Duns Tew: Church, Manor House and Quarry Landscape

If you are looking for a hotel in Duns Tew, your choice of location may depend on whether you are particularly interested in historic architecture or the landscape. Both offer specific points of interest: St Mary Magdalene and the manor houses represent different building histories; the former sandstone quarry in Duns Tew West is notable for its restored landscape and geological designation. These themes can help you put Duns Tew in context as you plan your trip.

Church and manor house: a closer look at their history

St Mary Magdalene retains a reused south doorway, the font and several late-medieval building features. The doorway is identified as a reused element; the font and architectural features add other specific details of the church. Together, they present a picture that is not limited to a single architectural style, but brings together a range of architectural clues.

Duns Tew Manor House dates from around 1710 and was probably built for Robert Dashwood. It was altered and extended in the 19th century. The date of around 1710 and the later alterations mark different phases of construction; the connection to Robert Dashwood remains probable.

The main building is laid out symmetrically and has five window bays. Rusticated quoins, a storey band and a moulded wooden cornice further articulate the architecture. The window bays organise the façade, while the quoins and cornices add detail at the corners and along the horizontal elements. This offers architecture enthusiasts a clear way to read the building: first its regular layout, then the individual features of the façade.

The manor house also has attached service wings and an octagonal brick dairy. The description therefore covers not only the main building but also its associated service areas. This adds another dimension to the view of the façade and the wider complex.

Home Farmhouse and its dating

Home Farmhouse was the manor house of the Raves family. A date stone reads either 1694 or 1624, while parts of the fabric date from the early 18th century. The two years are alternative readings of the stone and should be distinguished from the date of the rest of the building fabric. A three-tier dovecote sits between the first-floor windows, adding a precise façade detail to the building’s history.

Restored landscape and geology

Restoration of the former sandstone quarry in Duns Tew West created a mosaic of dry acid grassland, calcareous grassland, bare ground and a pond that holds water intermittently. For a landscape-focused visit, both the site’s former use as a quarry and the different features of the restored landscape are of interest. The mosaic ranges from two types of grassland to bare ground and water that is present only at times.

The former quarry also includes a 365-metre-long sand face designated as a geological SSSI. This adds an explicitly geological feature to the landscape described in terms of grassland and open areas. Duns Tew therefore brings together different interests: the architectural history of its church and manor houses, and the geology and restoration of the former quarry.

Comparing two walks

There are two walks described in different ways. The shorter walk starts at the White Horse in Duns Tew and goes through a river valley. The longer Duns Tew and Middle Barton Walk can also start at the White Horse. This shared starting point makes them easy to compare: the river valley is noted as a feature of the shorter walk, while the longer route is distinguished by its name and length.

The walk was recorded in October 2017. If you are planning a walk today, check the current route description. When choosing a hotel, the village’s different themes can help you shape your plans: architecture and building history sit alongside a restored landscape and two walks described in different ways.

Discover more destinations: Burford, Hook Norton, Goring, Kidlington, Wallingford, Letcombe Regis, Woodstock, Chadlington.

For the broader travel guide: Oxfordshire.