Description

SP3003-3103 BAMPTON MILL STREET
(North side)
13/104 Ham Court
12/09/55

GV II*
Gatehouse and part of curtain wall of early C14 castle built for Ayrner de
Valence, Earl of Pembroke, who obtained licence to crenellate 1315. Adapted to
dwelling C17, with mid-late C19 extension. Coursed limestone rubble, part
ashlar, with stone slate roofs and ashlar chimneys. Gatehouse lies on east-west
axis with contemporary lodging bay adjacent to north and C19-C20 extension in
north-west angle. Running south from gatehouse is short length of curtain wall
which masks larger C19 extension on east side. Forms house of 2 storeys and
attic. Gatehouse has large archways with moulded labels, infilled with rubble
and ashlar late C17. Infill is pierced by stone mullion windows, those to first
floor late C17, of 3 lights, with ovolo mouldings. Similar 4-light window with
Tudor hoodmould to ground floor on east side; C19 matching 3-light window with
hollow chamfers on west side. West side of gatehouse projects, and has chamfered
plinth, C14 flanking set-back buttresses, and C17 gable with 3-light leaded
casement. Immediately above arch on west side is a horizontal slit with sloping
ducts, possibly for drawbridge cables. East side has octagonal stair turret
projecting to left, with battlemented parapet, trefoil-headed slit windows, and
octagonal pyramid roof with weathervane. To right is C14 bay with contemporary
2-light traceried window to first floor. This window has arched head with label,
cusped ogee tracery, and hollow mouldings. Below are a C19 3-light stone mullion
window and a C19 half-glazed door. 2 gabled roof dormer; with 2-light casements.
Curtain wall has chamfered plinth, wide battlements with slated coping, and 2
bays of cross slits. Upper right part of wall reconstructed C19. Behind is C19
extension, of 2 storeys, with first floor band course, coped gables and stone
mullion windows with Tudor hoodmoulds. South side has large canted bay window to
left; north side has porch with door in Caernarvon arch. C19 and C20 lean-to
extensions at north end of house are small and have tiled roofs. Interior:
gatehouse arches are moulded, the east arch of 2 orders, the west with one
moulded order and rebates for gates. Side walls of east bay of gatehouse have
small arched doorways with similar mouldings. Gatehouse also retains fine 2-bay
vault with chamfered ribs and carved bosses, and stone spiral staircase to
attic. First floor of C14 lodging bay has original fireplace with moulded stone
jambs and stone hood on moulded brackets. Heavy stop-chamfered ceiling beams.
C17 fireplace inserted to first floor of gatehouse, with chamfered stone arch.
(Buildings of England: Oxfordshire: 1974, p433; Country Life: July 19th 1946,
pp120-121)

Listing NGR: SP3096903058

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Bampton Castle at Wikipedia
• Wikidata Q4853529

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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