This typical Cotswold stone property was built in the late 1800s as the village Reading Room, and somewhat resembles a small chapel. The outside, with its lead-pane windows and porch doorway has changed little in the intervening years. Inside, the cottage’s original features, including a stone fireplace and exposed timbers, have been preserved, making this cottage a cosy retreat, surrounded by farmland, in a very pretty village.
Ground Floor
Kitchen-Dining Area:
Guests enter Barndown through the kitchen door, stepping on to original wooden floorboards and into a kitchen that is well equipped for a self-catering holiday, including a hob-oven, dishwasher and a fridge-freezer. A washing machine and microwave are in a small pantry off the kitchen. A typical farmhouse table and fours chairs, with plenty of room for a child’s highchair if needed, sits under original exposed wooden beams.
Entrance Hall:
To the left of the Entrance Hallway is the front door, covered with a long, thick curtain, and beside that a bookcase with a good selection of novels and local interest books. Straight ahead is the staircase, below which is a handy storage cupboard where guests will find the vacuum, ironing board, iron, fireguard, and hooks for hanging coats and bags.
Living Room:
The cream walls and beautifully coloured and textured fabrics set the scene for the living room’s country-cottage furnishings, including a large, sink-in, feather-stuffed sofa, two armchairs, a desk and small dining table, and the stone fireplace with a gas wood burner. A wooden sideboard and antique blanket box house children’s toys, games and local information. Sit and relax on the comfy sofa, perhaps enjoying a book in the old Reading Room, or watch a movie on the TV-DVD player.
First Floor
Bedroom One:The cream-coloured
king-size double room, with accents of green that complement the garden below and the view over the fields, is furnished with a built-in wardrobe, an antique chest of drawers and dressing table, a handy luggage rack and chairs to sit and contemplate the view.
Bedroom Two:The cottage’s pretty twin bedroom, with its accents of pink, overlooks the patio and tree-lined parking area. Furnished with an antique pine chest of drawers and mirror, a shared bedside chest with a reading lamp and hanging hooks for clothes, this second bedroom is a comfortable retreat for children or a couple preferring twin beds.
Family Bathroom:The modern family bathroom has a bath and over-bath shower, sink (with shaver point and mirror), toilet and heated towel rail. A handy stool is provided to place your clothing on and there is plenty of space for your personal toiletries.
Outside
Barndown benefits from lots of private outdoor space, including a garden with a lawn large enough for children to play on and a large patio for guests of all ages to enjoy. A table, four chairs and a charcoal BBQ are located on the patio directly outside the kitchen door and the patio extends round the side of the property, making a perfect place to enjoy the morning and evening sun. Adjacent to the cottage is a large, gravelled parking area, suitable for two to three cars.