Hanwell Castle

Hanwell Castle is a country house, now divided into three dwellings. It represents the remains of a former great house, with the south-west tower and the south range being the most substantial surviving parts of a 2-storey house originally built around a courtyard, with a main entrance on the west side. Construction began around 1498 for William Cope, who served as cofferer to Henry VII. The majority of the house was demolished in the 18th century, with an east wing and restorations added around 1903.

The left part comprises a complex range incorporating 15th, 19th, and 20th-century elements. It is constructed of squared coursed ironstone. The roof is steeply pitched, covered with stone slate laid to diminishing courses, and features stone and brick ridge stacks. The building follows a double-depth plan. The front elevation has a 2-window range, including a porch with a plank door and a 4-centred wood head. The windows are largely 20th-century additions with wood lintels. The rear of the building has renewed Tudor windows.

The central south range is long and rectangular, built of diaper patterned blue and red brick with limestone dressings. It has a steeply pitched stone slate roof laid to diminishing courses and brick ridge and end stacks. The range is two storeys high with a 5-window range. A gabled porch provides access via a 4-centred doorway. The ground floor has 20th-century windows with wood lintels, while the first floor features 2-, 3-, and 4-light windows dating back to the 15th and 16th centuries; some are fitted with King mullions, and there is an oriel window.

The tower on the right is constructed of red brick with diaper patterns in blue brick and ironstone quoins, with three storeys and two corner turrets. Crenellated parapets top the structure. The south side of the tower has a 4-light 15th-/16th-century transomed window on the ground floor.

The interior was not inspected, but the south range is noted for having two large kitchen fireplaces placed back to back, plain moulded stone doorways, and late marble fireplaces. The tower contains contemporary stone fireplaces on the upper floors, along with a newel stair in the north-west turret. Historical records indicate that James I visited the castle in 1605, 1612, and 1624; Leland’s writings from around 1540 described the castle as a pleasant and gallant house. It represents the earliest example of 15th-century brickwork in north Oxfordshire. The 20th-century addition on the east side is considered to be of little architectural significance. Historical documents, photographic records, and plans are held by the National Monuments Record.