Caswell House, Caswell Farmhouse And Attached Outbuilding

CURBRIDGE CASWELL SP3208 15/67 Caswell House, Caswell 12/09/55 Farmhouse and attached outbuilding (Formerly listed as Caswell House and Barns)

GV II*

House, now two dwellings. c.1500, with C17 alterations, and early C19 range to centre. Early C19 range of squared and coursed limestone; hipped Welsh slate roof; brick end stacks. L-plan with late C15 wing extending to rear left. Early C19 block of 2 storeys; symmetrical 3-window range. Flat stone arches over plank door with Gothic-style porch, tripartite sashes and first-floor 6-pane sashes. Gable ends of late C15 wings flank front: each of 2-window range with early C19 sashes, and with hood moulds over hollow-chamfered pointed- and round-arched late C15 lights. Short wing to right of 2 bays and of uncoursed limestone rubble with gabled stone slate roof. Long wing to left of similar materials with ashlar end stack: right side wall has 2- and 3-light leaded casements; early C19 6-panelled door with overlight, set in early C19 stone porch, enters C17 two-storey gabled porch which adjoins front range; and a C17/C18 outshut next to C19 plank door set in C17 chamfered segmental-arched stone surround. Left side wall of left wing: 2-storey projecting central bay with hipped roof has timber lintel over doorway with late C16/C17 moulded stone jambs to left, and late C15 two-light hollow-chamfered round-arched window to right; to right is late C15 offset buttress, and one 4-light and 4 two-light similar late C15 windows. Interior: roof of right wing not inspected. Left wing has chamfered ground-floor beams, and inserted moulded beam in first-floor room to front; early C17 panelling in closet over porch; late C15 three-light hollow-chamfered stone-mullioned window in right side wall; 7-bay roof has late C15 scissor truss of heavy scantling to front, and collar trusses to rear, all with butt purlins and arched windbraces. Subsidiary features: outbuilding to left of front has late C15 stone wall with blocked 4-centred doorway and quatrefoil light. Occupies a medieval moated site. The scissor truss is similar to that of c.1480 at The Old Rectory, Standlake (q.v.). In the early C17, Caswell Farm was the mansion of Sir Francis Wenman who was a friend of Lucius Lord Falkland of Great Tew. (J. Skelton, Antiquities of Oxfordshire, 1823, fol.12V; Buildings of England: Oxfordshire, p.567).

Listing NGR: SP3205808234