Eynsham Hall
LocationNorth Leigh, Oxfordshire, England
Coordinates51°48′29″N 1°25′41″W / 51.808°N 1.428°W / 51.808; -1.428
Built1908
ArchitectErnest George
Architectural style(s)Jacobethan
OwnerPremiere Enterprises
Listed Building – Grade II
Official nameEynsham Hall and attached forecourt walls
Designated3 September 1981
Reference no.1368259
Official nameEynsham Hall
Designated18 September 1994
Reference no.1001288
Eynsham Hall is located in Oxfordshire
Eynsham Hall
Location of Eynsham Hall in Oxfordshire

Eynsham Hall (known commercially as Estelle Manor) is a Grade II listed mansion near North Leigh in Oxfordshire, England. The original house dating from the 1770s was largely rebuilt in the early 20th century by Ernest George. After use as a country house and venue for hunting parties it became a maternity hospital rest and relaxation centre in World War II and then a police training centre. It is now used as a hotel and country club.

The three storey limestone building is surrounded by extensive parkland and has terraced gardens. Many of the outbuildings, including the former game larder, are also listed buildings. North Leigh F.C. play in the grounds of the hall.

History

In the grounds of Eynsham Hall are the earthworks of an Iron Age hill fort called Green Wood fort.[1]

The original hall was built around the 1770s as a Georgian house, with extensive parkland.[2] It was sold in 1778 to Robert Langford. By 1814 it was owned by Thomas Parker and leased for hunting parties. It was enlarged, with an additional upper floor, by Charles Barry in the mid 19th century and various outbuildings added. A fourth floor was added to designs by Owen Jones in the 1870s.[3]

The Georgian house was demolished in 1904 and replaced with a Jacobethan mansion in 1906–8 to designs by Ernest George,[4] for the Mason family, who had taken up residence in 1866. The house and estate included its own electric generating station, waterworks and gas plant, and a private telephone system linked the house to various outbuildings around the estate.[4] Previous residents include Willoughby Lacey, Robert Langford, James Duberley, Sir Thomas Parker and Sir Thomas Bazley.[5]

In World War II, part of Eynsham Hall was used as a maternity ward for expectant mothers evacuated from London. The Canadian artist Anthony J. Batten was born there in 1940. Referred to as the "flak shack", the Hall was also used for rest and relaxation (R&R) by the US Army Air Corps officers.[6] The American Red Cross ran the R&R programme, and recreational activities included reading, bridge, snooker and table tennis.

The site was used as a police training centre by the Home Office from 1946.[5][3]

In 2008 the Gun Room won a European Hotel Design Award.[7] In 2018 Ennismore founder and co-CEO Sharan Pasricha bought Eynsham Hall and reopened the property in spring 2023 as Estelle Manor. West Oxfordshire District Council granted planning permission for another 80 guest rooms.[8]

Architecture

The three-storey limestone building is laid out in an "H" plan. At the centre of the front of the building is a porch with a door and tympanum with Ionic columns to the upper floors and a coat of arms. The garden front also has an armorial panel above the parapet. The interior includes oak panelling and stone fireplaces.[4]

The north lodge with its attached walls, gates and gatepiers were built in 1845 by Charles Barry.[9]

The former game larder and dairy were built by the architect Charles Henry Howell in 1883.[10][11]

The house is surrounded by 330 hectares (820 acres) of parkland laid out in the 18th century, and pleasure grounds which were added in the 19th and 20th centuries. Some of the exotic species were planted by Robert Marnock in the 1860s.[1] The lake was added in 1866 and provided a water supply to the house.[3]

References

  1. 1 2 Historic England. "Eynsham Hall [Park and Garden] (Grade II) (1001288)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 20 September 2019.
  2. ↑ "Eynsham Hall". Parks & Gardens. January 1870. Retrieved 20 September 2019.
  3. 1 2 3 Crossley, Alan; Elrington, CR (eds.); Baggs, AP; Blair, WJ; Chance, Eleanor; Colvin, Christina; Cooper, Janet; Day, CJ; Selwyn, Nesta; Townley, Simon C (1990). "Eynsham Manor". A History of the County of Oxford. Victoria County History. Vol. 12: Wootton Hundred (South) including Woodstock. London: Oxford University Press for the Institute of Historical Research. pp. 120–123. ISBN 978-0-19722-774-9. Retrieved 20 September 2019 – via British History Online.
  4. 1 2 3 Historic England. "Eynsham Hall (Grade II) (1368259)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 30 April 2013.
  5. 1 2 "The History of Eynsham Hall" (PDF). Eynsham Hall. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 September 2019. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
  6. ↑ Bradner, Liesl (18 October 2014). "US airman's wartime stay at Downton-style hospital inspires musical". The Guardian. Retrieved 20 September 2019.
  7. ↑ "New bedrooms at Cotswold Conference Centre". International Confex. 20 December 2011. Archived from the original on 9 February 2012. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
  8. ↑ Parker, Benjamin (4 May 2018). "Shoreditch chic to meet Cotswolds charm? Eynsham Hall sold to Hoxton and Gleneagles owner". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
  9. ↑ Historic England. "Eynsham Hall, North Lodge and attached gates, gatepiers and wall (Grade II) (1052430)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 20 September 2019.
  10. ↑ Historic England. "Eynsham Hall, former game larder (Grade II) (1283968)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 20 September 2019.
  11. ↑ Historic England. "Eynsham Hall, former dairy (Grade II) (1052431)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 20 September 2019.
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