Description

CORNBURY AND WYCHWOOD CORNBURY PARK
SP31NW, SP3518
5/17, 13/17 Terrace with retaining wall
and steps, garden wall, and
summerhouse adjoining Cornbury
House to E

GV II

Terrace with retaining wall and steps, garden wall and summerhouse. Terrace of
c.1850. Limestone ashlar retaining wall with moulded plinth, dies and moulded
coping. Approximately 170 metres long. Two-flight stone steps on the central
axis of the south-east front of Cornbury House (q.v.), consisting of pairs of
square gate piers with moulded plinths, moulded caps, and large carved urns, and
2 pairs of wrought-iron gates with spearhead railings. Panelled wall to centre.
Summerhouse at north-east end of terrace. Probably c.1901-6, by John Belcher. At
centre of former semi-circular pergola, now mostly demolished. Lattice wooden
construction on brick plinth with limestone ashlar wall to rear and lead dome.
Three-bay portico consisting of lattice wooden Ionic columns with swags between
volutes, lattice frieze with Greek-key ornament, triglyphs and scrolled key to
centre, moulded wooden cornice with mutules, and lattice parapet. Lattice screen
and archway between pilasters to rear of portico. Domed interior with panelled
wooden seat to rear. Flanking low curved brick walls, formerly supporting
pergola (see angled pilasters to sides of portico). Garden wall to rear of
terrace, adjoining house to south-west and forming south-east side of stable
courtyard to rear. Probably of 1689. Roughly squared limestone with stone
coping. Approximately 60 metres long. Buttresses to rear. Round-arched gateway
at south-west end with panelled gate, radial fanlight and keystone. The terrace
is probably contemporary with the tower and porte-cochere added to the
south-east front of Cornbury House c.1850, now demolished (see old photographs
kept in the house - April 1987). Belcher carried out work at Cornbury House in
1901-6 and the summerhouse and former pergola probably date from this time (both
are shown in old photographs kept in the house). William Talman was employed at
Cornbury by the Earl of Clarendon in 1689 and the garden wall to the rear of the
terrace probably dates from this time, either wholly or in part.
(Buildings of England: Oxfordshire: p555)

Listing NGR: SP3498018008

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26649377

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

• 
  Listed Buildings, Conservation Areas and Monuments
• 
  Churches: An Architectural Guide (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Introductions)
• 
  Historic Environment Law: Planning, Listed Buildings, Monuments, Conservation Areas and Objects, Supplement 2014
• 
  Oxfordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  ENGLAND GUIDE TO POST WAR LISTED: A Guide to Post-war Listed Buildings
• 
  Devon (Pevsner Buildings of England)