The pivotal position of the Oxford region in the geological and therefore building history of England is of fundamental importance to the study of traditional construction. Oxford occupies a central position on the ancient route between Northampton and Southampton and on the east - west road between London, The West Country, Wales and Ireland. For this reason, unusually for vernacular architecture, the buildings of the region were subject to a wide range of influences.
This book, the fruit of twenty years research, provides an account of vernacular architecture in the Oxford region from Anglo-Saxon times to the 19th century. It begins with a discussion of methods and procedures followed by a description of building materials, stone, brick, slate and thatch. This serves as an introduction to the heart of the book, eleven chapters dealing with surveys of cruck buildings, manorial and moated sites, town houses with particular emphasis on Abingdon, and houses in the countryside from farmhouses to cottages.
There are then chapters on fire hazards, public houses and public buildings. Several appendices are devoted to wall paintings, ferramenta, apotropaic marks, carpentry details, secrets under the floorboards, fireplaces, staircases and windows. The book is richly and profusely illustrated with over 500 illustrations, photographs, maps, and a particular strength, a large number of drawings of architectural details and sketch perspectives.
Introduction to the Oxford Region
Acknowledgements
Chapter 1. Methods and Procedures
Chapter 2. Building Materials
Stone
Brick
Timber
Roofing Materials
Thatch
Chapter 3. Primitive Houses
Anglo Saxon houses at Yarnton
The Thatched Cottage, Harwell
Squatters Houses
Chapter 4. Cruck Buildings
Introduction
Letcombe Bassett Barn
57 Grove Street, Wantage
Postlip Barn
Swalcliffe Barn
Vine Cottage Stanford in the Vale
Church Enstone Barn
32 Manor Road, South Hinksey
The Old Weir House, Horton cum Studley
Chapter 5. Manorial Buildings, Moated Houses
Introduction
Cogges Manor Farm
Smalls House, Mackney. Brightwell cum Sotwell
Gaunt House Standlake
Lyford Grange
Attington House, Tetsworth
Wingfield House, Wiltshire
Denchworth Manor
Manor House, Dorchester on Thames
Manor Farmhouse, Woodstock
South Leigh Church Farmhouse
Caswell Farm
Shaw House, Newbury
Worton House
Chapter 6. Manorial Buildings
Ashbury Manor
Ashbury Great Barn
Somerset connection
Chapter 7. Town Houses
Introduction
Priory Church Street, Wantage
33/5 Sheep Street, Burford
9/10 Market Place, Wantage
Kettell Hall, Trinity College, Oxford
84 St Aldates, Oxford
5/7 Newbury Street, Whitchurch Hants
Lords Farm, Eynsham
50 Church Street, Chesham
Chapter 8. Abingdon
Introduction
No. 1 High Street
No. 8 Market Place
No.s 2/3 High Street
No. 12 High Street
No. 13 High Street
Ock Lea House, Ock Street
Chapter 9. Houses in the Countryside
Introduction
Farm Houses
3 Mill Road, Marcham
Cowfields Farm, Rotherfield Greys
Radcot Bridge Farm
Manor Farm, Fernham
Church Farm, Goosey
Gilbourne’s Farm, Drayton
Bottom House Farm, Goring Heath
Chiswell Farm, Cumnor
Village Houses
81 Causeway Steventon
Cross Trees, Sutton Courteney
Checkendon Rectory
Sundial House, Great Haseley
Tallis House, Great Milton
Cottages
Mayfield Cottage Nettlebed
The Cottage, The Green, Grove
2/3 Church Street Beckley
Ffawyddog House, High Street Beckley
2/3 Otmoor Lane, Beckley
Chapter 10. Farm Buildings
Introduction
Princes Manor, Haswell
The Annexe, Little Wittenham Manor
Caswell Farm, Curbridge
Kennett Stables, East Ilsley Berkshire
Rangers Lodge, Shotover
Cartshed Beedon, Berkshire
Manor Farm, Marsh Baldon
Top Barn, Walcot
Kingstanding Farm, Wychwood
Venn Mill, Garford
Manor Farm, Sutton Courtney
Malthouse Barn, Hamptsed Norris
Wheatley Windmill
Chapter 11. Fire Hazards
Introduction
No.s 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 Church Street Stanford in the Vale
Phiherds Manor, East Hanney
Chapter 12. Public Houses
Introduction
Red Lion Faringdon
The Lamb, Little Milton
Star Inn, East Ilsley
Chastleton Brewhouse
The Grapes High Street, Abingdon
Chapter 13. Public Buildings
Introduction
The Tolsey, Burford
Christ’s Hospital Long Alley almshouses, Abingdon
Christ’s Hospital Brick Alley almshouses, Abingdon
The Courthouse, Thame
