Origins and History of Buscot Park
Buscot Park is a country house situated at Buscot near the town of Faringdon in Oxfordshire. The history of the estate is tied to the land once held by the Throckmorton estate. Construction of the current house began in 1780. Edward Loveden acquired ownership of the land in 1788, establishing a presence that would shape the landscape for generations. The estate has undergone significant changes since those early years, evolving from a private seat into a site of national importance.
The estate was presented to the nation under the National Trust during the 1940s or 1950s. This transition ensured the preservation of the grounds and the house for public access. Despite this handover, the house remains the family home of the 3rd Lord Faringdon. It exists as a living residence where history and contemporary life continue to intersect within the same walls.
The Building and its Architecture
The house at Buscot Park is a Grade II* listed building, constructed in the Italianate country house style. Built for Edward Loveden Loveden, the structure possesses an architectural lineage that remains somewhat veiled, as the primary architect is unknown. While the design reflects the specific tastes of the late eighteenth century, the hand of James Paine is felt through the fireplaces he supplied and the advice he provided regarding construction costs.
The architectural character of the estate underwent a significant transformation in 1934. During this period, the 2nd Baron Faringdon undertook a major remodelling project, sweeping away various nineteenth-century additions. This intervention sought to return the façades to their original eighteenth-century simplicity, stripping back later layers to reveal the fundamental lines of the house. The result is a residence where the weight of historical changes is balanced by a deliberate return to formal clarity.
The surrounding landscape and the house itself are integrated through specific architectural features. The walled kitchen garden is a Grade II* listed structure, and the estate includes a swimming pool garden created by Hyslop in a court of yew hedging. These elements, alongside the Italianate water garden designed by Harold Peto, create a structured environment that complements the house's formal presence.
The Faringdon Collection
The Faringdon Collection comprises the Henderson family works of art and furniture. These pieces are displayed both at Buscot and at Brompton Square in London. The presence of these objects creates a continuity between the country estate and the urban townhouse. The collection reflects the specific tastes and acquisitions of the family over several generations.
In the Saloon, the atmosphere is defined by the presence of Burne-Jones' The Legend of Briar Rose. This series was painted between 1871 and 1890. The 1st Lord Faringdon acquired the series in 1890. To stand before these works is to encounter the specific decorative vision that the Henderson family brought to the house.
