St Mary'S Vicarage

St Mary's Vicarage is a house, likely dating from circa 1876, designed by Clapton Rolfe. It is constructed of random rubble sandstone with limestone dressings, brick stacks, and tiled gable-end roofs. The house is based on an irregular T-shaped plan with a central stair, extending over two storeys plus attic, and featuring a single-storeyed service wing within the northeast angle. The design is asymmetrical, with disciplined proportions present throughout.

The west-facing entrance front has three unequal bays. The central bay incorporates a recessed entrance with a depressed moulded arch under an emphatic hood-mould, and a three-light traceried window above, set beneath a gabled section with barge-boarding. This is positioned flush with a tall stack, which slightly projects and shows set-offs on its right side, with stone up to the first floor sill level and brick shafts above. A canted bay window with a parapet occupies the left-hand side, while blank walling is present on the right. The south-facing garden front is composed of two elements: the gable end of the entrance range, featuring a two-light window in the gable wall and a seven-light window under a hood-mould (with two lights deliberately left blank) on the first floor, alongside a canted bay with a parapet, and a modified garden door to the right. The side elevation of the rear range has low-set eaves, allowing for a canted bay window with a parapet. The east-facing rear elevation contains a large gabled wing, with a single-light window to the gable wall, a seven-light window under a hood-mould (one light blank) to the first floor, and the ground floor partly obscured by a contemporary single-storeyed stable range. A service wing to the north projects, featuring a five-light north window. An internal porch is located in the angle between the main range and the entrance range, with external arched-braces, brick internal walls, a planked door with strap hinges and side light. The gable end of the main range has a three-light window to the gable wall, a seven-light window (four lights blank) to the first floor, and a five-light window to the ground floor (two lights blank), all under hood moulds. Windows throughout feature stone mullions. Ridge stacks have shaped shafts and caps, some retaining pots.

The interior remains largely intact, although fireplaces have been removed. The internal porch displays a good planked door with decorative hinges, lock, and bolts, along with traceried side lights. Internal doors are mainly panelled, with some being half-glazed under canted heads set within pointed arches. The hall features a tripartite arched screen, while the dog-leg staircase has a moulded rail and turned urn-balusters. A tiled floor is present; flags are found in the service areas, which retain their original plan form. The house is noted for its carefully composed massing, varied elevations, good and unusual detailing such as the blind window lights, and good use of materials. It constitutes a significant work by Clapton Rolfe, an Oxfordshire architect of notable importance and originality, who also designed the first stage of the rebuilding of the adjacent St Mary's church.