Oxford holiday cottage rental, Stanton St John with walking, log fire, internet access, telephone, rural retreat, TV, DVD

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New Cottage (cottage)

Home description

The quintessential chocolate box cottage, New Cottage is the ultimate country cottage for romantic dinners for two and relaxed evenings in front of an open fire. Late evenings and even later mornings are the stuff of dreams in the Incredible vaulted bedroom with spectacular country views. Enjoy watching wildlife in the mature, private grounds or set off exploring the village's many footpaths leading through farmland and ancient woodland. Wander the back-roads to nearby villages and local attractions. Good food is only a few steps away at our two good pubs, and the village shop. New Cottage is the perfect countryside get-away for outdoor pursuits or indoor retreats.

The cottage has been restored to provide large, comfortable interiors retaining all the original features and also offering the latest in convenience and appliances. Underfloor heating on the ground floor and radiators on the first floor provide for snug warmth in winter. Thatch and stone maintain a cool environment even on the hottest days.

The open plan, open beamed ground floor, with original quarry tile and stone flooring, encompasses living room, dining area and kitchen, with a glass walled sun room containing a study area, computing area, WC and laundry closet. The focal point of the living room is a large, traditional open fireplace with a stone hearth. Almost all of the furnishings and decorations are either antique or original artwork.

The entire first floor comprises a large bedroom/ensuite with a vaulted ceiling and exposed beams. Decorated in a most luxurious and romantic English cottage style, the bedroom looks over the garden as well as across the fields. The room is furnished with a King sized bed and antique upholstered armchairs, bureaus and writing desks. The ensuite bath has a power shower over a corner bath.

New Cottage	New Cottage Dining Area
New Cottage Living Room	New Cottage Bedroom

To see more photos please visit http://www.holidaylettings.co.uk/13756

The Central England / Cotswolds / Oxfordshire region

For hundreds of years, many of the villages around Oxford were owned by Oxford colleges. Stanton St. John was no exception. Oxford's New College is still a prominent land owner in and around Stanton, but originally owned the entire village after buying it lock, stock and barrel from the St. John family in the 1500's. New Cottage appeared on the inventory for the St. John family sale. In the past, the Oxford colleges used their villages to provide farm income as well as market produce for the college table. These days a different sort of income is being provided: Farm land is being turned into building land. About 30 years ago, in response to the reduction in farm labour, New College began selling off their village houses. New Cottage, formerly 23 New College, was purchased from New College by the present owner in 1988.

More than 1000 years old, the attractions of Oxford are well known. In the central area it is a mainly unspoiled city with famous museums, public venues and especially the ancient Oxford colleges with their very spectacular churches and chapels, libraries, courtyard architecture and gardens.

When Oxford's first colleges were established, England was trying to reduce its dependency on Rome. At that time, most of England's educated bureaucracy were trained by the Roman Catholic Church and held concurrent positions with both church and state. Loyalties were divided between Rome and London. In those days higher education was mainly religious hence the original religious orientation of the Oxford colleges. Their graduates formed an elite which was entirely English oriented. Some would say nothing has changed.

Just 20 minutes away by car is the town of Woodstock. It is a particularly fine example of a small market town, basically unspoilt, full of interesting shops and places to eat. Casting all this in the shade is the incomparable Blenheim Palace which lies all along the edge of the town. A gift from a grateful nation to one of her most victorious generals and later, wily diplomats, the first Duke of Marlborough. The present Duke still resides there. The palace is probably the largest and finest outside the royal family. The interiors and furnishings are sumptuous, immaculate and original. The garden, park and lake are incontestably Capability Brown's finest achievement.

The palace was finished by wife Sarah after the first Duke's death. Sarah was quite a legend in her own time, but her memorial to her husband, a column rivaling that of Nelson, ensures that she will always be remembered as being nobly devoted to her husband's memory. The column stands on a hill, overlooking the palace, the lake and park, and miles of timeless English countryside. Sarah's personal tribute inscribed on the column plinth speaks of love and loss and admiration that is as vital today as it was when it was written several hundreds of years ago.

The Cotswolds are about 30 minutes away by car. When the wool trade was booming, the Cotswolds were one of the richest areas in England. The pleasing scale of the rolling landscape was the setting for sheep and woollen mills. This economy was one of the first fruits of the industrial revolution. Market towns sprung up to service the wool trade and the people involved. Although the mills are silent, you can still see a sprinkling of sheep in the fields, but they are not being grown for their fleece.

The Cotswolds' stone built market towns are each wonderful in their own particular architectural idiosyncrasy, and they are packed with antique shops, clothing shops, estate agents and restaurants. The list of shopping opportunities is endless. Tourism and the property market are the biggest businesses today. Neither is cheap, but the variety and quality are astonishing and rewarding even for the window-shopper. Tucked away, literally minutes off the beaten track are many idyllic hamlets where traffic is non-existent and the pace of life is deliciously slow.

Oxford / Stanton St John area

Oxford is 10-15 minutes away by car. Bus service to central Oxford is available at the top of Cox lane which runs along the side of New Cottage. There is always something going on in Oxford. There is a rich variety of musical entertainment of all sorts from contemporary to sacred organ music to chamber music offered on a daily basis in Oxford's most striking historic venues. There are two playhouses. Tours of the colleges are very seasonal, but it is almost always possible to get in to see one or two, no matter what time of year.

In summer there is punting. This is one of the best Oxford inventions. Floating down the Isis on punts, eating strawberries and drinking champagne, conversing with the rather amused local bovine population and watching the Oxford colleges drift by in lazy splendour. Water voles are occasionally heard plopping into the river. The inspiration for Wind in the Willows is available for everyone.

In the Cotswolds and surrounding area you cannot go wrong with Burford, Bourton on the Water, the Slaughters, Chipping Camden, Stow on the Wold, Broadway and the Tews (with their incandescent yellow-orange stone).

There are many others. Just take any of the lanes outside the market towns and you will find yourself in another world.

From New Cottage in Stanton St. John, a two minute stroll down Middle Road will bring you to our Norman church, St. John the Baptist. Most of the local villages have Norman churches, and each is uniquely fashioned and decorated. All are in use. Those of us who live here find many of our friends in the churchyard. Please say hello to Henry Long, my first gardener and one of the world's more endearing originals. He has a front row spot along the footpath.

Two minute's stroll the other way down Middle Road is the village shop and post office. If you want to know anything about anyone in the village, this is the place to ask. Conversely, any information you tender will be instantly broadcast.

Continuing on for three more minutes brings you to the village’s two pubs. The Star is the local pub serving generous portions of delicious traditional country cooking and a fine range of seasonal English beers, traditional ales, bitters and lagers on tap. The Talkhouse, used to be owned in part by Marco Pierre White, and has changed hands twice in the past few months. It is a wonderful venue, with its atmospheric old stone and timber surroundings. Watch this spot!

There are many well used ancient footpaths and bridleways connecting Stanton St. John to the other local villages. These walks ramble in and out of valleys, along creeks and streams, across undulating farmland and provide excellent opportunities to see native English wildlife of all sorts. You don't need any special kit to take a stroll along the fields.

Fishing, golfing, shooting, riding, cycling, even hang-gliding, gliding and ballooning are all available locally at fairly short notice.

For those truly in need of retail therapy I can suggest Bicester Village. About 15 minutes away with zillions of designer discount stores. Wear comfortable shoes and do not take anyone along who hates shopping.

The Stanton St. John village fete is being held in 2006 over the late August bank holiday. This is a genuine village affair. Many people open their gardens. We all love it and are out in force. Prepare to be greeted warmly.

Oxford's St. Giles fair is hundreds of years old. It is held each September on the first Monday after the first Sunday. The two day fun fair takes over central Oxford, and turns Oxford into a carnival of flashing lights, pulsing music and the gyrations of huge, spinning and swooping rides.

Thame Show is held every year in September. It is the largest one day agricultural show in England. Livestock and all sorts of other country activities including a flower show are exhibited and judged. You can buy anything here that you can't get at Harrods.

Local villages also have fetes each year. Check with the village shop for news of very local offerings.

How to get there

Stanton St. John is a small village 15 minutes north by car from Oxford city centre.

The village is 40 minutes from Heathrow by car - or about an hour from Heathrow by bus (£10 return) to Oxford and then taxi (£15). It is about 2 hours from Gatwick by bus to Oxford (£24 return) and taxi.

Stanton St. John is just off the B4027 between Islip and Wheatley. Three small lanes run between the B4027 and Stanton St. John's Middle Road. Cox Lane is the central of these lanes, by the bus stop. New Cottage is located at the corner of Cox Lane and the aptly named Middle Road of the village. The cottage's pedestrian gate is located on Middle Road. Street parking is readily available along Middle Road.

Activities near Oxford

Facilities

Further details outdoors:
Street parking is readily available outside the cottage.

Conditions

Sorry, no pets or children permitted.
Refundable security deposit of £150 required.
Wireless or Ethernet broadband connection and unrestricted telephone service are provided as standard. The cost of chargeable telephone calls and broadband use over the standard level will be invoiced separately.

Rental rates

Period	From	To	Weekly	Nightly rate		Minimum  stay
				Weekday	Weekend
Sept-April Week	1 Sep 07	1 May 08	465£  465	0-	0-	2 Nights
May-June	1 May 08	1 Jul 08	485£  485	0-	0-	2 Nights
July-Sept	1 Jul 08	30 Sep 08	515£  515	0-	0-	2 Nights

NB: Prices may be subject to change at the owner's discretion.
Refundable Damage Deposit of 150 pounds required with final payment. (Returned within a few days of departure)

Short Breaks Welcomed. Please inquire for prices.

Easter and New Years Weeks 25% Premium. Christmas Week 50% Premium.

Wireless or Ethernet broadband connection and unrestricted telephone service is included in rental fee (chargeable telephone calls and high volume chargeable broadband use will be invoiced extra to rental fee)

Prices subject to change at owner's discretion.

Availability notes

To see availability please visit http://www.holidaylettings.co.uk/13756

Contact owner

To contact this owner please visit: http://www.holidaylettings.co.uk/13756

Contact details for home 13756 Please mention Holiday Lettings
Name:	Ann Mori
Tel:	+44 (0)1865 351 530
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Contact Notes: Both email and telephone contact welcomed
Advertiser joined: 1 Aug 2006 This property added: 1 Aug 2006

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