Hyde Farm House
The Alembic Press is run by Claire and David Bolton, who are fortunate to live in a stone farm house that was originally built as a hall house by the nearby Abbey of Abingdon in approximately 1290. The house is of interest as most vernacular buildings of the period were timber-framed, and it is unusual to find a stone house that was sufficiently unpretentious that it did not, for example, therafter become a manor (it remained in the possession of the Abbey until the dissolution). 
The front wing of the house is the original stone house. However, a chimney was added in the sixteenth century, and also a timber-frame north wing. In the early seventeenth century the hall was fully ceilinged over, making a grand chamber above it, suitable for a four-poster bed. In 1652 there was a further stone extension to the north wing, to make a parlour, chamber and garret (for Mrs Prince). The house retains many of its original features, particularly its wood beams, seventeenth century and earlier plank doors, its local stone flags, and an interesting pargetted interior plaster wall.
The photo above shows the front of the farmhouse - the original roof might well have been thatched, but is now a mixture of stone slates and clay tiles. The picture of the house is as viewed from the Press, which is housed in the Great Barn - a long stone barn that borders the west side of the front yard. Sadly most of the other stone farm buildings have either been converted to housing, or demolished, and also over the last century nearly all of the farm's land has been sold off. The farm is mentioned in Domesday, as the one hide to the east of Marcham, and it remained slightly remote from the main village of Marcham, right up until the middle of the twentieth century.
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The Alembic Press
A Fine Press creating and printing limited edition books by traditional letterpress.
This page was written by David Bolton and last updated 15 February 2000.
Further images, and a little more text, will be being added as time permits.