Sutton Courtenay

The Norman Hall in Church Street

In the Norman era, the oldest surviving buildings of the village were built. The Norman Hall is one of the oldest buildings in the village, being built in about 1192[10] in the reign of Richard I. Across the road from the Norman Hall is The Abbey, actually the former rectory. Its 14th-century Great Hall has an arched oak roof. The Manor House was formerly known as Brunce's Court when it was the home of the Brunce family, one of whom, Thomas Brunce, became Bishop of Norwich. It is a five-gabled, two-winged house which has had many additions over the centuries but originated as the great medieval royal hall, frequented by King Henry I and then taken over by the Courtenay family, who gave their name to the village. All Saints' parish church was also built at this time (see below), and is a fine example of local Norman and Medieval architecture.

The Abbey, Sutton Courtenay, a medieval courtyard house and former rectory

The Abbey is a medieval courtyard house, across the road from the Norman Hall and the Manor House. The Abbey has been recognised by the Historic Building Council for England (now Historic England) as a building of outstanding historic and architectural interest.[16] It is considered to be a ‘textbook’ example of the English medieval manor house,[17] and is a Grade I-listed building.[18]

The Abbey has its origins in the thirteenth century as a rectory of Abingdon Abbey. Several construction phases took place during the Middle Ages, carried out by prominent figures like Solomon of Rochester, Thomas Beckington and William Say, but it wasn't until the seventeenth century that the current plan was completed.[19] It was probably during the Victorian era that the house acquired the name 'The Abbey'.[20] From 1495 to 1867, The Abbey was in possession of St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle, who leased the estate among others to John Fettiplace.[19]

After being inhabited by Evelyn St. Croix Fleming, the estate was bought by David Astor in 1958, who leased it to the Ockenden Venture which offered sanctuary to refugees and displaced children. In the 70s, The Abbey was lent to the exiled Bishop Colin Winter to house the Namibia International Peace Centre. In 1978, the Astor family sold the house and in 1980 it came into possession of The New Era Centre, a non-profit charity led by Dr. Fred Blum and Bishop Stephen Verney.[20] The New Era Centre used The Abbey as a spiritual retreat and conference centre, and changed its name to 'The Abbey, Sutton Courtenay' in the 1990s.[21]

The Abbey, Sutton Courtenay is a residential centre in which a spiritual community offers hospitality to people seeking personal growth, spiritual refreshment and healing.[22] The Abbey also runs a programme of events for the public in the areas of spirituality, personal development, education, and music and the arts.[23]

H. H. Asquith's grave in All Saints' parish churchyard

In 1912 the then Prime Minister, H. H. Asquith, chose The Wharf (which he built in 1913) and the adjoining Walton House for his country residence. Asquith and his large family spent weekends at The Wharf where his wife Margot held court over bridge and tennis. She converted the old barn directly on the river which served for accommodation for the overflow of her many weekend parties. A painting of the period by Sir John Lavery (now in the Hugh Lane Gallery in Dublin) shows Elizabeth Asquith and her young friends lounging in boats by the riverside. Asquith signed the declaration that took Britain into the First World War here. The house has a blue plaque in honour of Asquith.[24] He and his family remained in the village after he resigned as Prime Minister. He is buried in All Saints' parish churchyard (see below).

15th-century south porch and parvise of All Saints' parish church

The earliest parts of All Saints' parish church include the 12th-century Norman west tower and responds of the chancel arch.[8] The most easterly arch of the south arcade is pointed but has zig-zag ornament. On the tower door are crusader crosses inscribed by soldiers either hoping for or giving thanks for a safe return from the Crusades. The main south door has a brick south porch built with money left to the poor of the parish by Thomas Bekynton, a 15th-century Bishop of Bath and Wells. Over the porch is a parvise reached by a narrow stairway from inside the church.

Other fittings include a 17th-century wineglass pulpit (installed in 1901), a carved mid-12th century font with fleur-de-lys pattern and three late 14th-century misericords. There is a close resemblance between the misericords at Sutton Courtenay and those created shortly afterwards at Soham, Cambridgeshire and Wingfield, Suffolk. It is possible that the same itinerant carver made all three sets. The church was nearly destroyed during the Civil War when munitions stored by the Parliamentarian vicar exploded in the church.[10][25]

George Orwell's headstone in All Saints' parish churchyard, showing his birth name

The churchyard is the burial place of Eric Arthur Blair (1903–50), better known by his pen name George Orwell. As a child he fished in a local stream. He requested to be buried in an English country churchyard of the nearest church to where he died.

However, he died in London, and none of the local churches had any space in their graveyards. Thinking that he might have to be cremated against his wishes, his widow asked her friends whether they knew of a church that had space for him. David Astor was a friend of Orwell and was able to arrange his burial in Sutton Courtenay, a "classic English country village" as Orwell had specifically requested, as the Astor family owned the manor of Sutton Courtenay.[26] With approval from the local vicar and encouragement from Malcolm Muggeridge, arrangements were made.

The churchyard also contains the graves of David Astor and H. H. Asquith, Earl of Oxford and Asquith. Asquith so much loved the simplicity of the village that he chose to be buried there rather than in Westminster Abbey.

In 2015 three housing developers, Pye, Linden and Redrow, began work on separate housing developments that will add a total of 127 new homes to the village. Their sites are off the Milton Road. Another housing development of 193 homes on the Amey site also has planning approval. The parish's existing infrastructure is at capacity. Grampian conditions were imposed on the new developments to enable upgrades to the existing sewer system. In the summer of 2015 the Redrow Asquith Park site was being investigated for breaching these conditions.[27] The Pye, Linden and Redrow are all now linked to the sewer system.

Village residents are concerned at further planning applications by housing developers that would add another 560 homes to the parish.

In October 2015 Redrow applied for outline planning permission for 200 homes in the field behind the Village Hall.[28] This site is known as East Sutton Courtenay. This field is adjacent to the FCC landfill and composting sites and there are recorded odour problems with this site. Residents have cited numerous reasons why the site is unsuitable including concerns about the proximity to the landfill site. Statutory consultees have also advised refusing permission for this application. An independent expert has rejected the drainage proposal for this site.

In December 2015 Savills applied for outline planning permission for 90 homes in the field North of Appleford Road.[29] In April 2016 VOWH Planning Committee granted planning permission for 90 homes.

In March 2016, London Regeneration applied for outline planning permission for 360 residential units in the fields off Harwell Road. These fields are adjacent to the landfill and composting sites. It is also adjacent to the planned warehouse.[30] This was refused in February 2017.