Grand English Baroque Town House in a Cotswolds Market Town
Burford is no stranger to fine architecture, but The Great House is in a league of its own. Rising with the presence of an Italian palazzo amid the honeyed stone of this Cotswolds market town, this Grade II*-listed Baroque masterpiece is among the most historically significant residences in the area. Its architect remains unknown, though the hallmarks of Christopher Kempster or Nicholas Hawksmoor—both linked to Sir Christopher Wren—suggest a hand steeped in the grandeur of England’s late 17th-century golden age.
Built in 1680 on the site of the former Black Boy Inn, The Great House carries the weight of history within its walls. The inn's vaulted cellars remain intact, and the unusually high ceilings, originally intended as wine alcoves, hint at its past. The castellated parapet and stately seven-bay façade reflect the ambitions of Dr. John Castle, the wealthy physician who commissioned the house. Its Ashlar stone was quarried nearby in Taynton, its semi-circular entrance steps lead to a striking pedimented doorway, and its attic features octagonal windows that whisper of the property’s refined eccentricities. Inside, an oak staircase, punctuated with paintings of religious and allegorical subjects by Dutch artist James de Witte, sets the tone for a home of artistic and architectural consequence.
Through the centuries, The Great House has played host to some of Britain’s great minds. Satirical author Fanny Burney and Oxford Dictionary writer Dr. Samuel Johnson were guests of its former residents. During World War II, members of Winston Churchill’s cabinet stayed within these walls while the Prime Minister himself resided nearby at Ditchley Park.
At 9,565 square feet, the house is as imposing as it is elegant. The principal rooms retain their period proportions, with original shutters, grand fireplaces, and delicate wall paneling. A private library extends into a study and a games room, while a garden room catches the best of the south-facing light. The first floor is home to six well-appointed bedrooms, with a principal suite framed by three tall sash windows overlooking the gardens.
A former chapel, discreetly converted for Catholic owners of the past, retains its exquisite arabesque wall panels, likely dating to 1750.
The top floor is dominated by a rare Long Gallery, once a retreat for the ladies of the house, now a luminous and versatile space with panoramic round windows.
Beneath it all, vaulted cellars speak to the property’s past life as an inn, complete with original ovens and wine alcoves.
A secondary cottage, with its own kitchen and three bedrooms, provides additional accommodation for staff or guests.
Outside, the gardens unfold in a series of intimate spaces, shaped by box-bordered pathways and enclosed by high stone walls, creating a private sanctuary in the heart of town.
David Henderson, head of Savills Stow, describes The Great House as "a superb English Baroque townhouse, reminiscent of an Italian palazzo, in one of the most sought-after towns in the Cotswolds."
Burford itself is a jewel of the Cotswolds, where medieval streets meet refined village life. Its coaching inns, antique shops, and proximity to Oxford and Cheltenham make it an ideal base, with strong transport links to London. The Great House is more than a home; it is a piece of English history waiting for its next custodian.
All photos belong to the listing agency.
