| Title: |
RYCOTE WOOD COLLEGE, THAME, OXFORDSHIRE (SU 701 064) AN HISTORIC BUILDING RECORD |
| Series: |
John Moore Heritage Services unpublished report series
|
| Downloads: |
|
johnmoor1-226393_186200.pdf (12 MB)
:
|
Download
|
|
| Licence Type: |
ADS Terms of Use and Access
|
| DOI |
|
| Publication Type: |
Report (in Series)
|
| Abstract: |
A Historic Building assessment was carried out by Oxford Archaeology (June 2004) involving study of all available historic maps and plans, together with a documentary search. This was supplemented by further research undertaken at the Sites and Monument Record, Bodleian Library and the Public Records Office.
An on-site investigation was undertaken to examine the standing building fabric, to assess the development of the site over time, to determine the uses and circulation of the buildings, in order to determine age and function.
In addition to this a full photographic record was made of the building as it stands to assist in the understanding of the significance of the buildings and the development of the site over time. This included: a room by room photographic survey with the photographic locations shown on the floor plans to be included in the site archive; and internal and external general and detail photography, including a record of surviving period detail.
A drawn record has been made involving the production of scaled plans showing the location of features significant to the buildings original function and subsequent development. Two main factors concerning Workhouse sites in general should be taken into consideration: the first is that early plans, where they exist at all, are often for the ground floor arrangements. This is the case for the Thame Union Workhouse. No plans have been discovered yet that relate directly to the layout of the upper floors of the buildings. The second factor is that continuous use of workhouse buildings result in the loss of internal features that would have directly related to their original functions. Again this is the case for Thame.
Here, the remaining buildings belonging to the workhouse tell a complex story of adaptation and modification over the years, from first build through to conversion for college property. Traces of internal modification relate predominantly to the early college years and subsequent 20th century modernisation.
Of the remains, there are a few key areas where survival of early fabric, fittings and fitting occur: the first floor of the central hub, where many period features survive; the columns in the ground floor of the hub and the very visible blocked doorways and windows. Attention should also be drawn to the surviving elements of the basements, where much of the original layout has already been lost.
Further original elements can be seen in the Kitchen range (roof lantern, ceilings). Within the West and East Wings chimneybreasts are still in situ although the fireplaces have long since been blocked. These chimneybreasts give clues to the internal arrangements in that they were devised to provide heat to two separate rooms, hence the triangular shape. A possible early partition, in situ at the apex of such a fireplace can be seen in the west wing (Second Floor).
Mention should be made of the preservation in situ of the staircase remains in the roof space where the central spokes abut the east and west wings. Here traces of paint finish and remnants of originals staircases can be seen as illustrated above.
The availability of the plans such as the 1850 plan and those relating to the first phases of college conversion have helped to build up a picture of changes to the original workhouse buildings. Evidence from the plans has been supplemented by evidence from the building fabric itself. Some features can be pinned down to original construction; some can be allocated as occurring within the first 15 years of the workhouse’s life. For the remainder of the features, phasing can be carried out, effectively grouping features by style and by location, particularly where original fabric has been cut to make room for new features.
Where scarce internal elements survive, the changes in the fenestration can give important clues to development and indeed function through the years. |
| Author: |
M Henderson
|
| Publisher: |
John Moore Heritage Services
|
| Year of Publication: |
2004
|
| Locations: |
| District: |
South Oxfordshire |
| Country: |
England |
| County: |
Oxfordshire |
| Parish: |
Thame |
|
Grid Reference: 470130, 206224 (Easting, Northing)
|
|
| Subjects / Periods: |
|
| Identifiers: |
| OASIS Id: |
johnmoor1-226393 |
| Report id: |
1470 |
|
| Note: |
This report was uploaded to the OASIS system by the named Publisher. The report has been transferred into the ADS Library for public access and to facilitate future research.
|
| Source: |
|
| Relations: |
|
| Created Date: |
19 May 2022 |
