Bicester House

BICESTER KINGS END SP5822N, SP5822S (North side) 2/40, 3/40 Bicester House 31/01/52

GV II

Manor house. Early C18 incorporating C17 elements, enlarged and remodelled c.l780, and altered c.l820. Coursed squared limestone with ashlar dressings; Welsh-slate roofs with stone stacks. Double-depth plan. 2 storeys and 3 storeys. Symmetrical 5-window 2-storey entrance front is probably mostly early C18, and has stone-architraved 12-pane sashes and a central doorway, now sheltered by a later stone Doric porch. The arched head of the central first-floor window, the stone cornice, and the balustraded parapet are alterations, probably of c.l780; at the same time the storeyband was reduced and a second band removed, suggesting the former existence of a third storey. Returning to right, the 8-window garden front (originally of c.1780) with matching cornice and parapet, similar but taller windows and a first-floor sill band, breaks back in the 2 left bays which have blind windows; 2 balancing bays to right were destroyed c.1820. The main section has a large early-C19 tripartite sash below a segmental arch in the middle 2 bays, replacing the former main entrance and porch, and in place of the 2 bays to left is a full-height C19 canted section containing 3 windows at each floor. The double-span roof is hipped as it returns around the entrance range. The range returning to left of the entrance front has 3 storeys of sashes, arranged irregularly, but appears to contain little of the late-C17 front known from an engraving; the double-gabled rear wall, however, retains one cross window. Interior: entrance range has 3 rooms with mid-C18 fielded panelling and dentil cornices; one has a contemporary corner cupboard, with arched panelled door and serpentine display shelves, and also has a late-C18 fireplace in Adam style with arabesques, festoons and an oxhead in the carved frieze; the other 2 panelled rooms have early C18 marble fireplaces with serpentine heads and keyblocks, one with fluted keyblock, the other with fluted pilasters echoed in the remains of a contemporary pilastered overmantel incorporated into the later panelling. 2-storey entrance hall has a small early/mid C18 japanned fireplace, and an early-C19 cantilevered oak stair with C20 balustrade. Earlier range retains some C17 beams, one with ogee moulding. Garden range has large high rooms with early-C19 fireplaces, ceilings and joinery. The house is on the site of the manor house of the Nuns of Markyate; John Coker purchased the property in 15B4 and it remained the home of the Coker family until 1978. (V.C.H.: Oxfordshire, Vol.VI, p.20; Buildings of England: Oxfordshire, p.456).

Listing NGR: SP5814022499