Ufton Court

Ufton Court is a large and important timber-framed house, now a residential centre, located in Upton Nervet. The building dates from the late 15th century, with major phases of construction around 1568, alterations and partial refacing in the late 17th century, further changes in the 18th century, and comprehensive restoration around 1838 with some later modifications.

The house is constructed with rendered timber frame, red brick refacing to the rear, some brick additions, and an old tile roof arranged in 2 ranges to the left. It forms a large irregular E-plan with a central projecting gabled 2-storey porch and flanking projecting gabled wings, rising to 2½ storeys overall.

The entrance front features jettied floors on each level with moulded bressumers and brackets, and gabled eaves dormers containing 3-light leaded casements with barge boards. Lead water spouts between the dormers are flanged and inscribed with the date 1664 and the initials FP. A large ridge stack stands off-centre to the left with 3 shafts and pilaster shafting. Two further ridge stacks are positioned behind, off-centre to the left, each with 2 shafts. Additional stacks include one off-centre to the right at the rear, an end stack to the left, and 3 end stacks to the right, all featuring oversailing tops.

The front elevation displays a 1:9:1 window arrangement with 4 window return fronts. The windows are leaded casements, with oriels on the first floor fitted with carved brackets and triangular pediments. The porch is embellished with paired carved Ionic pilasters flanking the entrance, supporting carved brackets and a carved frieze with arched radial panels. The porch has open sides with turned balusters, an interior with side benches and moulded beams, and a set back 4-centred doorway with carved spandrels and a large boarded door. A central 3-panelled door appears in the left-hand return front and a 6-panelled door in the right-hand return front, both with moulded architraves.

The garden front displays a moulded brick eaves cornice carried across the gabled ends with a pent roof. Windows here are segmental-headed leaded casements. The main elements visible from this aspect include a projecting 2-bay gabled wing to the left; a central 3-bay hall with large cross windows and a half-glazed door to the right, fitted with a doorcase of moulded architrave, fielded panel above, and cut brackets supporting a triangular pediment; and a 5-bay block to the right with gables over a pair of slightly projecting end bays and cross windows.

The interior is exceptionally rich, containing fittings spanning from the 15th to the 19th centuries. Key features include a screens passage with two 4-centred arched doorways and boarded doors; an open hall with 18th-century panelling, fireplace, coved plaster ceiling with pendants, and a 19th-century west gallery. Ground floor rooms to the right contain 18th-century panelling, fireplaces, and moulded plaster ceilings. A 16th-century square well 3-flight staircase is positioned to the left of the screens passage, featuring square newels, turned balusters, and a moulded handrail. A former 3-bay kitchen displays an arch braced collar roof.

The first floor room to the left contains an inlaid 17th-century fireplace overmantel consisting of 3 Ionic columns with arched panels between. The left-hand wing houses a first floor oratory with painted wooden panelling and Morris-like wall painting depicting magpies and other motifs in the vestibule. The house contains several ingeniously concealed priest holes located in various positions, mainly adjacent to the stacks. Other noteworthy internal fittings throughout include panelling, moulded beams, doors, fireplaces, and 3 additional staircases.

This is one of the largest and most important timber-framed houses in the county.