The Summer House
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Situated amidst the orchards of a beautiful Cotswold Manor House, The Summer House is the very essence of rural England.
The Grade II Listed property is a picture-perfect Cotswold retreat, set in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (now known as National Landscapes), complete with all the original features and grandeur you would expect. Gather around the roaring open fire in the sitting-room, or assemble at the impressive dining-table with family and friends. Whatever you chose to do during your stay, you can expect to feel at home in this quintessential country home.
A private pillared drive takes you past the impressive Manor House, then on to the pear and apple orchards which look magnificent when the blossom is out in spring. The Summer House is nestled at the end of the gravel drive and has ample private parking.
To the front of the property, you will find the Cotswold stone wing which was added to the original red brick building in the 1940s and is Listed by English Heritage as Grade 2*. The property boasts an impressive formal garden with stone steps that lead to a pretty seating area, where you can while away the evening and enjoy the sunset with exceptional views across the Cotswold hills.
As you enter The Summer House, to the left of the entrance hall, a grand dining-area awaits and is the perfect place to entertain with a cosy open fireplace and quirky pieces of art. The open plan design leads to a fully equipped kitchen-area, creating a fabulous social space where you can chat to loved ones whilst preparing a home-cooked meal with an additional entrance allowing you access from the kitchen to the garden. French doors and original period sash windows in the dining-area allow for the breathtaking views to be enjoyed indoors too, perfect for those fresher British days!
A small set of stairs take you from the entrance hall up to the elegant sitting-room. Panelled walls combine with exposed beams and traditional soft furnishings to create an effortlessly stylish, yet classic space. Why not help yourself to a complimentary tipple from the bar area and try your hand at a game of backgammon with a loved one. If this sounds too taxing, then simply stretch out in front of the fire with a good read.
A staircase in the sitting-room leads up to the first floor where you will find two bathrooms, two double bedrooms and a twin room with a further staircase leading back down to the dining-area. You would be forgiven for envisaging yourself in a period drama as you lose yourself in the timelessly classic interiors with overhead bed canopies and English country charm.
A panelled door in the sitting-room leads outside to the left side of the building. Interestingly, the original red brick side of The Summer House was built by Lucy, Countess Fortescue around 1720 as a banqueting house at the head of the carp ponds which have since been adapted for boating. Today the pond makes for a delightful outside area to enjoy the tranquillity and calm of this peacefully situated piece of English paradise. An array of garden furniture provides the ideal place to entertain outside, or sunbathe next to the shimmering water. Please supervise children as the water is deep and please note swimming in the pond is not allowed.
