Dryden House Kennet House
DRYDEN HOUSE, MERTON ROAD
Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places
Overview
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1200129
- Date first listed:
- 26-Nov-1951
- List Entry Name:
- Dryden House Kennet House
- Statutory Address:
- DRYDEN HOUSE, MERTON ROAD
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Location
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Discover moreOfficial list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1200129
- Date first listed:
- 26-Nov-1951
- Date of most recent amendment:
- 09-Dec-1987
- List Entry Name:
- Dryden House Kennet House
- Statutory Address 1:
- DRYDEN HOUSE, MERTON ROAD
- Statutory Address 2:
- KENNET HOUSE, MERTON ROAD
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.
Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.
For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.
Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.
For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.
Location
- Statutory Address:
- DRYDEN HOUSE, MERTON ROAD
- Statutory Address:
- KENNET HOUSE, MERTON ROAD
The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
- County:
- Oxfordshire
- District:
- Cherwell (District Authority)
- Parish:
- Ambrosden
- National Grid Reference:
- SP 60320 19382
Details
SP61NW AMBROSDEN MERTON ROAD (North side)
11/10 Kennet House and Dryden House 26/11/51 (Formerly listed as Vicarage)
GV II
Vicarage, now 2 houses. 1638 for Rev. John Stubbings, altered late C17 and enlarged 1838 for Rev. L. Dryden. Random and coursed squared limestone rubble with ashlar dressings; old plain-tile roofs with brick stacks. Complex plan. One storey plus attic and 2 storeys plus attic. 4-window front has the taller range projecting on the right and a small gabled 2-storey bay in the angle of the ranges; both have casements in moulded stone surrounds with labels. The lower 2-window range, in random rubble, was remodelled, probably in 1838, and has stone-mullioned and transomed windows with labels plus large stone-gabled dormers; a C19 stone porch has a 4-centre arched entrance. A double stack rising at the junction of the ranges retains diagonal shafts. The right side of the cross wing has original ovolo-moulded stone-mullioned windows to all floors including a 3-light transomed stair window, all with labels and leaded glazings and also has a canted chimney projection and a gable datestone inscribed "ISD/1638". The C19 range to rear, parallel with the main range, has similar mullioned windows and gables and is flush with the rear projection of the crosswing; it incorporates an ancient plank doorway, the 4-centred stone surround of which may be re-used. This range masks the original entrance front, 2 gables of which face the central valley. Interior: crosswing contains the original dogleg stair with moulded handrails, heavy turned column balusters and panelled newels with lantern finials; early C18 fielded panelling in drawing room plus a large moulded Tudor-arched stone fireplace with a moulded-brick reredos; shell alcove. Lower range has a plainer Tudor-arched fireplace and re-used mid C17 oak panelling; early C18 coffered ceiling (Dryden House); original 4-centred arched stone entrance with moulded surround, label and shields in the spandrels (Dryden House). C19 range (Dryden House) has a room with fine late C17 oak panelling from Merton Manorhouse, with elaborate mouldings and fluted Corinthian pilasters supporting carved consoles. The Reverend White Kennett, vicar (1685-1701) and antiquary, later became Bishop of Peterborough. (V.C.H.: Oxfordshire, Vol.V, p.16; Buildings of England: Oxfordshire, p.422).
Listing NGR: SP6032019382
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
- Legacy System number:
- 243395
- Legacy System:
- LBS
Sources
Books and journals
Salzman, L F, The Victoria History of the County of Oxford, (1957), 16
Pevsner, N, Sherwood, J, The Buildings of England: Oxfordshire, (1974), 422
Legal
This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.
Map
This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. This copy shows the entry on 21-Jun-2026 at 19:25:00.
Download a full scale map (PDF)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.