and parkland beyond.
The residence’s historical fabric was carefully restored, lending a calm unity to the space and grounding the warm, contemporary interiors. Traditional joinery and plasterwork by skilled artisans honour the building’s heritage, while new interior architecture, materials and fittings enhance its proportions and detailing. Furniture, art and lighting from many periods work together to create living spaces which will effortlessly evolve over time.
