Oxford Preservation Trust is working to restore Lord’s Farm here in Eynsham. The farmhouse was bequeathed to the Trust by Miss Margaret Bunbury Foote in 1983 and leased out as a family dwelling until 2015. Since then, with much needed support from the William Delafield Charitable Trust, we have had the opportunity for some repairs and updating.
The building is constructed of coursed limestone rubble thought to have been recycled from Eynsham Abbey and occupies a prominent position in the village. It comprises a late 17th century two up two down farmhouse, built over an earlier basement, with an adjoining barn.
Farmhouse and barn needed repairs to the roof structure, some patching of stonework and general internal upgrading. The stone slates on the roof were removed to inspect the timber frame below. This revealed some water damage to the timbers, now repaired in places and shored up with new supports. In removing the slates the builders found a number of surviving wooden pegs. The slates have been carefully ordered and re-laid over the repaired structure.
Over the years many layers of paint and decoration have been added to rooms, often of inappropriate material. This is being carefully removed and has revealed original lath and plaster. The original, rather delicate features have been photographed and remain in situ under new lime plaster. In the bathroom upstairs we have also uncovered an interestingly curved wall, which is often indicative of an earlier staircase. This wall actually sits above the fireplace below where you can already see the bottom step of the earlier staircase.
The external walls have seen a number of repairs over the years with inappropriate cement mortar. This lets water into the building and damages the stones. Where possible it has been removed and replaced with a breathable lime mortar.
OPT has been working hard to restore and repair this building in order for it to make a more positive contribution to the character of Eynsham. We have been building our relationship with the Eynsham community during this project and also through our Awards scheme, where the fantastic new Wharf Stream Way was awarded a certificate in November 2015. We encourage the people of Eynsham to support Oxford Preservation Trust.