History of Friars Court

The first recording of a building on the site of Friars Court. It was established as the first hospitallery in Oxfordshire by the charitable, religious order of the Knights of St. John.

Friars Court is described as being "...a small house with gardens, dovecote and adjacent crofts worth 30s a year". This apparently housed a preceptor (the only serving brother), a chaplain, a steward, two servants, and three pensioners.

A bridge is built over the Thames at nearby Radcot (now regarded as the oldest surviving crossing point over the river). This bridge increased traffic heading south from the Cotswolds, enhancing Friars Court's importance as a stopping point for travellers.

The small house is recorded to having evolved into '"...a stone-built hall with a ‘great chamber’; a separate kitchen, an adjoining building; latrines to the east; a bake-house, and a stone-built chapel with a walled garden to the north".

The house remains under the Order of St. John until the Dissolution of the Monasteries, after which it becomes a private residence.

The house was enlarged with the addition of an attic storey, while the stone hall was subdivided into four separate rooms.

The house is still referred to as a manor in 1803 but when sold in 1835 it was without the manorial rights. Between this time and 1886, further significant alterations where made; removal of internal staircases, re-arrangement of rooms, the installation of indoor plumbing and building a wing to house a laundry and dairy.

Richard Willmer arrives as a tenant with his young bride Mary.

Richard Willmer purchases Friars Court and farm, which at that time comprised of 220 acres. Richard and Mary had four children; John, Joan, Molly & Ruth.

John Willmer marries his wife Frances in the same year he inherits Friars Court from his father.

John and Mary had three children. Carol, Mary and Charles. Sadly by 1984 both Carol and Mary had died.

John awarded the OBE by Queen Elizabeth II for his contributions to farming conservation and involvement with the Methodist Church.

Charles, inherits Friars Court from his father. He now lives in the house and manages the estate.

The Willmer family celebrates 100 years of residency at Friars Court with the unveiling of their new museum which was opened by Ruth Fowler (née Willmer).

The family celebrates a centenary of ownership. Sadly, owing to COVID restrictions during this time, there was no party to mark this occasion.

Friars Court remains a privately owned family home.