Inside Homes: The Great House – a magnificent Grade II* English Baroque townhouse in the heart of Burford

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Set behind an imposing seven-bay façade on one of the most historic streets in Burford, The Great House is one of the Cotswolds’ most remarkable private residences — a Grade II* listed English Baroque townhouse with centuries of architectural, literary and political history woven into its walls.

Positioned on Witney Street in the celebrated market town, the six-bedroom property extends to more than 9,500 sq ft and combines grand period architecture with beautifully restored interiors, extensive cellars, secondary accommodation and landscaped walled gardens.

Constructed around 1680 from Taynton ashlar stone beneath a hipped Cotswold stone roof, The Great House is widely regarded as one of Burford’s defining buildings.

Its castellated parapet — believed to reference Dr John Castle, the prosperous physician who commissioned the property — gives the house an unmistakable silhouette, while details throughout hint at the influence of architects associated with Sir Christopher Wren, including Christopher Kempster or Nicholas Hawksmoor.

The house has evolved across generations while retaining an extraordinary level of architectural integrity. Behind the grand pedimented entrance lies an impressive reception hall with oak flooring, panelled walls and an elegant staircase with carved handrails and fluted balusters. Throughout the interiors are original fireplaces, sash windows with shutters, painted panels and remarkable decorative details, including religious and allegorical paintings attributed to Dutch artist James de Witte.

Formal entertaining spaces include a beautifully proportioned drawing room, a dining room, and a more intimate library centred around a magnificent stone fireplace.

Elsewhere, a garden room overlooks the south-facing grounds, while a spectacular Long Gallery on the second floor — historically believed to have been used for exercise and entertaining during poor weather — provides one of the home’s most atmospheric spaces, filled with natural light from distinctive round windows.

The principal bedroom suite overlooks the gardens and includes a striking bathroom with blue-painted wall panels and arabesque decoration thought to date from the mid-18th century. According to the property’s history, the room may once have served as a discreet Catholic chapel during a period of religious tension in England.

Beneath the house, extensive former inn cellars remain intact, complete with unusually high ceilings, original ovens and wine alcoves — a reminder that the site originally housed the historic Black Boy Inn before The Great House was built.

The property’s story extends far beyond architecture. Over the centuries, The Great House has welcomed notable literary and cultural figures, including Fanny Burney, Samuel Johnson and Joshua Reynolds. During the Second World War, members of Winston Churchill’s cabinet are said to have stayed at the property while Churchill himself regularly visited nearby Ditchley Park.

Outside, the private walled gardens have been carefully landscaped into a series of tranquil outdoor ‘rooms’, framed by clipped box hedging, mature planting and stone pathways beneath archways and terraces. A towering Wellingtonia tree anchors the garden, creating a peaceful retreat hidden behind the bustling medieval high street.

Attached to the main house is a self-contained cottage arranged across two floors, offering flexible accommodation for guests, staff or extended family.

Located within easy reach of Oxford, Cheltenham, and the wider Cotswolds, The Great House combines the grandeur of a historic country estate with the charm and convenience of one of England’s most picturesque market towns.

The Great House is on the market via Savills. Offered with a guide price of £4.25 million, it represents a rare opportunity to become custodian of a house that has quietly occupied a significant place in Oxfordshire’s cultural history for more than 300 years.