Aynhoe Park
Encyclopedia
Aynhoe Park, is a Grade I listed 17th-century country house rebuilt after the English Civil War
on the southern edge of the stone-built village of Aynho
near Banbury
, Oxfordshire
. It overlooks the Cherwell
valley that divides Northamptonshire
from Oxfordshire
. The house represents four architectural periods: Jacobean
, Carolean
and both the early 18th and 19th centuries. The house is in private ownership and no longer open to the public but can be hired for some private functions.
. It was rebuilt after the Civil War to the design of Edward Marshall, master mason in Charles II
's Office of Works
. In 1707, Thomas Cartwright employed Thomas Archer
to enlarge the Jacobean building. At the beginning of the 19th century, the house was embellished by Sir John Soane.
Aynhoe Park is a pedimented main block with lower service blocks on each side forming a courtyard. This dates from the early 18th century when Thomas Archer
was commissioned to enlarge the Jacobean house. Archer, who had visited Italy, added unusual late-Baroque detailing, such as the concave surrounds to the central doorways of the service blocks. The middle of the garden front remainly largely unchanged since it was built in the 1660s.
The interiors, created by Archer with the exception of the main staircase, have been remodelled. However, Aynhoe Park has retained the rooms designed by Sir John Soane. Soane was instructed to prepare designs for a thorough remodelling of the interior in 1795—the drawings for this work can be seen in the Sir John Soane's Museum in London. Unfortunately, these interiors were never built. However, Soane did redesign the reception rooms along the garden front in a modest style in 1800–5 and, with the exception of the French Drawing Room. These interiors have survived and illustrate the architect's exploitation of curved surfaces. Soane also created the top-lit staircase with its iron balustrade in the south wing and the "triumphal arches" which link the main block to the service wings.
The surroundings represent an early formal garden with landscape park. Gardens were laid out by Mr Guilliam 1701–14, and the park laid out 1760–63 by Capability Brown
. More recently, the Hall was owned by the Country Houses Association
until it went into liquidation in 2003. It was remodelled in 2004 by James Perkins, and is now avalble for weddings and parties.
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
on the southern edge of the stone-built village of Aynho
Aynho
Aynho is a village and civil parish in South Northamptonshire, England, on the edge of the Cherwell valley about southeast of the north Oxfordshire town of Banbury and southwest of Brackley...
near Banbury
Banbury
Banbury is a market town and civil parish on the River Cherwell in the Cherwell District of Oxfordshire. It is northwest of London, southeast of Birmingham, south of Coventry and north northwest of the county town of Oxford...
, Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire is a county in the South East region of England, bordering on Warwickshire and Northamptonshire , Buckinghamshire , Berkshire , Wiltshire and Gloucestershire ....
. It overlooks the Cherwell
River Cherwell
The River Cherwell is a river which flows through the Midlands of England. It is a major tributary of the River Thames.The general course of the River Cherwell is north to south and the 'straight-line' distance from its source to the Thames is about...
valley that divides Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire is a landlocked county in the English East Midlands, with a population of 629,676 as at the 2001 census. It has boundaries with the ceremonial counties of Warwickshire to the west, Leicestershire and Rutland to the north, Cambridgeshire to the east, Bedfordshire to the south-east,...
from Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire is a county in the South East region of England, bordering on Warwickshire and Northamptonshire , Buckinghamshire , Berkshire , Wiltshire and Gloucestershire ....
. The house represents four architectural periods: Jacobean
Jacobean architecture
The Jacobean style is the second phase of Renaissance architecture in England, following the Elizabethan style. It is named after King James I of England, with whose reign it is associated.-Characteristics:...
, Carolean
Restoration style
Restoration style, also known as Carolean style Restoration style, also known as Carolean style Restoration style, also known as Carolean style (from the Latin Carolus (Charles), refers to the decorative arts popular in England from the restoration of the monarchy in 1660 to the late 1680s after...
and both the early 18th and 19th centuries. The house is in private ownership and no longer open to the public but can be hired for some private functions.
History
The estate was purchased in the 17th century by John Cartwright, but the house he built in 1615 was seriously damaged during the Civil War by Royalist forces following the Battle of NasebyBattle of Naseby
The Battle of Naseby was the key battle of the first English Civil War. On 14 June 1645, the main army of King Charles I was destroyed by the Parliamentarian New Model Army commanded by Sir Thomas Fairfax and Oliver Cromwell.-The Campaign:...
. It was rebuilt after the Civil War to the design of Edward Marshall, master mason in Charles II
Charles II of England
Charles II was monarch of the three kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland.Charles II's father, King Charles I, was executed at Whitehall on 30 January 1649, at the climax of the English Civil War...
's Office of Works
Office of Works
The Office of Works was established in the English Royal household in 1378 to oversee the building of the royal castles and residences. In 1832 it became the Works Department within the Office of Woods, Forests, Land Revenues, Works and Buildings...
. In 1707, Thomas Cartwright employed Thomas Archer
Thomas Archer
Thomas Archer was an English Baroque architect, whose work is somewhat overshadowed by that of his contemporaries Sir John Vanbrugh and Nicholas Hawksmoor. Archer was born at Umberslade Hall in Tanworth-in-Arden in Warwickshire, the youngest son of Thomas Archer, a country gentleman, Parliamentary...
to enlarge the Jacobean building. At the beginning of the 19th century, the house was embellished by Sir John Soane.
Aynhoe Park is a pedimented main block with lower service blocks on each side forming a courtyard. This dates from the early 18th century when Thomas Archer
Thomas Archer
Thomas Archer was an English Baroque architect, whose work is somewhat overshadowed by that of his contemporaries Sir John Vanbrugh and Nicholas Hawksmoor. Archer was born at Umberslade Hall in Tanworth-in-Arden in Warwickshire, the youngest son of Thomas Archer, a country gentleman, Parliamentary...
was commissioned to enlarge the Jacobean house. Archer, who had visited Italy, added unusual late-Baroque detailing, such as the concave surrounds to the central doorways of the service blocks. The middle of the garden front remainly largely unchanged since it was built in the 1660s.
The interiors, created by Archer with the exception of the main staircase, have been remodelled. However, Aynhoe Park has retained the rooms designed by Sir John Soane. Soane was instructed to prepare designs for a thorough remodelling of the interior in 1795—the drawings for this work can be seen in the Sir John Soane's Museum in London. Unfortunately, these interiors were never built. However, Soane did redesign the reception rooms along the garden front in a modest style in 1800–5 and, with the exception of the French Drawing Room. These interiors have survived and illustrate the architect's exploitation of curved surfaces. Soane also created the top-lit staircase with its iron balustrade in the south wing and the "triumphal arches" which link the main block to the service wings.
The surroundings represent an early formal garden with landscape park. Gardens were laid out by Mr Guilliam 1701–14, and the park laid out 1760–63 by Capability Brown
Capability Brown
Lancelot Brown , more commonly known as Capability Brown, was an English landscape architect. He is remembered as "the last of the great English eighteenth-century artists to be accorded his due", and "England's greatest gardener". He designed over 170 parks, many of which still endure...
. More recently, the Hall was owned by the Country Houses Association
Country Houses Association
The Country Houses Association was a British charity that converted country houses into retirement flats and maintained them from 1955 until its liquidation in 2004.- History :...
until it went into liquidation in 2003. It was remodelled in 2004 by James Perkins, and is now avalble for weddings and parties.