Hardwick House

This list entry was subject to a Minor Amendment on 29/04/2020

SP44SE 2/200

BANBURY Hardwick SOUTHAM ROAD (East side) Hardwick House

(formerly listed as Hardwick Farmhouse)

09/04/52

II* Farmhouse. Probably C16, with later alterations and extensions. Main front: stuccoed ironstone, steeply pitched red tile roof, brick ridge and end stacks including a massive central stack on a stone base, stone plinth. E-plan.

Two storeys plus attic; five-window; range. Entrance to left has four-centred arched stone doorway with chamfered jambs and soffit. Plank door with wrought-iron strap-hinges and C20 porch. Garage opening to left. To right: a two-light stone-mullioned window with four-centred heads and incised spandrel decoration; a partly blocked similar window; a blocked doorway. First floor has three and five-light wood-mullioned windows and three C20 windows. Two, three-light roof dormers with raking roofs.

Right end: central doorway has four-panelled door, overlight and wooden doorcase with hood. Two two-light stone-mullioned windows with four-centred arched heads to left. A four-light window with cambered head to right. First floor has three and four-light wood-mullioned and transomed windows. Mullions are ovolo in section. Left end: brick and ironstone. Single storey extensions have hipped or catslide slate roof. Two-storey gabled projection to far left.

Rear: two-storey wings to left and right with a two-storey rectangular ironstone projection, and two-storey brick staircase projection in between. A three-light stone-mullioned window with four-centred arched heads and two and three-light casements. Some windows have wrought iron casement fasteners.

Interior: cellar with brick lining and stone flat floor with runnel. Stone flag floors. Massive, chamfered beams. Four-centred arched doorways. Plank doors. Wide floorboards in attics. Winder staircases. Large inglenook fireplace now mostly concealed behind later wall and cupboard in ground floor room to right of main entrance. Four-bay collar truss roof with butt purlins and wind braces, pegged at the apex.

Reputed to incorporate early C16 doorways and windows from an earlier manor house situated to the north of the present farmhouse. From C15 to C17 the Hardwick estate was held by members of the Cope family, prominent in local and national affairs.