Building record 1951/1/1 - The Round House and attached barn to right

Farmhouse. Early and mid C19 with late C20 alterations. Coursed limestone rubble with slate roofs and C20 brick stacks. The house built by the Arbuthnot family after the Duke of Wellington noted that the surrounding countryside reminded him of land around Waterloo. The film 'The Battle of Waterloo' was made at this site in 1913.

{1} Farmhouse. Early and mid C19 with late C20 alterations. Coursed limestone rubble with slate roofs and C20 brick stacks. L-plan formed by 3-storey round tower with 2-storey blocks to right and rear. Tower has a large cross-shaped rendered panel painted with the words "Panorama/Waterloo/Victory/June 18/A.D./1815". Above is an oculus and to left and right, at ground and first floor level are 2-light windows with stone flat-arched heads and C20 casements. Conical roof topped by small railed viewing platform and central chimney. Block to right, probably an addition, has a blocked door, now window, to left (porch removed) and 3-light windows to right of ground floor and to first floor, all with segmental gauged stone heads and C20 casements. End stack, then a low link to barn to right, of limestone rubble with pantiled roof. Block to rear, originally stable, heightened and substantially altered to form domestic accommodation, contains present entrance. Interior altered and original stair removed. Built for the Arbuthnot family of nearby Woodford House, Woodford C.P., East Northamptonshire (q.v.), after a visit by the Duke of Wellington who apparently mentioned that the countryside reminded him of the land around Waterloo. The film "The Battle of Waterloo", directed by Charles Weston for the British and Colonial Kinematograph Company (1913) was made at this site.

<1> Clews Architects, 1980s, Database for Listing of Historic Buildings of Special Architectural Interest: Northamptonshire, 10/2 & 4/170 (checked) (Digital archive). SNN102353.

<2> 1976, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest ("Greenback"), J12 (unchecked) (Catalogue). SNN100754.

Record last edited

Jul 14 2021 3:33PM