Dovecote Farmhouse

SOMERTON NORTH ASTON ROAD SP42NE (South side) 2/90 Dovecote Farmhouse GV II

Farmhouse. C17, early C18 and late C18/early C19. Limestone rubble, partly squared and coursed, with wooden lintels and some ashlar dressings; Welsh-slate roofs with stone-and-brick gable stacks. 3-unit plan, extended. 2 storeys and 2 storeys plus attic. The left range is earlier, probably part C17 and part early C18, and has irregularly-arranged casements of 2 and 3 lights plus 2 entrances, one with panelled double doors; the left half has been raised (probably late C18) and has a shallower roof with stone-based gable stacks. The right range, joining at an oblique angle, is of c.1800 and has a symmetrical 3-window front with leaded transomed casements, of 3 lights in the outer bays, but of 2 lights over the arched doorway which has a fanlight and a pilastered ashlar surround; all windows have ashlar flat arches, at ground floor with label moulds. The shallow-pitched roof has projecting boxed eaves and verges. Rear of earlier range has casements of 2, 3 and 4 lights, some with stop-chamfered lintels, but is partly obscured by 2 late-C18 hipped-roofed wings with flat-arched casements and projecting keyblocks, similar to those at the rear of the later range. A hipped-rooted C18 rubble range, forming a cross-wing to left of the earlier range, was formerly a dairy but is now part of the house. Interior: Earlier range has stop-chamfered beams, a large inglenook fireplace and C18 joinery including 2 cupboards with serpentine shelves; the later range has an open-string winder stair with mahogany handrail. (VCH: Oxfordshire, Vol VI, p291)

Listing NGR: SP4980828691