Fritwell Manor

FRITWELL NORTH STREET SP52NW (North side) 3/36 Fritwell Manor 26/11/51 GV II*

Manor house. 1619 for George Yorke, possibly with C16 elements, restored 1893 by Thomas Garner, again in 1910 and enlarged 1921 for Sir John Simon. Coursed squared limestone with ashlar dressings; Stonesfield-slate roof with stone-and-brick stacks. E plan with rear wing and later additions. 2 storeys plus attic. 5-window front of original range has 3 gabled projections, all with moulded gable parapets and projecting kneelers, but the central porch wing is narrower and taller, with carved finials to the parapets and an ashlar stack rising from the ridge of its roof. The moulded round-arched porch entrance is flanked by detached Corinthian columns, on panelled bases, supporting an entablature which breaks forward in 3 places; above a stone sundial is a 4-light window, and the return walls to the porch have openings containing heavy stone balusters. All bays have ovolo-moulded stone-mullioned windows to both floors, all with king mullions, and all of 6 lights except the first-floor window in bay 2 which has 4 lights. The 3 gables have 3-light windows with plain-chamfered mullions, and there are 2- and 3-light mullioned windows in some of the short return walls. The roof has gabled roof dormers over bays 2 and 4, and has stacks placed irregularly with diagonal brick shafts. A wing of 1921 set back to left is in similar style. The right end, returning to the original rear wing, has 2 large chimney projections, each with a pair of tall diagonal shafts, and has further ovolo-moulded mullioned windows. Rear of wing is double gabled and has plain stone-mullioned windows, enlarged and restored at ground floor. C20 wing has 2 similar gables to rear, but the infill section, parallel to the main range, has casements and is probably C18. Interior: Some of the painted panelling in the altered hall may be C17, as are the turned balusters of the rebuilt open-well staircase. The large stone fireplaces at ground floor are probably all restorations except for a large fireplace in the rear parlour. At first floor the principal room has a segmental plaster vault with Jacobean decoration, and the restored panelling includes strapwork panels and pilasters supporting an entablature. Formerly the home of the architect Thomas Garner. (VCH: Oxfordshire, Vol VI, p136; Buildings of England: Oxfordshire, p609)

Listing NGR: SP5240329479