Description

SP51SE
2/175
18/07/63

STANTON ST. JOHN
WOODPERRY
Woodperry House and The Old Brewhouse with entrance screen
(formerly listed as Woodperry House with garden and entrance gates and screens)

GV
I

Country house. 1728-31, for John Morse by William King, mason, possibly to
designs by William Townesend of Oxford; extended 1880 by F. Cobb of Oxford.
Limestone ashlar; Welsh-slate and old plain-tile roofs, Double-depth plan with
linked pavilions. 2 storeys plus attics and semi-basement. 5-window front, with
rusticated clasping pilasters, storey-bands and plain segmental-headed
architraves, breaks forward in the centre bays below a heavy triangular
pediment, containing a blind window, which is flanked by a parapet with recessed
panels. The central doorway, with 8-panel double-leaf doors, has a stone
pedimented canopy on Tuscan columns, added later, and a broad flight of steps.
Slate hipped roof has pedimented roof dormers and stone stacks flanking a
central lead flat. Pedimented flanking 3-bay wings of 1880 in similar style, are
recessed behind the 5-arched single-storey quadrants which have linked imposts
and projecting keyblocks below a band and plain parapet. Right quadrant remains
an open loggia and has similar blind arcading on its rear wall, and a
cantilevered stone stair with early C18 wrought-iron balustrade. 5-window
pavilions, of one storey plus attics, facing each other across the entrance
court, have plain openings with corresponding recessed panels in the parapets;
tiled hipped roofs each have 3 pedimented roof dormers and the stables (to
right) have a wooden cupola with a clock. The early C18 wrought-iron entrance
screen, echoing the form of the quadrants and completing the enclosure of the
court, has central segmental-headed gates with scroll and repousse work, of
excellent quality in the flanking pilasters and in the elaborate overthrow which
includes Morse's monogram. The railings, returning to the pavilions, sit on a
low ashlar wall and are punctuated by further scrollwork pilasters. The rear of
the main block is identical to the front, except for the plain Tuscan doorcase;
the flanking C19 wings are only slightly recessed and break forward markedly in
the pedimented outer bays. Interior: The hall to left, which is separated from
the entrance hall by a triple-arched screen, is elaborately decorated with
fluted Ionic pilasters on fielded panelling supporting a deep entablature with
pulvinated oak-leaf frieze and modillion cornice; the contemporary marble
fireplace has a carved overmantel (probably mid C18) with consoles supporting a
framed oil painting of Westminster Abbey dated 1748; 2 elaborate doorcases have
eared architraves and segmental pediments. The ceiling of the entrance hall and
the soffit of the stair rising in it are even more richly carved with elaborate
geometrical panelling. The stair has a ramped and wreathed handrail, 3 carved
and fluted balusters per tread, and the landings are inlaid with stars; the
panelled walls have carved guilloche ornament. Of the former drawing room, now
kitchen, the enriched egg-and-dart window architraves and carved doorcase
survive; the panelling is now at Ditchley Park. Other rooms have dentil cornices
and original marble fireplaces, and the fielded panelling extends even to the
attics. The joiner was Thomas Fawsett. Stable wing contains contemporary stair,
with turned balusters, and fielded panelling. Interior of left pavilion (The Old
Brewhouse), now a separate dwelling, was not inspected.
(J. Cornforth, Country Life, Vol,CXXIX, pp.18-21 and 66-9; Buildings of England:
Oxfordshire, pp.854-5).

Listing NGR: SP5755110444

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Woodperry House at Wikipedia
• Wikidata Q8033132

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

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