Summary
Stonor Park is a lovely stately home, seat of the Stonor family for
over 800 years. The house and family chapel are located in a small dell
near Henley on Thames. Stonor is famous for its association with the
Catholic faith during the years when Catholicism was outlawed in England.
It was here in 1581 that the Catholic martyr Edmund Campion printed
the pamphlet Ten Reasons, and visitors can see the hidden chambers used
by Campion.
History
The oldest part of Stonor, now the tea room and shop, was built in the
late 12th century. Further additions were made ion the second half of
the 13th century. These early buildings were largely of flint, and clunch
(a form of chalk). The house was expanded in the Elizabethan period
to form an E shape - a common motif during the reign of Elizabeth Still
later, the house was finished in Georgian style with red brick and flint.
The rather regal looking frontage is joined to the family chapel, which
dates to the earliest part of the house history. Before the chapel is
the startling sight of a small stone circle. The stones, which range
in height from about a foot to five feet tall, are thought to be a legitimate
prehistoric circle, but they are not native to this location.
Edmund
Campion
Stonor will forever be remembered for its association with the Catholic
martyr Edmund Campion. During the turbulent years of the Protestant
Reformation in England, Catholicism was banned, and Catholics were widely
persecuted. In an effort to win back those Catholics who were, perhaps,
wavering in their faith in the face of such social and legal pressure
to forswear their faith, Jesuit priests were sent secretly into England.
One of these priests was Edmund Campion. Campion met with John Stonor,
who offered him refuge at Stonor Park. Campion lived secretly in attic
chambers, and here printed a pamphlet, titled 'Decem Rationes' or 'Ten
Reasons', a attempt to offer a logical appeal for why Catholicism was
preferable to Protestantism. The pamphlet proved his undoing, for Campion
was captured, and, under torture, made to confess where he had printed
the work. Campion was executed at Tyburn, Stonor was seized, and the
Stonor family made to pay a huge fine to regain their house and estate.
John Stonor, who had invited Campion to his family home, was exiled
for life to France. Campion was canonized in 1970. Visitors can view
the chambers used by Campion, and see exhibits related to his life and
capture.
The Gardens
Open parkland stretches to the front, or south of the house. To the
rear is a lovely walled garden. This formal garden was designed in the
17th century, perhaps taking advantage of an earlier medieval garden.
The garden is arranged on a gentle slope, which gives lovely southern
exposure. Terraces at the top of the garden lead to an orchard, dotted
with fruit trees, and benches arranged to give good views over the house
to the deer park beyond. Stonor is famous for its herd of fallow deer,
which can often be viewed in the parkland around the house. Deer have
thrived at Stonor since the medieval period, and the herd now numbers
about 150.
The Chapel
Probably the earliest surviving building at Stonor Park is the family
chapel, which dates to the early 12th century. Though much remodeled
inside, the chapel is quite lovely, and features a painted, vaulted
ceiling. A large lump of protruding stone inside the chapel is thought
to belong to the nearby stone circle. The tower, which was built in
1416, is one of the earliest known instances of brick being used as
a building material in this part of England since the departure of the
Romans one thousand years earlier.
Stonor for Children
There isn't a great deal for children at Stonor. Our children, aged
5 and 11, enjoyed seeing the secret chambers used by Edmund Campion,
and there was a children's quiz for them to follow, finding answers
to questions in every room. The gardens proved an unexpected hit, with
lots of nooks and crannies for playing hide and seek.
Contact
Stonor Park
Stonor Park
Henley On Thames
Oxfordshire
England
RG9 6HF Location: 5 miles north of Henley, on the B480
Website:Stonor Park Email:administrator@stonor.com Phone: 01491 638 587
Fax: 01491 639 348
Location
map
Parking
There is a car park about 100 yards from the House. Access via a level
gravel path.
Entry
Entry fee. Free entry to Historic Houses Association members
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