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The
origins of Yarnton Manor go back to Norman times. From 1580 to 1712 it belonged
to the Spencer family. Sir Thomas Spencer transformed it into one of the largest
Jacobean houses in the country, rebuilding it around 1611 to fill three sides
of a courtyard, with wings projecting from the ends of today’s house towards
the adjoining church of St Bartholomew. These wings were taken down in the mid-eighteenth
century. Sir Thomas also added the Spencer chapel inside the church and rebuilt
the church tower, which is also dated 1611 and inscribed with his initials.
During the Civil War (1642-1651) the Manor was used as a military hospital for
the King’s troops. Forty Royalist soldiers are buried in the churchyard.
The Manor was purchased from the Spencers by Sir Thomas Dashwood who removed much of its stone to build his own mansion at nearby Kirtlington. The Manor remained essentially a farmhouse until it was bought in 1897 by H R Franklin, a church and house restorer from Deddington. In the same year Thomas Garner, a celebrated Victorian architect with whom Franklin had collaborated previously, embarked on restoration work. He saved whatever he could, added elaborate ceilings and replaced the demolished southern end of the house. He also designed and laid out the gardens in Jacobean style.
The interior of the Manor has many interesting features. The porch is original, as are the panelling, the screen and fireplace in the Main Hall, and the panelling and fireplace in the Long Gallery. In 1936 the house was bought by the last non-institutional owner, George Kolkhurst, Reader in Spanish at the University, who had a wonderful collection of carpets, tapestries and ceramics. Photographs dating from this period were discovered in the attic, and are now on display around the Manor.
A pamphlet entitled 'A Short History of Yarnton Manor' compiled by Dr Jeremy Schonfield is available on request, price £6.00 plus post & packing.
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