The Abbey, Sutton Courtenay

The Abbey at Sutton Courtenay is a courtyard house of c. 1320, and later remodelled, in the English county of Oxfordshire (formerly Berkshire).

The hall and solar range are both of c. 1320; but the west front of the hall range is castellated and probably early 19th century. Inside, the Great Hall survives open to the roof, with one cruck truss carrying a king post. The later additions form a courtyard to the rear of the hall: The rear range is probably 16th century and the south range is probably early 17th century with later alterations. The ceiling of the solar is attributed to Thomas Bekynton, Rector of Sutton until 1443, tutor to Henry VI and Bishop of Bath and Wells. The house belonged to the Astor family in the 20th century but was sold in 1980 for use as a religious education centre.

References

*Sir N. Pevsner, "The buildings of England: Berkshire", 1966, pp. 236-7
*J. Pilling, "Oxfordshire houses", 1993, pp. 11-12

External links

* [http://www.berkshirehistory.com/castles/scourtenay_abbey.html Royal Berkshire History: The 'Abbey' at Sutton Courtenay]
* [http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk Images of England: Statutory list description] . Free login required.
* [http://www.theabbey.uk.com/ The Abbey Community Retreat and Conference Centre]