Picture this imposing seventeenth-century building before you. This is Barton Manor a grand ashlar structure in Barton Village Road Oxford. Its moulded eaves and cornice speak of elegance. Three original attic dormers with gables peek from its roofline. This grand house has witnessed centuries of Oxford life.
Barton Manor’s history is rich with intriguing stories. One resident was Vashti de Montfort Wellborne an actress who lived here from 1876 to 1930. She’s remembered in a stained-glass window at St Andrew’s Church in Old Headington. The window depicts Queen Vashti of Persia and a small image of Barton Manor itself. The window caused controversy upon its installation. The Chancellor initially refused permission. It was only after ingenious arguments about Queen Vashti’s virtue that he relented.
Long before Vashti Barton Manor had other notable inhabitants. John Boyce a three-time Mayor of Oxford likely lived here. His widow advertised Barton Manor for sale in 1759. Later the Reverend Nathaniel Alsop Bliss resided here. His home is likely Barton Manor as it was the only large stone house in Barton at the time. The house even boasted a detached kitchen and extensive gardens. William Reynolds a wood engraver lived in Barton Manor in the 1850s. Sadly his young son George died there.
In the late nineteenth century the west side of Barton Manor was refronted. The interior however still boasts a late seventeenth-century staircase. The house’s address changed from number 9 to 7 in the 1950s. In the 1990s the Campaign for the Protection of Rural England restored Barton Manor. A plaque commemorates this restoration. Archaeological digs during a 2017 renovation uncovered medieval foundations. This discovery highlighted Barton Manor’s deep roots in Oxford’s history.
Barton Manor continues to stand proudly. It remains a testament to Oxford’s enduring past. The house has endured changes. It has withstood the test of time. This grand building whispers stories of mayors actresses and even a medieval ditch. It remains a captivating piece of Oxford’s history.