Summary
A lovely Jacobean house with Georgian remodeling. The house is set in
superb landscape gardens, which have remained unaltered since they were
designed in the early 18th century. The gardens, designed by William
Kent, were one of the first and most influential of the style which
became known as English landscape gardening. The house has been owned
by Dormer family since t was built.
The House
The garden draws most people to Rousham, and deservedly so, but the
Jacobean house is worthy of note. It was begun in the 1630s by Sir Robert
Dormer on earlier foundations, and despite remodeling in the 18th and
19th centuries, the core of Rousham House is much as Sir Robert would
have seen it. The house is situated on a terrace above the River Cherwell,
with lawns sloping down to the river.
Heritage Highlight
Look closely at the front door of Rousham House,
and you will see small circular holes lined with lead. These are
mementoes of the Civil War, when the owner of the house, Sir Robert
Dormer, bored holes in the woodwork to allow defenders of the house
to stick their muskets out. Sir Robert, a staunch Royalist, was
aware of the possibility of attack by Parliamentary forces. There
is no indication that an attack ever materialized, but the musket
holes are a reminder of that dark period of English history.
Whereas the landscape gardens have blessedly remained unaltered since
their inception, the house has undergone several changes. The most notable
was the work of William Kent, who was also responsible for the landscape
gardens and the stable block. In the 18th century the distinction between
gardening and architecture was not as distinct as it often is today.
In England in particular, the gardens surrounding a house became seen
as an extension of the house, with the style of one complimenting the
other. Kent redesigned the Jacobean interiors at Rousham, but left untouched
the original staircase. Other original features still intact include
Jacobean paneling, as well as a variety of 17th century furniture and
portraits.
One
of the interior highlights is the parlour, designed by Kent. Indeed,
not only did Kent draw up plans for the classically inspired chamber,
he is said to have painted the ceiling himself. There are four classical
doorways in the parlour, but only one is an actual door; the others
are false doors, inserted by Kent purely to provide the symmetry he
desired. Nicolas Pevsner, the prolific architectural historian and write,r
who may be considered to know a thing or two about English houses, lauded
the parlour at Rousham as "one of the most exquisite small rooms
of the 18th century in England." Moving back to the exterior of
the house, Rousham was redesigned in 1876 by John Henry St Aubyn, who
altered the north frontage.
The Gardens
Rousham's place in history is assured as one of the first landscape
gardens in England, and one of the most influential. The garden design
was begun by Charles Bridgman, the royal gardener, in the 1720s. In
1738 William Kent was called in to finish Bridgman's design, and the
result is a superb early example of formal garden mixed with carefully
designed natural landscape style. Kent is famous as the father of the
"picturesque", or English landscape garden. He envisioned
the landscape as a classical painting, carefully arranged to maximize
the artistic effects of light, shape, and colour. His gardens were dotted
with classical temples replete with philosophical associations. At Rousham,
Roman elements abound, including statuary, urns, and a classical temple
looking over the River Cherwell. Kent designed the gardens around several
ponds and cascades, with wooded glades opening to provide views to classically
inspired architectural elements, or follies. There is also an attractive
walled garden featured herbaceous plants and a formal parterre.
Rousham
Church
Located immediately beside Rousham House, and part of the Rousham estate,
is the parish church. This is a lovely early medieval building with
a sturdy square tower in Perpendicular style. The interior features
some lovely medieval tombs and memorials to the Dormer family of Rousham
House.
Rousham for Families
Rousham is a wonderful house and superlative garden, but, sadly, not
the most welcoming place for families. As of this writing, no children
under 15 years of age are admitted.
Contact
Rousham House and Garden
Steeple Aston
Rousham
Oxfordshire
England
OX25 4QX Location: 7 m W Bicester, off B4030
Website:Rousham House and Garden Phone: 01869 347 110
Fax: 01869 347 110
Location
map
Parking
There is a car park about 100 yards from the House, through the stable
block. Access via a level gravel path.
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