west allotment cottage

West Allotment CottageCopse Hill Road | Lower Slaughter | Cheltenham | Gloucestershire | GL54 2HY

West Allotment Cottage.indd 1 22/07/2015 16:27

West Allotment CottageSituated on the edge of the village of Lower Slaughter, West Allotment Cottage is a Cotswold stone-built property originally commissioned by the Whitmore family for their estate workers during the latter part of the nineteenth century. Indeed the cottage has the family initials, CSW, carved into the stonework on the gable end, a pedigree to match other fine buildings in the village. The Whitmores were Lords of the Manor and until the 1960s the internationally renowned Manor House Hotel was their country home. They were great benefactors. During 1867, in the same year as the cottage was built, the Whitmores re-built St Mary’s church and a few years later added the village hall, originally as a ‘gentleman’s reading room’. Their investment, combined with the beauty of local mellow stone, rustic architecture and serendipitous position straddling the shallow River Windrush, is without a doubt why Lower Slaughter has become one of the most famous of all villages in the Cotswolds. Serene and picturesque, set amongst open countryside and yet only a stone’s throw from the amenities of Stow on the Wold and Bourton on the Water, the gorgeous chocolate box appeal of this quintessentially Cotswold village ensures that every home commands a high premium. However in 2009, West Allotment Cottage was damp, dark, gloomy, languishing in a very poor state and requiring a complete programme of repair and refurbishment to be transformed into the eminently desirable home it is today. Using only the best natural materials and remaining sympathetic to the traditional local vernacular, the owners began by addressing the deterioration in the fabric of the cottage by installing a modern damp-proof course and sound-proofing the party wall before removing the original back wall in order to create a bright, airy open-plan kitchen-dining room that has become the sociable hub of daily life. On the first floor, their decision to install two more stone mullion windows has brought a flood of welcome light into the two bedrooms; meanwhile, the bathrooms were stripped out and re-configured to a high standard of comfort and luxury that is mirrored throughout the property. One of its original attractions was a generous plot which, with the efforts and energy of the present owners, has become a stunningly beautiful, traditional cottage garden complete with heavily stocked flower borders, well tended lawns and a sweeping gravelled drive. A few derelict outbuildings on the boundary created the footprint for a new annexe, completed in 2011, and this inspired space has been the making of the cottage. Suitable for a wide range of uses, for everything from occasional guest accommodation to a teenage hideaway, it is provided with a sitting room, kitchen, bedroom with built-in wardrobe and bathroom – an excellent addition that offers a perfect place to work, to relax or entertain away from the main house.

The PropertySituated on the quiet edge of the village of Lower Slaughter, West Allotment Cottage is a Cotswold stone-built property benefiting from traditional cottage garden, gravelled drive and annexe.

There is planning permission in place for a kitchen extension – APPLICATION REF: 14/04133/FUL

Entrance hall, sitting room, kitchen/dining room, bathroom, two bedrooms, shower room. Annexe accommodation comprising of sitting room, kitchen, bedroom with built-in wardrobe and bathroom.

Lower SlaughterThe river Eye runs through the village under many stone bridges and turns the water wheel of an old corn mill that has been converted into a museum and gift shop. The village has been named as one of Britain’s prettiest villages, and is popular both as a holiday destination and as a place of primary residence.

DirectionsFrom the offices of Harrison James and Hardie in Bourton on the Water, turn left onto the High Street and follow the road through Lansdowne until reaching the junction. Turn right onto the A429 Fosseway and proceed north until reaching the left hand turning for Lower Slaughter. Follow the road through the village until reaching the property on the right.


Agents notes: All measurements are approximate and quoted in metric with imperial equivalents and for general guidance only and whilst every attempt has been made to ensure accuracy, they must not be relied on. The fixtures, fittings and appliances referred to have not been tested and therefore no guarantee can be given that they are in working order. Internal photographs are reproduced for general information and it must not be inferred that any item shown is included with the property. For a free valuation, contact the numbers listed on the brochure. Printed 23.07.2015

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West Allotment Cottage

The Annexe


Fine & Country North Cotswolds High Street, Bourton-on-the-Water, Gloucestershire GL54 2AN

Tel 01451 824977


west allotment cottage

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