Littlecote House
LITTLECOTE HOUSE
Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places
Overview
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- I
- List Entry Number:
- 1300540
- Date first listed:
- 22-Aug-1966
- List Entry Name:
- Littlecote House
- Statutory Address:
- LITTLECOTE HOUSE
Location
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Images of England Project
- Date:
- 2007-07-05
- Reference:
- IOE01/16788/15
- Rights:
- © Mr John Rendle. Source: Historic England Archive
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Discover moreOfficial list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- I
- List Entry Number:
- 1300540
- Date first listed:
- 22-Aug-1966
- List Entry Name:
- Littlecote House
- Statutory Address 1:
- LITTLECOTE HOUSE
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:
- LITTLECOTE HOUSE
The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
- District:
- Wiltshire (Unitary Authority)
- Parish:
- Ramsbury
- National Grid Reference:
- SU 30446 70379
Details
SU 37 SW RAMSBURY -
5/158 Littlecote House 22.8.66
GV I
Great house. Principally c1500 - 1570, 1590 - 1620 and c1810, but incorporating some medieval work. Flint with limestone ashlar, work of 1590 of brick. Stone slate roofs. Plan form rectangular around elongated courtyard, and further, now open courtyard to west. Medieval work on north side of open square containing chapel and rooms to east. This block extended eastwards containing a hall with long gallery over, and courtyard formed on this extension by brick construction of new great hall with parlour in west wing and stair to east of cross passage, forming symmetrical 'E' elevation. C17 works consist of remodelling chapel and block at its west end, a matching wing forming the open courtyard on the south being rebuilt c1810. Windows generally 2, 3, and 4-light stone mullioned and transomed with Tudor arches, doors also pointed segmental with spandrels and hoodmoulds. Numerous diagonal shafted brick chimneys. Simple gables to the 1590 door and wing projections. Interior: Great hall with oak panelling and fine screen to passage with Ionic pilasters and 2 round arches, gallery above. Black and white flag floor and ribbed plaster ceiling with pendants. C16 glass in windows. Long Gallery, 33.4m long with plaster frieze of c1520. Dutch Room with painted ceiling and walls C16. Brick Hall and other rooms with excellent C17 panelling. Chapel, most important example of Cromwellian furnishings within medieval shell, raised panelled pulpit with tester against east wall. Pews and galleries with twisted balusters on attenuated columns. Open roof. Jerusalem stair on solid newel in stair tower. Early C19 work includes remodelling of library by J. Robson of Marlborough in 1810 and Chinese paper decoration of Drawing room. The house of early medieval origins came to the Darrell family in 1415, and to Sir John Popham, later Lord Chief Justice of England in 1589 in whose family it remained until 1922. Historical associations include a courtship of Henry VIII and later royal visitors. (Reference: Pevsner, Buildings of England, WILTSHIRE; House guide by P. A. Spreadbury, 1979; Country Life 2, 9 and 16 December 1965).
Listing NGR: SU3044270381
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
- Legacy System number:
- 310621
- Legacy System:
- LBS
Sources
Books and journals
Spreadbury, P A, Guide to Littlecote House Ramsbury, (1979)
Pevsner, N, The Buildings of England: Wiltshire, (1975)
Country Life in 16 December, (1965)
Country Life in 2 December, (1965)
Country Life in 9 December, (1965)
Other
Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in England, Part 46 Wiltshire,
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 06-Jun-2026 at 10:27:56.
Download a full scale map (PDF)End of official list entry
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