Description

COWLEY COWLEY VILLAGE
SO 9614

10/82 Cowley Manor

4.7.60

GV II

Country house. A house was built on the site by Henry Brett in
1695, the footings and possibly some of the outer walls of this
house may survive beneath the Italianate house built for James
Hutchinson to the designs of G. Somers Clarke c1855. In the late
1890s Sir James Horlick, founder of the Malted Milk Co., extended
the main body by 6 facsimile bays to the west and enlarged the
service wing. Rectangular main body with large service wing at the
north west corner. Single-storey, 2 and 3 storeys. Entrance
front: 11 bays, with a projecting porch, created c1930, with 6-
panelled door within a lugged surround with a triple keystone at
the centre of the mid C19 range. Two-bay colonnade with Tuscan
columns and balustraded parapet either side of the porch; the line
of the colonnade and parapet, is continued by one bay to the left
and by 6 bays to the right, these bays and those at the rear of the
colonnade are lit by 4-pane sashes. Four-pane sashes with moulded
hoods to the first floor, similar 4-pane sashes to the second
floor; balustraded parapet with a modillion cornice. Service wing
projects forwards right and is lit by 2, 4 and 12-pane sashes;
bands between the floors; modillion cornice and balustraded
parapet. East gable end of the main body overlooking the
churchyard: single-storey extension with paired pilasters at
corners, far left, lit by three round-headed sash windows with
horns; similar round-headed window set back to the right. Round-
headed window with leaded panes, keystone and imposts to the first
floor. South front of the main body: 11 bays with a covered
colonnade at the front continued by one bay to the right and by 4
bays to the left: C20 double glass doors within round-headed
surrounds with spandrels with either lion or griffin decoration
flanked by Ionic pilasters. The doorway at the far right-hand end
is flanked by single lights and round-headed niches with an oval
panel decorated with either flowers or game; similar arrangement
at the far left end and four bays in from the left; balustrade
formerly with urns at intervals. Four-pane sashes with moulded
lugged surrounds with panelled frieze with either griffin or lion
motifs and triangular pediments. Four-pane sashes with lugged
surrounds to the second floor. Parapet with modillion cornice with
guilloche decoration and decorated string. Hipped roofs with gable
end and axial stacks with segmental flue divisions.
Interior: the entrance hall has been redesigned and most of the
fireplaces, decorative plasterwork ceilings and panelling,
introduced by R.A. Briggs for Sir James Horlick in the late C19,
have been removed. The ballroom dating from the same period has
been demolished. The mid C18 style staircase with iron twist,
column on vase and barleytwist balusters date from c1928. The
library retains its round-headed built-in shelf alcoves. The
dining room is panelled with fluted Ionic pilasters at intervals.
Late C19 fielded panelling to the corridors. The former drawing
room, now known as the ballroom, together with a small adjoining
room survive substantially intact. These rooms have tall
rectangular sunken panelling with smaller panels at the top and
bottom with burning torches, theatrical masks; roses, sheathed
arrows or musical instruments carved in relief and a black and
white marble fireplace. One upstairs bedroom retains fielded
panelling and a bolection moulded marble fireplace. A glass-walled
bathroom installed by Elwes and Co. of London c1937 remains intact
but was not inspected at the time of the resurvey, January 1987.
(David Verey, The Buildings of England, The Cotswolds; V.C.H.
Glos, Vol VII, p194; Notes for forthcoming book by N. Kingsley
n.d.)

Listing NGR: SO9646314660

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Cowley Manor official website
• Wikidata Q26624359

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

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  The green guide for historic buildings: how to improve the environmental performance of listed and historic buildings
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  Drawing up a Local Listed Building Consent Order: Historic England Advice Note 6
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  Department for Communities Listed Historic Buildings of Northern Ireland: Information Guide for the 2nd Survey of Historic Buildings
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  Hampshire: Winchester and the North (The Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
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  London 1: The City of London: City of London v. 1 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
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