the monastery building, sarsden estate, oxon...

CONTENTS LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS 2 SUMMARY 3 GLOSSARY OF ARCHITECTURAL AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL TERMS 4 INVENTORY OF ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES OF SIGNIFICANCE 5 1 INTRODUCTION 6 1.1 Introduction 1.2 Project Aims 1.3 Historical Background 1.4 Project Specification 1.5 Methodology and Field Recording 2 BUILDING RECORDING RESULTS 8 2.1 External Features 2.2 Internal Features 3 WATCHING BRIEF RESULTS 10 4 PHASING 12 5 DISCUSSION 13 6 CONCLUSIONS 15 7 BIBLIOGRAPHY 16 8 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 17

The Monastery Building, Sarsden Estate, Oxon 1

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

Figure 1: Location plan Figure 2: Groundfloor plan of the Monastery Figure 3: White Kennett's lithograph of Sarsden House Plate 1: Western elevation of the Monastery building Plate 2: Northern elevation of Sarsden House Plate 3: Stairs in the central passage Plate 4: Chimney pots; southeastern corner Plate 5: Laundry Grate; western side


SUMMARY

The Monastery is located to the southeast of Sarsden House, an impressive country house noted for alterations designed by Repton. The origins of the Sarsden Estate can be traced back to 1086, the present house replaced an earlier house damaged by fire in 1689. Little is known of the earlier building which almost certainly had its origins in the medieval period. The main architectural features of the monastery building suggest that it is older than the post 1695 house. As the building required extensive alterations, a programme of photographic survey and building recording be carried out in two phases, was proposed.. The first phase was to be a photographic record of the building prior to alterations. The second phase would be a watching brief in order to record any hidden features that might help in the understanding of the evolution of the building. The photographic record and watching brief would be supplemented by a brief written report. The conclusion drawn from the building survey is that the Monastery building may not be as early as its architectural features would suggest. It may be the case that the Monastery was built after the 1689 fire, reusing materials from the original house. The early function of the building remains unclear but its later uses can be determined from the surviving evidence.


GLOSSARY OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL/ARCHITECTURAL TERMS AND

ABBREVIATIONS

NGR National Grid Reference given from the Ordnance Survey Grid. R.C.H.M.E The Royal Commission on the Historic Monuments of England. MEDIEVAL Taken to be the period from the Norman invasion in AD 1066 to approximately AD 1500. CHAMFER The trimmed-off arris of a beam or joist etc. STOP The ornamental finish on the end of the chamfer. CHIMNEY-BREAST The thickening that results from the building of a chimney against a wall. DORMER Extension of usable attic floor-space made by raising a small part of the roof over a dormer window. MORTICE A slot into which a tenon fits. QUOIN Shaped or dressed stones used to form an external angle at the corner of a building. RANGE A row, or part of a building which is historically or physically distinct.


INVENTORY OF ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES OF SIGNIFICANCE

As located on Fig. 2 External:- A. Windows and Door in the Western Elevation B. Chimney stack on the Southeastern Gable (Spur 2) C. Door in the Eastern Elevation Internal:- E. Stoke Grate and Flanking Doors (G1-G2) F. Door in the Apex of the roof between (G2-G3) G. Staircase, door and associated timber floor (central passageway) H. Flagstone floors in G1, G2, and G3


1 INTRODUCTION

1.1 Introduction 1.1.1 In July of 1995, Cotswold Archaeological Trust was commissioned by Carter Jonas on behalf of Mr and Mrs Shaun Woodward to undertake a building recording survey and watching brief in advance of renovation works to The Monastery, Sarsden House, Oxfordshire (NGR:SP 28952297). The work was undertaken between the 17th of July and the 19th of October 1995. 1.1.2 The building recording survey and watching brief was required as a condition for planning permission for alteration to the Monastery Building. The work was commissioned by Carter Jonas in response to a brief prepared by Carol Rosier, Assistant County Archaeologist, with Oxfordshire County Council. 1.1.3 This is the final report detailing the results of the building recording survey and watching brief. 1.2 Project Aims 1.2.1 The aim of the project was to create a photographic and written record of The Monastery prior to alterations. 1.2.2 The record was to consist of: (i) A summary of the documentary evidence of the study area. (ii) A complete photographic record of the external and internal elevations. (iii) All architectural features and details that may assist in the understanding of the historic fabric. (iv) Fixtures and fittings of interest, and those related to the primary construction phase. (v) Areas to be affected by proposed interventions. (vi) Annotated site drawings from architects survey drawings. 1.3 Historical Background 1.3.1 The origins of Sarsden House can be traced back to 1086 when Richard de Courcy was granted the land from William I. Ownership of the land can be traced fairly consistently through the middle ages to the construction of the present house (MacLeod,28). 1.3.2 Sarsden house as it stands today was largely rebuilt in 1689 following a fire (Plate 2). The form of the building that was destroyed by the fire is not recorded but it is presumed that it


was an evolved medieval hall.(RCHME,1) 1.3.3 The present house may have been built on the foundations of the old house but this is not certain. No obvious medieval fabric is apparent within the present house. Cellars on the eastern side of the house may have survived from the medieval building, but these cellars are difficult to date with any accuracy (RCHME, 1). 1.3.4 The Monastery is located in a courtyard on the south-east side of Sarsden House. The building is single story under a pitched natural stone roof. The Monastery buildings form an irregular U-shape around a rough courtyard on its eastern side. The main range of the building is orientated on a north-south alignment with two spurs on the eastern edge at the north and south ends. The Monastery building is listed Grade II* and dated by the DOE to the early to mid 17th century. 1.3.5 The Monastery building is depicted in an engraving by Kennett of 1695 (Fig 3). The engraving shows the building with five gabled dormers on the western side. The engraving also shows the building with three doorways and five windows, only the central doorway and four mullioned windows survive. The original function of the building is unclear but it has been suggested that it may have been the stable block to the pre 1689 house (Rosier, 3). However the engraving shows that the stables are on the north-eastern side of the house. 1.3.6 The Monastery appears to have been used as ancillary buildings for the main house during the nineteenth century. The northern wing became a laundry and still exhibits remains of the equipment. 1.4 Project Specification 1.4.1 The recording brief required a photographic record of the building and a brief written report. A watching brief was also required to monitor alteration works. 1.5 Methodology and Field Recording 1.5.1 The aim of the project was to record the fabric of the building in order to assess the character and quality of the architectural detail, and also supply dating evidence for the evolutionary phases of the buildings. 1.5.2 The building recording phase required a photographic record comprising face and internal elevations. All significant architectural detail was photographed and elevation drawings annotated. A written record was kept of all observations made.


2. BUILDING RECORDING RESULTS (FIG 2)

2.1 External Features 2.1.1 The Monastery building is orientated north-west/south-east on its long axis. The main body of the building is 30m in length and 6.5m wide. Two spurs project from the north and south ends of the eastern side of the building. At the northern end the spur extends from the main building by 10m, and is 5.5m wide (Spur 1). At the south end the spur extends 4m from the main building and is 6m wide (Spur 2). The building is one story with a pitched roof, laid with natural stone tiles. The external faces of all of the elevations are roughly dressed oolitic limestone, in even courses. The Western Elevation (Plate 1) 2.1.2 The Western elevation of the building has four windows and a door (Fig. 2.A). The windows are two light, segmentally headed mullion windows, with a rectangular label set. The glazing is formed from diamond pattern panes in leaded lights. The lights are held in metal casements. The central doorway has a deep chamfered surround with a two centred arch and hoodmould. At the north end of the western face is a doorway blocked with black and red brick. The Eastern Elevation 2.1.3 On the Eastern elevation of the building is an arched doorway, which is linked to the main doorway on the western side by a corridor (Fig. 2.C). The arch has been formed from irregular ashlar blocks keyed at the apex. Other features on this face are modern. These comprise a ventilator to the south of the door, and a window to the north. Other features comprise a blocked doorway at the south end of the elevation and a possible blocked doorway partly obscured by the southern wing. The Southern Elevation 2.1.4 The Southern elevation of the building contains one window and a door. Below the window is an area of blocking. The Northern Elevation 2.1.5 The Northern end of the building has four twelve pane sash windows at the western end with a smaller six pane sash at the eastern end. The four sashes are threequarter length under a rectangular keyed lintel. Spur 1 2.1.6 The southern elevation of the Northern wing (Spur 1) contained two blocked windows.


Spur 2 4.1.7 The northern face of the southern elevation (Spur 2) contained a blocked door and window. This elevation may have been rebuilt in the recent past. 2.1.8 A stone chimney stack with two barrel flues is located at the eastern gable end of spur 2 (Fig. 2.B)(Plate 4). 2.2 Internal Features The rooms are numbered from the North-East corner of the building, G1 to G5 (Fig.2). Excluded from this numbering system is the central passageway between G3 and G4, and a small store projecting from the Northeastern arm of the main building. Room G1 2.2.2 The timbers in the roof have all been replaced in the recent past. The floor comprises random sized flagstones. The east wall has a central fireplace blocked with red brick. The north wall has a six pane sash window with single panel shutters. The partition wall between G1 and G2 has a door at either end and a retractable iron shutter in the centre (Fig.2.E)(Plate 5). The doors are flush four panel with a vertical cock bead. At the base of the door is a sliding gate covering a perforated wooden slat. The walls of the room are finished with a soft lime and animal hair plaster. Room G2 2.2.3 The floor comprises well cut flagstones. The roof timbers have been replaced in the recent past. On the northern wall are four sash windows with internal double panel shutters moulded on the external face. On the western wall is a small fireplace. The metal grate (possibly a hob grate) has been removed with part of the simple wooden surround. A simple ledged door is still insitu in the apex of the southern dividing wall between G2 and G3(Fig. 2.F). Floor levels, which may have been associated with the door, have been removed by later alterations. On the eastern wall is a stoke grate with a compartment above it (Plate 6). The compartment is closed by sliding metal doors. On either side of the grate are the two doors described in 2.1.1. The walls are finished with a soft lime and animal hair plaster. Room G3 2.2.4 The floor comprises well cut flagstones. The roof construction is a simple collared A frame, with through purlins. The timbers are hardwood coated in patches with a limewash finish. On the western side of the room is a large fireplace blocked with red brick. On the right hand side of the fireplace is a window, with well formed chamfered limestone reveals. The window has two lights, both with small square leaded panes. The doorway on the southern wall contains a simple ledge and braced door with hand wrought strap hinges. Central Passageway


2.2.5 The floor of the central passageway comprises well cut limestone flags. A flight of stairs leads from the western side of the building and winds up, and to the right (Fig. 2.G). The staircase has a softwood handrail newel post and turned balusters (Plate 3). The handrail and balusters are substantial. The risers and treads are hardwood but have been substantially repaired and replaced in the recent past using softwood. The stairs terminate on a landing of hardwood boards of random widths between 150mm and 230mm. A simple ledged and braced door with hand forged strap hinges is attached to the surviving right hand door post. At ground level on either side of the rear doorway leading out of the passage are two square holes to house a locking bar. Room G4 2.2.6 The timberwork in the roof has been substantially altered with the provision of new softwood tie beams. The common rafters and purlins are similar to those described in 2.2.1. The floor is modern concrete. The western face wall shows evidence of considerable rebuilding using modern concrete blocks. On the eastern wall is a large fireplace blocked with red brick. Some of the plasterwork covering the blocking has been stripped back to reveal iron straps supporting the gauged arch of the opening. On the right hand side of the chimney is an iron bread oven. Set in the top of the partition wall is a beam which is not tied to either the western or eastern walls. Room G5 2.2.7 The floor comprises blue stable blocks. The western face wall had been rebuilt using concrete blocks. A substantial hardwood tie beam on a north-south orientation runs parallel with the main eastern wall across G5 to the south wall. Two modern flue pipes extend down from the apex of the eastern internal gable. 3. WATCHING BRIEF RESULTS

3.1 Six visits were made to site between the 20th of September and the 19th of October 1995. 3.2 Work commenced in G4 and G5 and progressed to G1; G2 and G3. G4 and G5 3.3 The walls were stripped of plaster and an opening was made through the wall between G4 and G5 in the south eastern corner. A channel for drainage was cut across G5 from the northern corner to the southern wall. 3.4 The chimney breast on the eastern wall of G4 was stripped of the plaster to reveal two gauged brick arches supported by iron bands. The brick blocking had been partially removed to reveal the internal brickwork.


3.5 Further stripping of brickwork showed that the chimney breast had been built in two distinct phases. The northern side dedicated to an oven. The function of the southern side was unclear but may have been used for a cooking range or water heating copper. 3.6 The northern half contained two separate ovens and a firebox. The oven door was inset behind a brick ledge which also contained the exhaust for the firebox. The remains of the exit flue was clearly visible above the oven door. The firebox was a simple stoke hole framed by a gauged brick arch. No obvious damper mechanism was evident. 3.7 Stripping of the wall surfaces revealed blocked openings in the southern wall of G5 and a blocked door in the partition wall between G4 and G5. A blocked doorway, visible in the external surface of the eastern wall of G5, was confirmed by the stripping of internal plasterwork. The southeastern corner of G4, at a point where G4 and G5 meet, appeared to have been altered on several occasions as several different types of mortar were observed in the central core of the wall. 3.8 The partition walls at either end of G4 did not appear to have been tied to the external walls and are thought to be later additions. Both of the partitions still had a timber beam in place at the top of the wall. Both beams were notched on their upper edge, indicating probable housings for floor joists. 3.9 A drainage trench cutting through the blue stable blocks in G5 did not reveal any earlier floor surfaces. 3.10 The drainage trench in G5 extended into the courtyard on the eastern side of the building. The trench cut to a depth 0.5m from ground surface, and cut through what appeared to be an undisturbed clay brash. 3.11 Flagstones in the central passageway were lifted in order to extend the drainage trench through the building, to complete a connection of the western side. The flagstones were laid on a sandbed under which an iron pipe ran through the central passage way towards the main house. The pipe is almost certainly associated with the water tower to the south east of the monastery building. 3.12 The continuation of the new drainage trench showed that the ground on the western side of the building contained dumped material some of which was burnt limestone chunks. G1, G2, and G3 3.13 The walls in rooms G1, G2 and G3 were stripped of plaster and the flagstones lifted. 3.14 The lower part of the partition wall between G2 and G3 was stripped of the lathwork and the doorway widened. 3.15 A new door opening was cut through the north west corner of G1. 3.16 The removal of the flagstones and 300mm of underlying material showed that the floors had been laid directly on to the natural clay brash. The flagstones were a mixture of


limestone and sandstone in random sizes. G3 contained a number of cast iron pipes and drains set under the flagged surface. Drainage grates and possible pump mountings were viable in the surface of the floor. 3.17 Removal of the wall plaster in G3 showed no evidence of earlier features. A concrete ring beam had been formed at the top of the wall to support the roof structure. 3.18 An access point was made through the eastern side of G3 on the southern side of the fireplace, using the window already described (see Sec 4.2.4). The core of the wall appeared to be similar to other parts of the main range, the internal binding medium being a friable, yellow sandy material. 3.19. The removal of the flagstones in G2 showed that they had been laid on the natural clay brash. No earlier features were under the flagstones. 3.20 The stripping of the walls in G2 revealed several features on the west wall. In the centre of the wall a red brick flue for the fireplace had been inserted. A blocked door on the southern side of the fireplace corresponds to a doorway on the western face. To the north of the fireplace is a blocked door with a timber lintel, beyond the door is a blocked window. Partial vertical joints in the western face of the building show the external position of the doorway. The window feature was not apparent and may be partially obscured by a wall projecting from the north west corner of G2. 3.21 Removal of the flagstone floor in G1 showed that the flags had been laid on the clay brash natural, no earlier features were apparent. 3.22 Stripping of the walls did not reveal any unrecorded features. 3.23 A doorway cutting through the eastern side of G1 showed that the wall was bound with a lime mortar. 4 PHASING

4.1 The early phasing of the Monastery is based on individual features rather than a period of construction. This approach is due to a lack of clear evidence linking the stylistic date of architectural features with construction phases. 4.1 The earliest features of the building are undoubtedly the door arch and window frames on the western face of the building, and possibly the door arch on the eastern elevation. The windows and the door appear to be broadly 16th century. Similar stylistic examples can be seen in the decorated gate-tower of St John's College, Cambridge, built in 1511 (Watkin,1979,81). The chimneys at the southern end of the building are also stylistically from the 16th century. 4.2 The balusters and handrail of the stairs, the upper floordeck, and ledged door probably


belong to the 17th century (RCHME,1994,1). A comparable example could date them as early as 1676 (Alcock,1994,2). 4.3 The surviving roof structure in G3 and G4 probably belongs to the 18th century or perhaps the 19th century (RCHME,13). The partition walls between G4 and G5 and G4 and the central passageway may also belong to this period. The fireplace in G4 may have its origins during the late 18th century with later alterations and additions. 4.4 Many changes to the building seem to have occurred during the 18th and the 19th century: the range of sash windows on the northern side of G2; the flag floors in G2 and G3; and the partition wall between G2 and G3. A post 1825 plan of Sarsden House showing the location of water pipes also shows various features of the Monastery which have since changed (map of waterpipes, 1825?). Room G1 does not exist. A door, almost certainly the brick blocked door in the western elevation, is still in use. A water pipe is shown running through the central passageway. G4 is divided by a wall which has been removed leaving no trace. The fireplace complex in G4 seems to extend into the courtyard on the eastern side. A doorway at the southern end of the western face evident in White Kennetts lithograph is still in use, as is a doorway between G4 and G5. A large fireplace can be seen at the eastern end of G5. Room G1 seems to be a Victorian addition which, in conjunction with the stoke grate (Sec 4.2.2), created a drying room. All of the wall plaster seems to be nineteenth century. Most of the fireplaces include a high percentage of red brick and are therefore thought to date from the nineteenth century. 4.5 The door in the wall between G4 may have been blocked during the late 19th or early 20th century. Room G5 may have been used as some form of garage or workshop in the 1920's. 4.6 The building was substantially repaired in 1984 when a large amount of the roof was replaced and the walls of the western face were partially rebuilt. Blocked doors and windows in the southern elevation of Spur 1 and the northern elevation of Spur 2 are thought to date from this period. 5 DISCUSSION

5.1 A drawing of Sarsden House by White Kennett in 1695 shows The Monastery building with a series of gabled dormer windows along the western face. The drawing also seems to show the northern face as a blank wall and suggests that the two spurs are longer than is the case today. Both spurs appear to have chimney stacks on their western ends. This view of the building is probably its original form. 5.2 The western face of the building shows a central doorway with three main windows and a square topped door to the south. To the east of the doorway is one main window, a square doorway, and a narrow window surmounted with a hood mould similar to the main windows.


5.3 External evidence for the dormer windows has completely disappeared whilst evidence for most of the other features depicted in Kennetts drawing remain. The main central door and four windows survive intact. At the northern end of the western face is an obvious blocked doorway. A possible second doorway further to the north is marked by a vertical joint in the stonework. The internal face of the western wall at the northern end shows two blocked doorways and a blocked window. One of the doorways can be matched with the brick blocked door. The other seems to line up with the vertical joint in the external face. Any trace of the door depicted at the southern end of the western face has been removed by the partial rebuilding of the southern wall in 1984. 5.4 The major windows of the western elevation show some signs of reworking. The mouldings are not always in line, unsuccessful attempts have been made to dress the joints together. 5.5 Internal evidence of an upper floor is characterised by the stairs and remains of flooring over the central passageway. The remains of floorbeams were also in evidence on the top of the partition walls between G4 and G5, and G4 and the central passageway. 5.6 It has been proposed that the stairs were imported into the building during 1823 when George Repton removed a staircase from the main house (RCHME, 7). The style of the balusters would suggest a date in the mid to late 17th century and could pre-date the fire of 1689. 5.7 The roof timbers that survive in G3 show no signs of provision for dormer windows. This suggests that the roof was totally replaced in the 18th or 19th century, a view shared in the RCHME report. 5.8 The floor in G3 post date the watertower and laying of water pipes. The flagstone floor in G2 is very similar to that of G3 and therefore they are thought to be contemporary. 5.9 The style of the windows and shutters in G2 suggest that they are a modification made to the building in the early part of the 19th century. Room G1 and the stoke grate were probably added to G2 during the latter part of the 19th century. The stoke grate and the doors that flank are of a very unusual design. 5.10 Fireplaces in G1, G2, G3, and G5 seem to be 19th century. The chimney breast at the east end of G5 has been removed leaving only the chimney pots in place. 5.11 The stable block floor, door, and window in G5 would seem to be 20th century and may have been an adaptation of G5 into a workshop or garage. If it were a garage the only entrance would have been through the rebuilt northern wall.


6. CONCLUSIONS

6.1 A possible date for the construction of the Monastery could be post 1685 although the style of the main door and windows suggest an earlier date. The Monastery may have been built using materials reclaimed from the main house after the fire of 1685. It may be the case that a temporary building was required during the construction of the new house, or the Monastery building was meant as a memorial to the old house. 6.2 The Monastery as depicted in White Kennets etching has a peculiar unbalanced aspect about it. The doors and the windows seem far too elaborate and out of proportion to the scale of the building. The gables and lower windows seems to be haphazard and asymmetrical, giving it the air of an undesigned building. 6.3 The windows on the western face of the building show clear signs of being made up from different sources. Hand cut stone windows are made individually, their parts are not necessarily interchangeable. The hand cut mouldings on headers and jambs may not match mouldings on other jambs, or headers. As the windows of the western elevation show clear signs of reworking where mouldings are out of line with each other it seems possible that they made up using parts from different sources. 6.4 Various other features of the building point to a re use of materials. The door on the eastern side of the building appears to have a stop on one of the external chamfers, this may suggest that it has been created from at least two door surrounds. The walls have isolated burnt limestone pieces within the courses which suggests they were used in the construction of the wall rather than being burnt insitu. 6.5 The stairs may have been imported in 1823 but it may also be possible that they were also reclaimed after the fire of 1685. 6.6 The ground plan of the Monastery prior to later alteration would probably show G1 and G2 without any division and G4 and G5 also without division. The layout of the upper floor can only be conjecture. The building may have survived in its original form for almost a hundred years until the main house was altered in 1795. 6.7 The Monastery seems to have been remodelled as an ancillary range, the fireplace in G4 may date from this period. The removal of the upper floors may have been an aesthetic need to reduce the scale of the building or to give it more symmetry. Possibly the roof structure was weak and the accommodation no longer needed, hence its removal. 6.8 The building evolves as a domestic range to the main house, possibly used for the preparation of food and certainly as a laundry facility in the Victorian period.

7. BIBLIOGRAPHY


Watkin, D 1979 English Architecture Thames and Hudson

RCHME 1990 Sarsden House Typescript Report NBR90897

MacLeod, E 1995 Proposals for Sarsden Estate for Mr and Mrs

Shaun Woodward. (appendix one) Typescript

Report

Alcock N, W & Hall, L 1994 Fixtures and Fittings in Dated Houses 1567-

1763. Council for British Archaeology

Lever, J, & Harris, J 1966 Illustrated Dictionary of Architecture 800-

1914. Faber and Faber

Kennett, W 1695 Parochial Antiquities

Rosier, C 1995 The Monastery Building, Sarsden Estate.

Brieffor Building Investigation and Recording

and Photographic Record

Unknown source 1825? Map of water pipes


8. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Colin Buggey, Carter Jonas Carol Rosier, Oxfordshire County Council Ewen MacLeod, Architect Keith Freebury, Site Foreman, Carter & Co


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