11 The Green North, now Blenheim House, Warborough
The house is Grade II listed and was originally listed on 14th May 1986
Photo Source: Country Life article 2022
The house, probably built in the early 18th century is believed to have originally consisted of two cottages and is described as a 4-unit plan (of 2 or more cottages). At the time of the listing, it was described as having roughcast walls with brick extension, old plain-tile roof with brick stacks, extended at rear. Consisting of two storeys, with 4-window parapeted front, with ogee copper canopies to first-floor windows, has a rectangular projection from right bay containing 4-light casements; other windows include 2-light casements, at first floor, plus a small tripartite sash to left of centre. Entrance is in porch in angle of projection, but segmental canopy of former entrance remains over window in extreme left bay. Roof has stack to right gable and 2 further ridge stacks. Rear extensions include a hexagonal 2-storey corner turret.
The building known as the Stables comprises a coach house and stables and the coach has been converted to a playroom for Coachman’s Cottage, adjacent to the south. The coach house and stables were probably built c1900 and replace earlier structures. OS 1st edition map of 1881 shows 3 buildings within the grounds of Blenheim House, but in a different configuration.
Before the arrival of the Bousfield family to Warborough we know nothing about the property and its early use, although it is believed to have originally been two 18th Century cottages.
During the time of the Bousfield ownership, it was referred to as ‘The Cottage’ but whether they carried out the conversion to a single dwelling is not known.
It is likely that the Bousfield’s arrived in Warborough after the marriage of William Cheek Bousfield to Rebekah Richings on 27th December 1819. Rebekah’s father was a renowned Breeches & Glove maker, working in Oxford but living in Warborough where Rebekah was born in 1790.
Rebekah, a widow died in 1869 and probably left the house to Edward Holroyd Bousfield who divided his time between Warborough and London, with other relatives using the Warborough property in his absence.
We know in the early 1880’s the house was in poor repair with a relation writing to his son saying:
I was at Warborough a short time ago – the dear little place is beginning to grow very rotten: or rather to show its long-grown rottenness – The place does not look so pretty as it used to look.
Notes from living descendants state that Edward remodelled the property in the 1880’s adding the front façade and a back extension with a sale catalogue from 2022 confirming that in 1910 and 1912 the two hexagonal wings were added to the rear of the house.
Edward died in 1918 and the property was left to his second wife, Edith who lived there until her death in 1946.
On the 22nd November 1946 the property and several other cottages and land along The Green North was sold on the instruction of Miss Edith Bousfield (Edward’s niece) by Messrs Nicholas at the Lamb Hotel, Wallingford.
The brochure describes the sale as ‘That Interesting Old Village Property and 9 cottages’
Lot 1- The Cottage – a well-kept old world cottage style residence in perfect condition, with three Reception rooms, seven Bedrooms, Bathroom: lovely Garden, Two Cottages, Garages. In all 2 acres.
Coachman’s Cottage
Little Blenheim
The two cottages would have been what are now known as Coachman’s Cottage and the Little Blenheim. At the time of the sale Coachman’s Cottage was occupied by a Mr & Mrs George Giddings, a tenant of long standing who paid a rent of 5 shillings per week. The rates were paid for by the Landlord (Bousfield)
The lot sold at auction £6500.00
Maps of 1877-1880 show the house called Warborough Cottage and Little Blenheim is also named. We do not know when ‘the cottage’ became Blenheim House but it is likely it was so named because of the cottage called Little Blenheim.
In 2022 the property was sold and the description in Country Life Magazine describes it thus:
A mixture of two 18th-century cottages, combined with a Victorian hexagonal tower in 1910 and another hexagonal wing added in 1912, the result is an airy six-bedroom property, with a lovely drawing room and dining room, both of which open into the garden, a west-facing conservatory and a lantern roof flooding the upper floor with natural light.
A two-bedroom cottage at the end of the drive is attached to two enclosed stables, one of which provides further accommodation.
Wonderfully eclectic and individual, Blenheim House is a well-loved family home that effortlessly fuses a mixture of architectural styles. Tucked away down a short driveway, and beyond the spreading canopy of a magnificent copper beech, the first glimpse of the house is a visual delight. Decorative lead canopies curve over the upper windows and a rose festooned porch welcomes you in. Originally two cottages built in the 18th century, in 1910 the house was added to with a wonderful Victorian hexagonal tower providing an elegant drawing room and bedroom above. In 1912 a further wing was added, replicating the earlier, providing a large dining room and further bedroom above. Both wings feature multi paned sash windows and doors, with glazed panels either side, making for light filled rooms and wonderful views over the gardens. The spacious central hallway with its fireplace and tongue and groove panelled walls leads on to all ground floor rooms, ensuring a pleasing flow. The drawing room features an ornately carved fireplace surround with marble slips and hearth, a coffered ceiling, picture rail and deep skirtings. The atmospheric dining room reproduces these design features and boasts a bespoke mirrored dresser to one wall. Both rooms have doors opening to the gardens beyond. The kitchen/breakfast room offers a warm welcome with its Aga and open views through to the inviting west facing conservatory. There is a larder, walk in china cupboard, pantry and separate electric hob and double oven. Also off the hallway are a sitting room, study, boot room, cloakroom and cellar. From the first floor, steps lead to large bedrooms in both of the two wings. One has an ensuite shower room and there is a bathroom between. These rooms would make a spectacular principal bedroom suite, repeating the character of the rooms below. Above the older part of the house are four further bedrooms, a further bathroom and a shower room. A large roof lantern floods natural light throughout the upper floor.
Cottage and Stables situated at the entrance to the driveway; the two-bedroom cottage is attached to two enclosed stables.
Map showing curtilage of the property when sold in 2022
Some Former Residents
Gilbert Rathbone Whitehead (1910 – 1968) with his family, lived in the house in the 1980s. A solicitor and son of Sir Rowland Whitehead KC he is remembered in the village for ‘The Whitehead Plot’ which was left to the village in his memory by his wife, Adeline.
Charles Crichton Stuart (1939-2001) lived in Blenheim House in the early 1980’s. Grandson of the fifth Marquis of Bute, he was in the RAF before turning to motor sport. Said to be witty, charming and generous to a fault, he was part of the motor racing set in London in the early 1960s which included Frank Williams and Piers Courage. A F3 racing driver, he joined the Stirling Moss Auto Racing Team in 1965, driving a Brabham Ford BT10. For a short time, he was married to the actress Shirley Anne Field but after retiring from racing in 1967 he became a private pilot, mostly for Hugh Fraser, boss of Harrods. In the late 1970s he joined Sir Frank Williams’ Grand Prix racing team where he was successful in securing several crucial sponsorship deals. In later years he went searching for sunken treasure in the Pacific and it was while on one trip he died of a heart attack.
Moray Scott Dalgleish (1943 – 2019) Moray came to Blenheim House in 1996 with his wife Georgina (Georgie) and children Alastair, William, Eleanor and Venetia. A 10th Hussar in the Army, he later worked for the Institute of Directors in London. Having grown up in Jersey, he had a lasting love of the island and returned regularly. Whilst living there with his family before coming to Warborough he was a co-owner of Pizza Express. Moray, a well-known horseman who rode with several packs was a strong promoter of cross-country races such as the Melton Hunt Club Ride and later he made a unique and extensive book collection on hunting history dating from 1576 to 1950 called the Rolleston Foxhunting Collection. Once in Warborough he joined Mike Collen in his very successful business partnership. He served as a Councillor on Warborough Parish Council. He is buried in St Laurence Churchyard.
Compiled by Lynda Raynor
June 2025