Description

HORTON CUM STUDLEY STUDLEY
SP5912
14/68 Studley Priory
26/11/51
- II*
Country house, now hotel, incorporating monastic buildings. Probably C14 and
C15, remodelled and extended late C16 for Sir John Croke and early C17 for Sir
George Croke; wing added early C19. Limestone rubble with ashlar dressings; old
plain-tile roof with brick stacks. Complex plan. Right half of main range, of 2
storeys plus attic, is probably C14 but has tall C16 stone-mullioned and
transomed windows arranged irregularly. Central 2-storey porch has a Renaissance
archway flanked by fluted Doric pilasters, carrying an entablature with a frieze
of triglyphs and medallions, over which is a panel containing 3 shields of arms,
dated 1587, enlarged to include a fourth dated 1622; at first floor a large
3-light mullioned-and-transomed window with square-headed lights is flanked by
Ionic columns on panelled pedestals, rising to consoles and a triangular
pediment within the gable, which contains biblical quotation, a Tudor rose, a
crown and the initials "E.R.". The hall to left of the porch, has similar
windows arranged regularly and is probably C16. Its moulded plinth returns
around a projecting triple-gabled section to left, incorporating the hall bay
window, with large transomed windows up to 5 lights wide and a central bay
window of 1877. Projecting early C17 multi-gabled range to left, of one storey
plus attic, was a chapel, and has 2-light transomed side windows, a 6-light
window in the front gable wall, with 3- and 4-light windows in the gables and a
blocked basket-arched doorway to right. Windows have hollow chamfers and
4-centre arched upper lights as in the other ranges, and the gables have similar
vase finials on their apexes but lack moulded projecting kneelers. Roof has a
timber bellcote. Long stable range to left of chapel wing has, at ground floor,
similar 2- and 3-light mullioned windows plus 2 moulded stone doorways, but most
first floor windows were inserted when the roof was raised in 1924; the
parapetted dormer gable with a 3-light window is original. A rough datestone is
inscribed "AC/1666". To right of the main range the low C15/early C16 kitchen
range projects; its front gable wall, with mullioned windows, continues to right
in a low 2-storey range with irregular fenestration which includes a chamfered
4-centre arched doorway and several deeply-chamfered openings; it is probably
late medieval, and terminates in a short stable section. Rear of this range has
further openings. Rear of kitchen includes a large 3-light window with massive
chamfered mullioned plus a large projecting chimney on the rear gable wall. Wing
projecting to rear of kitchen is probably early C17; second wing to rear of the
hall is c.1820 with a large canted 2-storey bay window forming its rear wall.
Rear of triple-gabled block also has 3 gables, one higher above the stair tower,
and includes 6- and 7-light transomed windows. Rear of chapel is similar to its
front wall. Rear of stable range has inserted C20 mullioned windows. Roofs have
numerous stacks with clusters of diagonally set shafts. Interior: large built-up
late-medieval fireplace in kitchen; 2 stone 4-centre arched doorways leading
from cross passage into kitchen wing; several C16/early C17 doorways on main
stair, at first floor and in attics; some original heavy bulbous balusters plus
a short stone baslutrade of similar design. C17 panelling in parlour; early C18
bolection-mould panelling in hall; Regency Gothick open-well stair; marble
fireplace in Regency drawing room. 7-canted coupled-rafter roof with upper
collars on C14 range; butt-purlin roof with curved windbraces and heavy carved
struts on kitchen wing; butt-purlin roofs over C16/C17 ranges. The Benedictine
Priory was founded 1184 and bought 1539 by John Croke.
(V.C.H.: 0xfordshire, Vol.V, p.58; Buildings of England: 0>;fGrdshire, pp.656-7;
H. Avray Tipping, "Studley Priory, Oxfordshire"; Country Life, July 11th 1908,
pp.54-62; Parke, A History of Studley Priory).

Listing NGR: SP5975312219

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Studley Priory, Oxfordshire at Wikipedia
• Wikidata Q7628342

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

• 
  Cork: City and County (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of Ireland)
• 
  Northamptonshire: Buildings of England Series (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Cambridgeshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Bristol (Pevsner Architectural Guides: City Guides)
• 
  Period Property Manual (New Ed)
• 
  London 4: North: North v. 4 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)