We are very excited to have been instructed to help our clients with this Grade II listed house in Islip. Our brief to explore design options and understand the level of development likely to be possible. The house is one of the oldest in the village and has a number of practical issues for modern living: Firstly, the Victorian layout creates a series of interconnecting inner rooms accessed from one another. Secondly, as a working house - it misses a large kitchen with aspect onto the garden.
Our initial research has established that the dwelling is one of the oldest working houses in Islip dating from the early 18th century, the main period of growth in Islip’s development, a bustling village with 8 inns, serving carriages between London and Worcester and local traffic from Bicester to Oxford. Manor House acts as Mill Street landmark - a fabulous example of classical architecture responding to the local vernacular. Despite its historic and architectural importance the house has seen many changes, particularly in the 19th century when the house was updated to Victorian standards with a dedicated coal house, wash house and separate kitchen. Victorian windows were added in the ground floor and the east end adapted in the 19th century, and long used as the village store. Sadly 20th century alterations have not been kind to the house and provide opportunity to make improvements.