Description

SP3003-3103 BAMPTON CHURCH CLOSE
(South-west side)
13/55 The Deanery
12/09/55 (Formerly listed as Bampton
Deanery)

GV II*
Former prebendal house, parts originally built for use as chapels; now house.
Basement of west wing dates back to late Cll/early C12, east wing to early/mid
C12; later medieval, C16 and C17 alterations; C19 extensions to west. Coursed
rubble limestone with some ashlar dressings; stone slate roofs with stone
copings to main gable ends; square ashlar chimney shafts. Complex plan with
wings to west, east and north. 2 storeys and basement, part with attic. East
wing has C13 buttresses to gable end, and C13 chamfered stone surrounds to small
blocked basement lights. Internally these lights have deep C12 splays with
dressed quoins. Rubble stone arches of other medieval windows, possibly C12,
survive high in north wall. Wing otherwise remodelled late C16/C17 with stone
mullion and transom windows of 4-6 lights, all with Tudor hoodmoulds. Internally
windows are hollow chamfered. North side has gabled chimney with 2 shafts,
gabled dormer to right, and 2-storey C20 porch with parapet in angle with north
wing. South side has large gable containing upper window, and small 3-light
window over recessed C20 door to left. West wing has C16/C17 gabled bay at east
end, and C19 extension in matching style to west. C16/C17 part has stone mullion
windows with Tudor hoodmoulds, the basement windows of 2-light with chamfered
mullions, the upper windows ovolo-moulded and transomed. Gabled dormer in east
return. Large stack with 5 shafts to centre of wing. North wing is probably
C16/C17 in origin but altered late C19/early C20, with C19 diagonal buttresses
to gable, restored stone mullion and transom windows, and hipped C20 roof
dormers. C19/C20 extensions in north-west angle, part roughcast, with windows
and door in Tudor style. Interior: east wall of basement in west wing retains
dressed stone jambs of 2 blocked windows with semi-circular heads, all of
C11/C12 date. To right are traces of jamb of third similar window. Basement of
east wing retains splayed jambs of 3 narrow C12 windows, jambs of a C12
cupboard, and 3 other narrow windows of later nedieval date. Both these
basements may have served as chapels or chapel undercroft when first built.
Jambs of a tall C13 lancet window survive high up in west wall of east wing.
Other interior features date from C16/C17 remodelling and later alterations.
Main rooms have moulded and stopped stone fireplaces with 4-cenred arches, some
with moulded cornices. Room over basement in west wing also has heavy close-set
ceiling joists on a massive richly moulded cross beam. Centre of house is
occupied by fine late C17 staircase arranged around a large open well. Stairs
have heavy twisted balusters, moulded handrail, altered string, and large knob
finials to newel posts. Cupboards below middle flight have doors with re-used
C17 moulded panels and butterfly hinges. East doorway to stair hall has
ovolo-moulded stone surround; west doorway has similar wooden surround with
moulded stops, and door with C17 moulded panels and strap hinges.
(John Blair: Bampton Deanery, unpublished report, 1986; Country Life, July 26th
1946)

Listing NGR: SP3117603312

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q17531717

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.

Recommended Books

• 
  Development and Design of Heritage Sensitive Sites: Strategies for Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas
• 
  Cornwall (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Old House Handbook: A Practical Guide to Care and Repair
• 
  Maintaining and Repairing Old Houses: A Guide to Conservation, Sustainability and Economy
• 
  Pioneers of Modern Design: From William Morris to Walter Gropius (Penguin Art & Architecture)
• 
  Kent: West and the Weald: The Buildings of England (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)