Description

UPTON NERVET
SU 66 NW
3/14 Ufton Court
25.10.51
G.V. I

House, now residential centre. Late C15, circa 1568, altered and partly
refaced in late C17, further altered in C18, and whole restored in circa
1838 with some later alterations. Rendered timber frame with red brick
refacing to rear, some brick additions, and old tile roof, in 2 ranges to
left. Large irregular E-plan with central projecting gabled 2 storey porch
and flanking projecting gabled wings. 2½ storeys. Entrance front: each
floor jettied with moulded bressumers and brackets, and gabled eaves
dormers with 3-light leaded casements, barge boards, and lead water spouts
between with flanges inscribed 1664 FP. Large ridge stack off-centre to
left with 3 shafts and pilaster shafting, 2 ridge stacks behind off-centre
to left each with 2 shafts, stack off-centre to right at rear, end stack
to left, and 3 end stacks to right, all with oversailing tops. 1:9:1
window front with 4 window return fronts; leaded casements, oriels on first
floor with carved brackets and triangular pediments. Porch with paired carved
Ionic pilasters flanking entrance supporting carved brackets and carved frieze
with arched radial panels, and open sides with turned balusters; interior with
side benches, moulded beams and set back 4-centred doorway with carved spandrels
and large boarded door. Central 3-panelled door in left-hand return front and
6-panelled door in right-hand return front, both with moulded architraves.
Garden front: moulded brick eaves cornice, carried across gabled ends with
pent roof. Segmental headed leaded casements. Main elements included:
projecting 2 bay gabled wing to left; central 3 bay hall with large cross
windows and half glazed door to right with doorcase consisting of moulded
architrave, fielded panel above, and cut brackets supporting triangular pediment;
5 bay block to right with gables over pair of slightly projecting end bays, and
cross windows. Interior: very rich with fittings from the C15 to the C19.
Main features include: screens passage with two 4-centred arched doorways
and boarded doors, open hall with C18 panelling, fireplace, coved plaster
ceiling with pendants, and C19 west gallery; ground floor rooms to right with
C18 panelling, fireplace and moulded plaster ceilings; C16 square well 3 flight
staircase to left of screens passage with square newels, turned balusters, and
moulded handrail; former 3 bay kitchen with arch braced collar roof; first floor
room to left with inlaid C17 fireplace overmantel consisting of 3 Ionic columns
with arched panels between; first floor oratory in left-hand wing with painted
wooden panelling, and Morris-like wall painting with magpies etc. in vestibule;
several ingenious priest holes in various locations, mainly adjacent to stacks.
Many other good internal fittings including panelling, moulded beams, doors,
fireplaces, and 3 other staircases. This is one of the largest and most
important timber framed houses in the county. V.C.H.(Berks), Vol.3, pp.437-443
(including plan); B.O.E. (Berks) p.246; The History of Ufton Court, A. Mary
Sharp, Elliot Stock, 1892.

Listing NGR: SU6258866730

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Ufton Court at Wikipedia
• Wikidata Q7877547

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

• 
  Old House Care and Repair
• 
  Central Leinster: Kildare, Laois and Offaly (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of Ireland)
• 
  Building Small Projects (New Best of Fine Woodworking)
• 
  Yorkshire West Riding: Leeds, Bradford and the North (Pevsner Architectural Guides / Buildings of England)
• 
  Devon (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Liverpool: Pevsner City Guide (Pevsner Architectural Guides: City Guides)