Wokefield Park

Wokefield Park
Wokefield Park - geograph.org.uk - 1382017.jpg
Location within Berkshire
General information
Address Goodboys Lane
Mortimer
Reading
Berkshire
RG7 3AE
Coordinates
Design and construction
Architect Sir John Soane

Wokefield Park is an 18th century country house, now a training centre surrounded by a golf course, in the civil parish of Wokefield, near Mortimer, in the English county of Berkshire.

Contents

History

Wokefield Park seems to have been built for the Brocas family sometime before 1777 when they acquired the property. Sir John Soane made alterations in the early 19th century onwards. However, the cellars have vaulting which may date from the time of the Treasurer of the Middle Temple, Edmund Plowden, who bought the house in 1569.

In 1936 the house became St. Benedict's Approved School. Extensive additional building work took place to add staff housing, workshops and a chapel in the house.

Today

Wokefield Park House and Golf Club are currently owned by De Vere Venues. The house is used as a conference centre as well as by KPMG, BMW/MINI and the Xerox Corporation as their European Training and Digital Document Centre.

Structure

The house is large and symmetrical, with a three-storey central block, linked to side wings by two-storey sections. Both frontages total thirteen bays. It has facade of Roman cement with raised quoins and cornice, all topped by balustrading and a slate roof. On the northern entrance front is a single-storey Doric portico of stone and, on the southern front, a smaller version. The interior has contemporary fireplaces, moulded plaster ceilings, wood panelling and early 18th century twisted baluster stairs.

External links