Description

SU 37 SW RAMSBURY -

5/158 Littlecote House
22.8.66

GV I

Great house. Principally c1500 - 1570, 1590 - 1620 and c1810, but
incorporating some medieval work. Flint with limestone ashlar,
work of 1590 of brick. Stone slate roofs. Plan form rectangular
around elongated courtyard, and further, now open courtyard to
west. Medieval work on north side of open square containing chapel
and rooms to east. This block extended eastwards containing a
hall with long gallery over, and courtyard formed on this extension
by brick construction of new great hall with parlour in west wing
and stair to east of cross passage, forming symmetrical 'E'
elevation. C17 works consist of remodelling chapel and block at
its west end, a matching wing forming the open courtyard on the
south being rebuilt c1810. Windows generally 2, 3, and 4-light
stone mullioned and transomed with Tudor arches, doors also pointed
segmental with spandrels and hoodmoulds. Numerous diagonal shafted
brick chimneys. Simple gables to the 1590 door and wing
projections.
Interior: Great hall with oak panelling and fine screen to passage
with Ionic pilasters and 2 round arches, gallery above. Black and
white flag floor and ribbed plaster ceiling with pendants. C16
glass in windows. Long Gallery, 33.4m long with plaster frieze
of c1520. Dutch Room with painted ceiling and walls C16. Brick
Hall and other rooms with excellent C17 panelling. Chapel, most
important example of Cromwellian furnishings within medieval shell,
raised panelled pulpit with tester against east wall. Pews and
galleries with twisted balusters on attenuated columns. Open
roof. Jerusalem stair on solid newel in stair tower. Early C19
work includes remodelling of library by J. Robson of Marlborough in
1810 and Chinese paper decoration of Drawing room. The house of
early medieval origins came to the Darrell family in 1415, and to
Sir John Popham, later Lord Chief Justice of England in 1589 in
whose family it remained until 1922. Historical associations
include a courtship of Henry VIII and later royal visitors.
(Reference: Pevsner, Buildings of England, WILTSHIRE; House guide
by P. A. Spreadbury, 1979; Country Life 2, 9 and 16
December 1965).

Listing NGR: SU3044270381

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Littlecote House at Wikipedia
• Littlecote House official website
• Wikidata Q6652917

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

• 
  Oxfordshire: North and West (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Liverpool: Pevsner City Guide (Pevsner Architectural Guides: City Guides)
• 
  Hampshire: South (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Georgian Style and Design for Contemporary Living
• 
  Department for Communities Listed Historic Buildings of Northern Ireland: Information Guide for the 2nd Survey of Historic Buildings
• 
  Staffordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)