The Abbey, Sutton Courtenay
Encyclopedia
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.
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Sutton Courtenay
Sutton Courtenay is a village and civil parish on the River Thames south of Abingdon and northwest of Didcot. It was part of Berkshire until the 1974 boundary changes transferred it to Oxfordshire.-Today:...
is a courtyard house of c. 1320, and later remodelled, in the English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
county of Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire is a county in the South East region of England, bordering on Warwickshire and Northamptonshire , Buckinghamshire , Berkshire , Wiltshire and Gloucestershire ....
(formerly Berkshire
Berkshire
Berkshire is a historic county in the South of England. It is also often referred to as the Royal County of Berkshire because of the presence of the royal residence of Windsor Castle in the county; this usage, which dates to the 19th century at least, was recognised by the Queen in 1957, and...
).
The hall and solar
Solar (room)
The solar was a room in many English and French medieval manor houses, great houses and castles, generally situated on an upper storey, designed as the family's private living and sleeping quarters...
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
Great Hall
Great Hall may refer to* Great hall, the main room of a royal palace, nobleman's castle or large manor house* Great Hall of the People, Tiananmen Square, Beijing* Great Hall of the University of Sydney, Australia* Cooper_Union#The_Great_Hall, New York...
survives open to the roof, with one cruck
Cruck
A cruck or crook frame is a curved timber, one of a pair, which supports the roof of a building, used particularly in England. This type of timber framing consists of long, generally bent, timber beams that lean inwards and form the ridge of the roof. These posts are then generally secured by a...
truss carrying a king post
King post
A king post is a central vertical supporting post used in architectural, bridge, or aircraft design applications.-Architecture:...
. 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
Henry VI of England
Henry VI was King of England from 1422 to 1461 and again from 1470 to 1471, and disputed King of France from 1422 to 1453. Until 1437, his realm was governed by regents. Contemporaneous accounts described him as peaceful and pious, not suited for the violent dynastic civil wars, known as the Wars...
and Bishop of Bath and Wells
Bishop of Bath and Wells
The Bishop of Bath and Wells heads the Church of England Diocese of Bath and Wells in the Province of Canterbury in England.The present diocese covers the vast majority of the county of Somerset and a small area of Dorset. The Episcopal seat is located in the Cathedral Church of Saint Andrew in...
. The house belonged to the Astor family
Astor family
The Astor family is a Anglo-American business family of German descent notable for their prominence in business, society, and politics.-Founding family members:...
in the 20th century but was sold in 1980 for use as a religious education centre.
External links
- Royal Berkshire History: The 'Abbey' at Sutton Courtenay
- Images of England: Statutory list description. Free login required.
- The Abbey Community Retreat and Conference Centre
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