This is the start of the historical trail within Ascott Park. If you find access difficult across this field continue northwards along the existing footpath and enter the Park by the stile from which you could also exit.
You are looking at an early nineteenth century sketch of the old Ascott Park manor house, which once stood in the park and was occupied by the Dormer family for some 250 years until 1780.
The sketch includes the dovecot and (far left) part of an ornamental seventeenth century gateway removed in the 1920’s and taken to the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. It can now be seen installed in the Bodleian Weston Library in Broad Street, Oxford.
William Dormer's attempt to build a grand new house in 1662 was scotched by a fire but his father Sir Robert was more successful in building Rousham House which survives to this day, with its fine gardens designed by William Kent.
