Original features

Grove House, a Grade II listed building that forms part of Roehampton University's Froebel College, stands on the site of Roehampton Great House.

This was built under Charles I, in about 1625, for Sir Richard Weston, Lord High Treasurer of England. It later changed hands before being demolished in about 1785.

Replacing it with Grove House (originally Roehampton Grove) in 1792, the prominent architect James Wyatt encased some of the original structure - foundations are still visible in the cellar - to create an unusually shaped building.

He also used recovered brick and rubble to form the new terrace.

Faced in stucco, Grove House retains much of its Georgian elegance. A circular plaque above the entrance features a panel of scroll work with flanking festoons in Coade stone, a ceramic material made to a secret formula to resemble natural stone.

Although it once included a billiard room, a breakfast parlour, a conservatory, an aviary and a large drawing room hung with tapestries, Grove House is now home to the university executive board, including the office of the vice-chancellor.

Landscaped gardens, complete with lily pond, fake bridge, grotto and mausoleum, stretch down to an artificial lake.

Please send any suggestions for this architectural series to: matthew.reisz@tsleducation.com.