Wytham Abbey And Attached Wall, Grade I listed manor house in Wytham, England
Wytham Abbey is a manor house in Wytham with attached walls and gate piers forming an integrated architectural ensemble. The building incorporates multiple layers of construction spanning from its medieval origins through Georgian modifications, with rooms and passages that reflect its evolving purposes over time.
The estate was founded around 1480 as an abbey for the Abbots of Abingdon, serving religious purposes in its early years. Following the Dissolution of Monasteries in the 1530s, Sir Richard Harcourt acquired the property, which then became a secular residence for influential families, including the Earls of Abingdon.
The structure underwent Georgian Gothic remodeling in 1809 by Thomas Cundy, transforming the estate into the principal residence of the Earls of Abingdon.
The property stands about 3 miles (5 kilometers) northwest of Oxford's center and sits adjacent to Wytham Woods, a research forest managed by the University of Oxford. Access to the grounds may be limited as it remains a private residence, so it is best to check in advance for visiting possibilities.
The young Princess Elizabeth, later Queen Elizabeth I, stayed at the Abbey during her formative years as a guest of the household. Oliver Cromwell later used the building as a military headquarters during the English Civil War period when troops occupied the Oxford region.
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