Buckland House

Buckland House is a large Georgian stately home and the manor house of Buckland in the English county of Oxfordshire (formerly in Berkshire). It is a masterpiece of Palladian architecture erected by John Wood, the Younger for Sir Robert Throckmorton in 1757.

Buckland House stands with extensive grounds known as Buckland Parkcite web |title=Buckland Park |url=http://www.berkshirehistory.com/castles/buckland_park.html |work=Royal Berkshire History |last=Ford |first=David Nash |date=2001 |accessdate=2008-09-19] , which includes gardens, a cricket ground and a 150 acrecite book |last=Page |first=William |coauthors=Ditchfield, PH (eds.)|title="The Victoria History of the County of Berkshire Volume 4 |url=http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=62747 |date=1924 |publisher=St Catherine Press] deer park. The previous manor house, Buckland Manor House, also stands in the park. Buckland House is a Grade II* listed building [cite web |title=UK Database of Historic Parks & Gardens: "Buckland House" |url=http://www.york.ac.uk/depts/arch/landscapes/ukpg/sites/buckland.htm |accessdate=2008-09-20] in the Palladian style. It was described as "the most splendid Georgian house in the Country" by Nikolaus Pevsner in his book The Buildings of England: Berkshirecite book |title=The Buildings of England: Berkshire |last=Pevsner |first=Nicholas |year=1966 |publisher=Penguin Books |location=London |isbn=0-14-071030-2] . It is rumoured that a ghost of a white lady haunts the house.cite web |title=Ghosts from Berkshire Places beginning with B|url=http://www.berkshirehistory.com/legends/ghosts_b.html |work=Royal Berkshire History |last=Ford |first=David Nash |date=2001 |accessdate=2008-09-19] .

Owners

* In the mid 1750s, Sir Robert Throckmorton had Buckland House build to replace his previous manor house.
* Following his death in 1791, Sir John Courtenay Throckmorton inherited the estate [cite web |title=Parks & Gardens UK: "Buckland House, Oxfordshire/History" |url=http://www.parksandgardens.ac.uk/component/option,com_parksandgardens/task,site/id,615/Itemid,292/ |accessdate=2008-09-20] . Between 1870-1872, it was said the house had relics of Mary Queen of Scots and Charles I, some other curiosities and some fine pictures [cite web |title=A Vision of Britain Through Time: "Descriptive Gazetteer/Imperial Gazetteer Of England And Wales (1870-1872)" |url=http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/gaztext_page.jsp?u_id=10201548&c_id=10001043 |accessdate=2008-09-20] .
* Sir Maurice and Lady Fitzgerald took over the property from the Throckmortons and lived there until 1947. Visitors to the house during the Fitzgeralds tenure included Sir Winston Churchill and Queen Mary who had objets d'art stored in the basement during World War II.
* Buckland House then passed to Major Richard Wellesley, grandson of Lady Fitzgerald
* In 1962 Major Richard Wellesley advertised Buckland House in The Times for "£8 a week". In 1963, it became an Oxford University hall

Architectural history

Original House

Although the Throckmortons owned the Buckland estate since 1690, living in the manor house, it was Sir Robert Throckmorton (the fourth baronet of Coughton) [cite web |title=Parks & Gardens UK: "Buckland House, Oxfordshire/History" |url=http://www.parksandgardens.ac.uk/component/option,com_parksandgardens/task,site/id,615/Itemid,292/ |accessdate=2008-09-20] who commissioned John Wood (the Elder) of Bath to design the new Buckland House [cite web |title=The Dovecote: "History" |url=http://the-dovecote.co.uk/history/history.html |accessdate=2008-09-18] as a shooting lodge and weekend retreat [cite web |title=BBC: "Legacies/Architectural Heritage/England/Oxford/Life Before The Freezer" |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/legacies/heritage/england/oxford/article_1.shtml |accessdate=2008-09-20] [cite web |title=Parks & Gardens UK: "Buckland House, Oxfordshire/Summary" |url=http://www.parksandgardens.ac.uk/component/option,com_parksandgardens/task,site/id,615/Itemid,292/ |accessdate=2008-09-20] . John Wood The Younger substantially revised the plan and added the distinctive octagonal pavilions to the sides of the house. The final house is illustrated in the 1767 volume of Vitruvius Britannicus. [cite web |title=The Dovecote: "History" |url=http://the-dovecote.co.uk/history/history.html |accessdate=2008-09-18]

The house includes features such as marble fireplaces, exquisite mouldings, cornicing and painted ceilings. It is symmetrical and long passages lead to the two octagonal pavillions, used today as a library and dining room. 15 bedrooms were built into the house in total to hold both family and staff. It is rumoured that one of the bedrooms was designed as a copy of Marie Antionette's bedroom from Versaille. The saloon has Corinthian pilasters, bold cornices and well carved festoons

1908 Additions

The architect W H Romaine Walker [cite web |title=Parks & Gardens UK: "Buckland House, Oxfordshire/Description" |url=http://www.parksandgardens.ac.uk/component/option,com_parksandgardens/task,site/id,615/Itemid,292/ |accessdate=2008-09-20] was engaged by the new owner to enlarge the property, addings wings on the north front to house a Billiard Room as well as a Royal Suite, rumoured to have been built to make the property large enough for King Edward VII to visit. Additional rooms were added upstairs in the property too, taking the total number of bedrooms to 19. Finally, a rear terrace was also added.

Recent alterations

With the last planning permission on the property approved in 1993, the owners of Buckland House started applying for planning permission to improve the property [cite web |title=Vale Of White Horse District Council "Application Details 06/00539" |url=http://planning.whitehorsedc.gov.uk/publicaccess/tdc/DcApplication/application_detailview.aspx?caseno=IYFCF2BY7A000 |accessdate=2008-09-18] :
* August 2002 for restoration of parterres, formal pools, a long pool, a Ha Ha wall, replacement planting, reinstatement of a drive and widening the existing drive. [cite web |title=Vale Of White Horse District Council "Application Details 02/01405" |url=http://planning.whitehorsedc.gov.uk/publicaccess/tdc/DcApplication/application_detailview.aspx?caseno=0201405FUL |accessdate=2008-09-18] Also extensions to the lower ground to create additional garage facilities, a swimming pool and a squash court. [cite web |title=Vale Of White Horse District Council "Application Details 02/01231" |url=http://planning.whitehorsedc.gov.uk/publicaccess/tdc/DcApplication/application_detailview.aspx?caseno=0201231FUL |accessdate=2008-09-18] : (Approved)
* September 2002 for a helicopter landing pad with an underground bunker and tunnel link to the house. [cite web |title=Vale Of White Horse District Council "Application Details 02/01494" |url=http://planning.whitehorsedc.gov.uk/publicaccess/tdc/DcApplication/application_detailview.aspx?caseno=0201494FUL |accessdate=2008-09-18] (Approved)
* March 2003 to make alterations. [cite web |title=Vale Of White Horse District Council "Application Details 03/00528" |url=http://planning.whitehorsedc.gov.uk/publicaccess/tdc/DcApplication/application_detailview.aspx?caseno=0300528LBC |accessdate=2008-09-18] (Withdrawn)
* March 2003 to change the use of the property from residential to a hotel along with alterations and extensions. [cite web |title=Vale Of White Horse District Council "Application Details 03/00527" |url=http://planning.whitehorsedc.gov.uk/publicaccess/tdc/DcApplication/application_detailview.aspx?caseno=0300527COU |accessdate=2008-09-18] (Refused)
* April 2003 to change the use of the property from residential to a corporate headquarters. [cite web |title=Vale Of White Horse District Council "Application Details 03/00552" |url=http://planning.whitehorsedc.gov.uk/publicaccess/tdc/DcApplication/application_detailview.aspx?caseno=0300552COU |accessdate=2008-09-18] (Refused)
* April 2003 to change the use of the property from residential to a nursing/mental home. [cite web |title=Vale Of White Horse District Council "Application Details 03/00551" |url=http://planning.whitehorsedc.gov.uk/publicaccess/tdc/DcApplication/application_detailview.aspx?caseno=0300551COU |accessdate=2008-09-18] (Refused)
* June 2003 to make alterations, extensions and convert the property to be a nursing home [cite web |title=Vale Of White Horse District Council "Application Details 03/01040" |url=http://planning.whitehorsedc.gov.uk/publicaccess/tdc/DcApplication/application_detailview.aspx?caseno=HGSDXEBY41000 |accessdate=2008-09-18] [cite web |title=Vale Of White Horse District Council "Application Details 03/01041" |url=http://planning.whitehorsedc.gov.uk/publicaccess/tdc/DcApplication/application_detailview.aspx?caseno=HGSDIHBY41000 |accessdate=2008-09-18] . (Approved)
* June 2003 to make alterations, extensions and convert the property to be a corporate headquarters. [cite web |title=Vale Of White Horse District Council "Application Details 03/01039" |url=http://planning.whitehorsedc.gov.uk/publicaccess/tdc/DcApplication/application_detailview.aspx?caseno=HGSE64BY41000 |accessdate=2008-09-18] (Withdrawn)
* January 2004 to change the use of the property from a residential property to a hotel [cite web |title=Vale Of White Horse District Council "Application Details 04/00053" |url=http://planning.whitehorsedc.gov.uk/publicaccess/tdc/DcApplication/application_detailview.aspx?caseno=HRFLICBY41000 |accessdate=2008-09-18] . and make alterations and extensions [cite web |title=Vale Of White Horse District Council "Application Details 04/00054" |url=http://planning.whitehorsedc.gov.uk/publicaccess/tdc/DcApplication/application_detailview.aspx?caseno=HRFLATBY41000 |accessdate=2008-09-18] . (Approved)
* February 2005 to remove existing CCTV cameras and replace with smaller ones. [cite web |title=Vale Of White Horse District Council "Application Details 05/00155" |url=http://planning.whitehorsedc.gov.uk/publicaccess/tdc/DcApplication/application_detailview.aspx?caseno=IBOW12BYU0000 |accessdate=2008-09-18] : (Approved)
* March 2005 to make alterations, extensions and refurbishment. [cite web |title=Vale Of White Horse District Council "Application Details 05/00439" |url=http://planning.whitehorsedc.gov.uk/publicaccess/tdc/DcApplication/application_detailview.aspx?caseno=IEFEFLBYU0000 |accessdate=2008-09-18] (Approved)
* April 2006 for alterations and refurbishment and an extension to underground parking. [cite web |title=Vale Of White Horse District Council "Application Details 06/00539" |url=http://planning.whitehorsedc.gov.uk/publicaccess/tdc/DcApplication/application_detailview.aspx?caseno=IYFCF2BY7A000 |accessdate=2008-09-18] : (Approved)
* December 2006 for retrospective permission for the erection of railings and gates. [cite web |title=Vale Of White Horse District Council "Application Details 06/01903" |url=http://planning.whitehorsedc.gov.uk/publicaccess/tdc/DcApplication/application_detailview.aspx?caseno=JAJ3NNBY7A000 |accessdate=2008-09-18] (Approved)
* April 2007 for removal of existing railings and the erection of new railings and a timber fence. [cite web |title=Vale Of White Horse District Council "Application Details 07/00524" |url=http://planning.whitehorsedc.gov.uk/publicaccess/tdc/DcApplication/application_detailview.aspx?caseno=JGA4RQBYDC000 |accessdate=2008-09-18] (Approved)
* April 2008 for a new stone wall, car park provisions, demolition of entrance gates, new main and secondary gates, hard landscaping plus new security and livestock. [cite web |title=Vale Of White Horse District Council "Application Details 08/01322" |url=http://planning.whitehorsedc.gov.uk/publicaccess/tdc/DcApplication/application_detailview.aspx?caseno=K5HPR9BY0CD00 |accessdate=2008-09-18] (Pending consideration)

Gardens

The entire landscape garden was designed by Richard Woods [cite web |title=Parks & Gardens UK: "Buckland House, Oxfordshire/Summary" |url=http://www.parksandgardens.ac.uk/component/option,com_parksandgardens/task,site/id,615/Itemid,292/ |accessdate=2008-09-20] , a contemporary of Capability Brown. The lakes were designed to look like a part of the River Thames and they were joined with a small waterfall [cite web |title=BBC: "Legacies/Architectural Heritage/England/Oxford/Life Before The Freezer" |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/legacies/heritage/england/oxford/article_1.shtml |accessdate=2008-09-20] .

During the late eighteenth/early nineteenth century, further landscaping and planting took place, supervised by Sir John Courtenay Throckmorton. [cite web |title=Parks & Gardens UK: "Buckland House, Oxfordshire/Summary" |url=http://www.parksandgardens.ac.uk/component/option,com_parksandgardens/task,site/id,615/Itemid,292/ |accessdate=2008-09-20]

In 1908, W H Romaine Walker created the formal terrace on the north front as part of the broad redevelopment commissioned at that time. Lady Fitzgerald supervised the construction of a water garden with rock paths on the north side of the lake. [cite web |title=Parks & Gardens UK: "Buckland House, Oxfordshire/History" |url=http://www.parksandgardens.ac.uk/component/option,com_parksandgardens/task,site/id,615/Itemid,292/ |accessdate=2008-09-20]

The garden is occasionally open to the public under the NGS Gardens Open For Charity scheme with the entrance fee donated to the Richard Wellesley Memorial Transport fund [cite web |title=NGS GardenFinder: "Buckland Lakes" |url=http://www.ngs.org.uk/GardenInfo.asp?mxnxoooaobokmzmumnmdmdmjmf |accessdate=2008-09-20] .

Icehouse

An icehouse, also designed by Richard Woods, was sited half way between the two lakes on a north facing slope behind the house. The portico matches that of Buckland House. The icehouse is a cup and dome design, built partially underground and with a thatched roof, all to increase insulation. It was the subject of a local history article published on the BBC web site. Estate workers would break ice from the pond with picks and saws, relay it to the shore and then quickly take it to the icehouse. Once there, it was packed hard to make maximum use of the interior. Throughout the year, manageable lumps of ice would be taken to the house, placed in ice-drawers in the kitchen larder and then used for food preservation and making iced confections. This method enabled ice to be available through the summer months. [cite web |title=BBC: "Legacies/Architectural Heritage/England/Oxford/Life Before The Freezer" |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/legacies/heritage/england/oxford/article_1.shtml |accessdate=2008-09-20]

References