Burford, The Priory

Gentleman's mansion house, on site of a small Augustinian Hospital. c.1200 and late 16th century, remodelled and extended mid C17 by William (Speaker) Lenthall, and altered again after 1808 when it was greatly reduced in size. Ashlar and dressed rubble, Cotswold stone roofs. Largely Jacobean with fragmentary C13 and c.1580 elements. Roughly U- plan. Three storeys and attic. Outer gables with steps and cut finials, ; central fluted-fan panel with finials, flanked by set-back, paired diagonal-shaft chimneys. Mullion windows, very long on 1st floor. 3 storey outer bays with crenellations (1580s, moved from S.front - see scars - in mid-cl7). Central swagger porch with Corinthian ground floor and Composite 1st floor; panels, atlantes, strapwork and 'shield', arched doorway. South side: mid-C17 six-bay long gallery wing in freestone with arched-architraves, scroll keys and panelled pilasters to 1st floor windows, bulls-eye windows below, cornice and parapet, weathered verges, ashlar chimney. C18 extension, irregular 11/2 and 2 storey wing, restored 1923, one cross-mullion window to 1st floor right, a Serliana loggia to right of centre with shaped gable over, 4 hipped dormers to left. Rear of house; irregular, dominated by taller stair block with two arched windows (mid-C18); U-plan ranges, South wing restored by Horniman with elements of Cotswold style and Voyseyish detail. The interior: 3 C13 (early) arches and piers re-instated in entrance hall which has a C17 fire-place. Early- mid C18 staircase with 3 barley-sugar balusters per tread, fluted Corinthian newels, enriched plaster ceiling with high relief rose and pendant. On 1st floor, the 'ball-room' (present chapel) has wide-rib enriched plaster ceiling with pedants; large fire-place with 3 spiral pairs of palmette-Ionic columns, broken segmental pediment and overmantel carving in the same spirit as the Harman memorial in the Parish Church (q.v.) however with the Lenthall arms and grey-hound crest; excellent pine panelling. The spine wall at rear of front block is basically mediaeval. History The Hospital of St John the Evangelist was 1st recorded in 1226 and was quite small. In 1543, it was granted to Edmund Harman, one of Henry VIII's barber-surgeons, who seems to have built a mansion here. The Priory was next acquired by Sir Lawrence Tanfield, later Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer (as Lord of the Manor of Burford, very unpopular for reducing the power of the burgesses); he entertained James I here in 1603, and altered it. William (Speaker) Lenthall bought The Priory in 1637 and died in 1662 having extended and remodelled it. Charles II dined here in 1681 en route to the Burford Races. After a chequered history including the amputation of outer wings and flattening of the facade in early C19, The Priory was saved from complete dereliction in 1908 by Col de Sales de la Terriere whose work was continued by Emslie John Horniman, who bought it in 1912. It is now the Convent of The Community of the Salutation of Our Lady (Anglican Benedictine), enclosed order, hence the elegant half- moon yew screen to entrance. Despite alterations, a good example of a mid-C17 gentleman's house... IOE