North Aston Manor

SP42NE NORTH ASTON SOMERTON ROAD (South side) 5/279 North Aston Manor 08/12/55 II Manor house. Probably C15, altered and re-modelled C17, and extended early C18, C19 and 1911. Partly-coursed limestone rubble witn some wooden lintels and some ashlar dressings; Stonesfield-slate roofs with stone-and-brick stacks. Main range plus cross-wings, probably deriving from a hall house. 2 storeys. Garden front has a recessed central section with 3 renewed cross-windows at ground floor and large C20 casements above; to right, in the angle with the cross-wing, are 2 stair projections with casements and a sash window. Left cross wing is probably C17 or earlier and has a stone-architraved window above a 3-light casement. C18 right cross-wing is taller and has an ashlar storeyband and 12-pane sashes with plain stone architraves and projecting keyblocks, both wings have hipped roofs and stone-based lateral stacks, the 2 to left with large projections and some rebuilt diagonal shafts. Rear of left wing is wider and has a pair of windows with moulded keyblock surrounds; the return to the central range has a plinth and buttress and may be medieval. Adjoining it, a fine C15 doorway in the main range has a 4-centre-arched surround with continuous wave mouldings below a hood mould. Right side of C18 wing has a 3-window arrangement of stone-architraved sashes, those at ground floor with thick glazing bars; an inserted doorway, now the main entrance, replicates the medieval door. To rear of the right wing is a long range of 1911. Interior: central range has a 4-centre-arched chamfered stone doorway with a hood mould, and has roof trusses with low cambered collars which may be medieval. Left range has very thick walls, and includes a wide segmental-arched stone fireplace with impost blocks and keyblock, above which is some bolection-mould panelling. (Buildings of England: Oxfordshire: p719; VCH: Oxfordshire: Vol XI, p11)

Listing NGR: SP4795829096