New property: Fabulous 5-bedroom holiday home in Little Tew, Cotswolds

Introducing the gorgeous Old Manse in Little Tew, near Chipping  ‘Chippy’ Norton…

From the moment you step through the front door you’ll be amazed by the attention to detail lavished on this holiday home by the owners. From the Farrow & Ball bumblebee wallpaper and paints to the superb kitchen and dining area with its lantern roof and doors out to the stunning one-acre garden, and from the two sitting rooms with three fireplaces between them to the lush top-floor bedroom every guest will fall in love with this holiday home. Step on the tour ‘bus’ for a trip through this stunning Victorian home – the perfect holiday let in the Cotswolds for a large family or group of friends…

The Old Manse is a handsome historic, three-story, red-brick, detached family home on a quiet country lane leading into the village of Little Tew. The super-stylish yet warm and welcoming decor and furnishings extend all the way from the orangery kitchen, with its lantern roof, right up to the third-floor attic bedroom with a super-king size bed and ensuite bathroom. In front of the house is a perfectly tended parking area and front garden planted with lavender and trees. To one side is the garden gate leading to a truly magical country garden with patio.

Built in 1869, The Manse (now called the Old Manse) served as the home of the Minister of the local Baptist circuit. The front of the house is built in measurements of multiples of three, giving it a regular and solid appearance – perhaps intended to suggest the virtue of those that built it and lived in it. The most well-known Minister was Edith Gates, the first woman to be recognised to hold pastoral charge of an English Baptist church. She lived at the Manse with her sister (the church’s organist) from 1918 until her retirement in 1950; thereafter, the Manse became privately owned.

The current owners of the Old Manse have transformed the property into a beautiful home, with a blend of contemporary and antique furniture complementing the choice of Farrow & Ball paintwork and wallpaper used throughout. On the ground floor, the Old Manse has two reception rooms – a living room with two fireplaces and snug with a wood burner, both with smart TVs – a fabulous kitchen/dining room opening out to the patio and garden, a downstairs super-king bedroom with ensuite (shower room), a large utility room and a cloakroom. On the first floor are three double bedrooms, one super-king, one zip-and-link twin (can be super-king), a children’s twin room (one standard single, one small single) and a family bathroom. On the top floor, in the remodelled attic, is the largest bedroom, with a super-king size bed, dressing area, ensuite bathroom (with bath and shower), TV and plenty of room for a travel cot plus stunning views across the valley.

The outside area at the Old Manse is truly spectacular, with its extended patio and seating for 10, raised herb beds and a beautiful one-acre garden planted with mature trees, borders and several fruit trees, which guests are welcome to collect during their stay. At the far end of the garden is a pretty pond – a tranquil place to sit and watch the wildlife coming a going.

Little Tew is a delightful little village about 4.5 miles (7 km) northeast of Chipping Norton and 8.5 miles (14 km) southwest of Banbury in Oxfordshire. The nearest pubs are the Boxing Hare in Swerford (2.2 miles) or the Falklands Arms in Great Tew (2.8 miles), where you’ll also find a well-stocked village shop and café. Widen the circle a little and the choice of pubs and restaurants, from ‘local’ to top end, is excellent (a long list of the owners’ favourites is provided at the property). Little Tew is in easy reach of Soho Farmhouse, Daylesford, Cotswold Wildlife Park, Blenheim Palace, Whichford Pottery, the lido at Chippy and Bourton-on-the-Water, with its maze, model village and Birdland. Other nearby activities include horse riding, hot air balloon rides, car racing experiences, in fact just about anything you can think of to keep all ages entertained. See the Chipping Norton Guide (below) for activity details.

To find out more and book your next holiday, visit The Old Manse, Little Tew.