Fletcher'S House (Oxfordshire County Museum)

WOODSTOCK PARK STREET SP4416NW (North side) 9/207 Fletcher's House (Oxfordshire 18/10/49 County Museum) (Formerly listed as Fletcher's House adjoining Barclay's Bank on East) GV II House, now museum. 1613/14 for Thomas Brown, alderman; extended to right and refronted c.1795 for Thomas Walker. Coursed limestone rubble; stone ashlar to right extension; stucco front. Gabled stone slate roof; brick end stacks. Double-depth plan. 3 storeys; 4-window range. To left of centre are 2 doorways. with overlights set in moulded stone architraves, one with C20 window and the other with 6-panelled door. All windows set in similar moulded stone architraves: tripartite sashes with glazing bars, and mid C19 three-pane sashes to left of door and to attic. Moulded stone cornice beneath parapet. Early C19 right-side wall, of 3-window range, has 6-pane sashes set in similar architraves, and semi-circular arched architraves to sash and C20 door with decorative fanlight below. Early C19 tripartite sash to rear right. Triple-gabled rear wall of C17 building has timber lintels over 6- and 8-pane sashes, and renewed 3-light cross window to attic. Interior: stone flag floors and early C19 panelled doors. Early C19 block to right has dog-leg with landing staircase with cast-iron balusters, wreathed handrail and stone treads; rooms have early C19 plaster friezes; fine fireplace to rear, in Adam style with Ionic engaged columns; room above has another fine fireplace with side paterae and reeded jambs. Early C17 building: chamfered and stop-chamfered beams, ogee-stopped on first floor; ground-floor ogee-moulded beams with ogee stops; early C19 dog-leg with landing staircase to rear, with stick balusters; from first floor to attic stair-well staircase is enclosed by timber-framed partitions and houses C17 dog-leg with landing staircase, which has heavy turned balusters set on closed string and newel posts with large ball finials; part of collar-truss roof with butt purlins survives. A drawing of 1777 shows that the C17 house was gabled to the front. The Duke of Marlborough probably gave the house to Thomas Walker, his auditor and Woodstock town clerk. (Buildings of England: Oxfordshire: p868; Information from VCH)

Listing NGR: SP4437616771