Page 12 - Oundle Life April 2021

status’ chimney stacks atop Cobthorne,
constructed using fine, lighter-coloured, Weldon Stone Ashlar with barely visible mortar beds. And in the Market Place, more Weldon Ashlar is visible in the columns and chimney of the bookshop as a paler contrast to its warmer- coloured Oundle Stone walls.
Turn the corner into New Street and the Talbot Inn stands proud – built by William Whitwell in 1626 using entirely Weldon Ashlar stone. This must surely be a subject for a future study. However, for true contrast we need to walk further up New Street, passing Coleman’s the stationery shop and the school ‘quad’ on the right and onwards to Glapthorn Road where we happen upon Oundle School’s most modern ‘SciTec’ building clad in ‘Ancaster Weatherbed’ from Lincolnshire, and the more local ‘Clipsham’ Stone. This contemporary building
is the only structure in central(ish) Oundle that breaks from the traditional vernacular style with great architectural confidence. It has long been a favourite of mine and is a rare treat to behold. Everywhere you look in Oundle you will see locally-quarried limestone in rubble and ashlar formation laid alongside the contrasting and lighter Weldon Stone Ashlar, where a higher- status was broadcast for all to see – the Oundle School Chapel on Milton Road being perhaps the finest example.
Joe Croser, first studied architecture in Oxford, and later completed postgrad research into historic buildings in Cambridge. Today he leads Oundle Architecture with a particular
focus on residential design and historic building conservation and refurbishment. www.oundlearchitecture.com
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