DiCamillo Companion
England

Tusmore House (Tusmore Park)

Tusmore, near Bicester

Oxfordshire

England

Circa Date: 2004

Status: Fully Extant

House Open to Public: No

Country House: Yes

The first house from a 1916 postcard

  • Earlier Houses: Two earlier houses on the site have been demolished: the first house of 1766 was demolished in 1961 and replaced by a 1964 house, which was, in turn, demolished in 2004 and replaced by the current (third) house.

    House & Family History: The present classically-styled house, the third on the site, was built in 2004 at a reputed cost of £30 million. Tusmore is of white Dijon stone imported from Burgundy and features an entrance façade with a monumental portico of six giant Ionic columns and a central circular staircase modeled on Wardour Castle in Wiltshire.

  • Garden & Outbuildings: The original 18th century Stables (and some outbuildings) are extant.

  • Architect: William Burn

    Date: 1858
    Designed: North Wing (to 1st house) for 2nd Earl of Effingham

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    Architect: William Whitfield

    Date: 2004
    Designed: 3rd House (replaced Phillimore's 1964 house) for Wafic Said

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    Architect: Robert Mylne

    Date: 1766
    Designed: 1st House (demolished in 1961 and replaced in 1964 by Phillimore's house)

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    Architect: Claud Phillimore

    Date: 1964
    Designed: 2nd House (demolished and replaced in 2004 by Whitfield's house)

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  • Vitruvius Britannicus: C. New, I, pls. 3-5, 1802.

  • Title: Times, The (London newspaper)
    Author: NA
    Year Published: NA
    Reference: Nov 2, 2004, Marcus Binney
    Publisher: London: Times Newspapers Ltd.
    ISBN: NA
    Book Type: Newspaper

    Title: Classical Architecture in Britain: The Heroic Age
    Author: Worsley, Giles
    Year Published: 1995
    Reference: pg. 295
    Publisher: New Haven: Yale University Press (The Paul Mellon Centre for Studies in British Art)
    ISBN: 0300058969
    Book Type: Hardback

    Title: Disintegration of a Heritage: Country Houses and their Collections, 1979-1992, The
    Author: Sayer, Michael
    Year Published: 1993
    Publisher: Norfolk: Michael Russell (Publishing)
    ISBN: 0859551970
    Book Type: Hardback

  • House Listed: Not Listed

    Park Listed: Not Listed

  • Current Seat / Home of: Wafic Said; here since 1987.

    Past Seat / Home of: Fermor Family, 1625-1857. Earl of Effingham, Howard family, 1857-1929. Lord Bicester, Smith family, 1929-60.

    Current Ownership Type: Individual / Family Trust

    Primary Current Ownership Use: Private Home

    Ownership Details: Owned by the Said family via Tusmore Park Holding.

  • House Open to Public: No

    Awards: Georgian Group Architectural Awards 2004, winner, new building in the classical tradition.

    Historic Houses Member: No

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