A Gothic temple just outside Oxford, believed to be the oldest of its kind in the country, has been saved from ruin.

Oxford architects and craftsmen have worked over the past year to repair rotting woodwork and mouldy plaster in the the Grade-II listed building on the Shotover Park estate.

Today, Historic England announce they have taken it off their at-risk register.

Oxford Mail:

Heritage officer Nicola Lauder said the news was a testament to the good local craftsmanship.

She said: “This temple is thought to have been built before 1742 which makes it possibly the oldest Gothic-designed temple in the country.

“It is beautifully designed, with a lovely internal vaulted ceiling, a rose window and a stone effect plaster which has now been lovingly restored.”

Oxford Mail:

The Shotover Park estate is currently owned by three trustees of the Stanier family.

Sir Beville Stanier, an Aylesbury Vale district councillor, inherited the land from his uncle Sir John Miller in 2006 and his son Alexander Stanier now lives there with his wife and daughters.

The repairs, arranged by Historic England and funded by Natural England, were managed by Oxford-based Spirit Architecture.

Sir Beville said he was delighted the temple had been saved.

Oxford Mail:

He told the Oxford Mail: "I have known Shotover estate since I was a small boy and looking out down the lake at that eye-catching temple has been the prime feature of the garden.

"Time was taking its toll on the temple and I am glad to see we have been able to put that right and it is once again a good sight to see."

The good news for Shotover, however, has been marred by bad news elsewhere in the county.

Historic England has also announced it had added St Mary’s Church in Witney to the at-risk register.

Oxford Mail:

The organisation said holes in the roof of the Grade-II listed church are letting in dangerous amounts of rain.

Historic England spokeswoman Debbie Hickman said: "St Mary’s Church has been added to the register because the pitched roofs to the chancel and former organ loft and nearby store are covered in limestone slates which have deteriorated and rain is now able to enter the church through some of the slipped stone slates.

"The guttering is also in need of upgrading. 

"The church has recently been successful in receiving a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund for urgent repairs. Historic England is advising the Heritage Lottery Fund on the Chancel stone slate roof repair project.

"It is hoped that the repairs will be made next year, returning this part of the church to good order."