Kirtlington Park

Kirtlington Park is a country house dating from 1742 to 1762, designed by William Smith and John Sanderson for Sir James Dashwood. Interior decoration was completed in the mid-19th century. Constructed from limestone ashlar, the house comprises a double-depth central block connected to square pavilions by low corridors that turn through ninety degrees. The design is in the Palladian style. The central block features nine bays by six windows, with an engaged tetrastyle Ionic portico. The portico has a richly carved triangular pediment, flanked by a balustraded parapet and a modillion cornice. The windows on the piano nobile have alternating segmental and triangular pediments above tall 15-pane sashes, while the second-floor windows have 12-pane sashes. A wide, balustraded double staircase ascends above a rusticated basement. At the rear, the piano nobile windows have triple-stepped keyblocks below floating cornices, with the central window featuring a pilastered surround supporting a Gibbsian arch. The central bays project forward below a second triangular pediment and above a double staircase of a different configuration. The connecting corridors contain pedimented doorways and niches. The pavilions, with five bays by five windows, also have pediments over the middle three bays, and their roofs are topped with cupolas. The interior, which was not inspected, is noted for its rich Palladian decoration in the hall and the Rococo interior of the library (the stucco work is attributed to Roberts of Oxford). The Monkey Room has painted decoration by J.F. Clermont. The Rococo decoration of the dining room was removed in 1931 and taken to New York. The house is situated within a landscaped park designed by Capability Brown.