The Deanery

Details

SP3003-3103 BAMPTON CHURCH CLOSE (South-west side) 13/55 The Deanery 12/09/55 (Formerly listed as Bampton Deanery)

GV II* Former prebendal house, parts originally built for use as chapels; now house. Basement of west wing dates back to late Cll/early C12, east wing to early/mid C12; later medieval, C16 and C17 alterations; C19 extensions to west. Coursed rubble limestone with some ashlar dressings; stone slate roofs with stone copings to main gable ends; square ashlar chimney shafts. Complex plan with wings to west, east and north. 2 storeys and basement, part with attic. East wing has C13 buttresses to gable end, and C13 chamfered stone surrounds to small blocked basement lights. Internally these lights have deep C12 splays with dressed quoins. Rubble stone arches of other medieval windows, possibly C12, survive high in north wall. Wing otherwise remodelled late C16/C17 with stone mullion and transom windows of 4-6 lights, all with Tudor hoodmoulds. Internally windows are hollow chamfered. North side has gabled chimney with 2 shafts, gabled dormer to right, and 2-storey C20 porch with parapet in angle with north wing. South side has large gable containing upper window, and small 3-light window over recessed C20 door to left. West wing has C16/C17 gabled bay at east end, and C19 extension in matching style to west. C16/C17 part has stone mullion windows with Tudor hoodmoulds, the basement windows of 2-light with chamfered mullions, the upper windows ovolo-moulded and transomed. Gabled dormer in east return. Large stack with 5 shafts to centre of wing. North wing is probably C16/C17 in origin but altered late C19/early C20, with C19 diagonal buttresses to gable, restored stone mullion and transom windows, and hipped C20 roof dormers. C19/C20 extensions in north-west angle, part roughcast, with windows and door in Tudor style. Interior: east wall of basement in west wing retains dressed stone jambs of 2 blocked windows with semi-circular heads, all of C11/C12 date. To right are traces of jamb of third similar window. Basement of east wing retains splayed jambs of 3 narrow C12 windows, jambs of a C12 cupboard, and 3 other narrow windows of later nedieval date. Both these basements may have served as chapels or chapel undercroft when first built. Jambs of a tall C13 lancet window survive high up in west wall of east wing. Other interior features date from C16/C17 remodelling and later alterations. Main rooms have moulded and stopped stone fireplaces with 4-cenred arches, some with moulded cornices. Room over basement in west wing also has heavy close-set ceiling joists on a massive richly moulded cross beam. Centre of house is occupied by fine late C17 staircase arranged around a large open well. Stairs have heavy twisted balusters, moulded handrail, altered string, and large knob finials to newel posts. Cupboards below middle flight have doors with re-used C17 moulded panels and butterfly hinges. East doorway to stair hall has ovolo-moulded stone surround; west doorway has similar wooden surround with moulded stops, and door with C17 moulded panels and strap hinges. (John Blair: Bampton Deanery, unpublished report, 1986; Country Life, July 26th 1946)

Listing NGR: SP3117603312

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:

253365

Legacy System:

LBS

Sources

Books and journals
Blair, J, Bampton Deanery, (1986)
Country Life in 26 July, (1946)

End of official list entry

All text content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0 , except where otherwise stated. Any supplied maps are © Crown Copyright [and database rights] 2026 OS AC0000815036 and may not be reproduced without permission.