The Manor at Weston On The Green Country House Hotel

Delightful attractive historical manor, with well maintained gardens and a joy to visit. You will enjoy taking a walk around the 12 acre estate, with lots to see. There is a secondary driveway to the Manor, it is the first gateway you will pass on this drive (photo 56) nothing more than a sandy dirt track, and winds it way left towards the Manor House (photo 57). You can then enter the front courtyard and drive to the fountain (photo 58) which in the warmer seasons has a concrete monument in the centre of the pool. You will find four electric car meters here to help you fill up for your electric car, quite convenient we must say. From the front door entrance and it’s step down, ( photo 59) take your wheelchair over to the left of the Manor House, and next to it you will find the courtyard to a lovely annex with its golden brown honey coloured Cotswold stone looking very nice in the afternoon sunshine (photo 60). Ride back to the house now, and continue ahead to turn right and go on the compressed ground to pass the side of the Manor (photo 61) were the rattan chairs and brollies will be placed out to catch the sunshine while you sit back with a gin and tonic in hand. Ahead is a large manured grass lawn, ideal for the kids to let their hair down (photo 62) and to your left is the entry to a well kept hedge lined garden area (photo 63) The main block of the house is rectangular with two projections at the rear of he manor (photo 64) enclosing a courtyard of just 45 x 30 feet. Ahead of this is a well maintained high hedge, with a pleasant easy stroll to the far end (photo 65) while over to the left of the rear, a well can be seen, in early 2023 undergoing renovation (photo 66) and over the bridge, maintenance work continues with repairing the wall that holds back any landslides (photo 67). Just beyond this sunken garden and to your right you will find the tennis court (photo 68) Running along the main drive from the Manor House to the main road, the front of the building have gables at each end, while the central porch is flanked by bay windows (photo 69) and there ia a row of deciduous trees called the Monks walk (photo 70) more than likely planted by the Bertie’s family. Across the meadow you can see the stables (photo 71) and one story concerns a Willoughby Bertie the 4th Earl of Abingdon who was then the owner of the manor, in that he bred race horses, and he had told his young stable boy to write the intended name of a horse on its fed box, “Potato” but the boy wrote Potoooooooo as a joke, but it amused Willoughby so much he decided to keep the name and made it official, and the horse became one of the finest and famous racehorses of the 18th century. OUR FINAL THOUGHTS ABOUT THE GROUNDS. Winter was not the best time for our visit, but we were still very much impressed by the layout, and how nice it looked, and with the ongoing works still in progress, it will really be looking good when the seasons start to unfold it’s colourful backdrop to the established trees, shrubs and hedging. We would recommend you going along then to enjoy the views, perhaps with another glass of G and T.

We have offered 4 stars simply because at the moment it is not quite wheelchair friendly throughout, but the house and gardens are delightful and when plans have become approved to benefit disabled visitors soon, then we feel you will really be benefited by taking a visit here. OUR REVIEW CONTINUES NOW WITH PART SEVEN WITH THE HISTORY OF THE MANOR FROM 1766 UP INTO 2023. This is followed by REVIEW EIGHT TO CONCLUDE OUR BICESTER TRIP, so please enjoy all the reviews for this pleasant day out. Having inherited the Manor in 1766, he settled in to make improvements to the house. Captain Peregrine Bertie was born 13th March 1741, the third son of Willoughby Bertie 3rd Earl of Abingdon. He was educated at Westminster School, then commissioned a Lieutenant in the Royal Navy on 17th December 1759, and two years later, promoted as Commander on 1st January 1762. In 1766 he inherited the Norreys estate, including Weston Manor. He entered Parliament as the Tory MP for Oxford in 1774, and his one recorded speech was in 1788, and it was in opposition to the government. About 1780 he added a timber rooftop outline into the Great Hall, which he had transferred from his Notley Abbey property in Buckinghamshire, and an oak linenfold panelling was laid with above this a carved frieze of foliage and mermaids , and a head some feel may represent John the Baptist. The open timber roof you can see today now in the hall also came from Notley, which had first been in use in a barn at Chesterton, and placed at Weston Manor sometime between 1840 and 1850. Captain Peregrine Bertie married Elizabeth Hutchins of Yattenden, Berkshire on 7th May 1790, late in life, but had no children. He had remained as an MP for all his life, and was actually returned for Oxford that year in June, but just a month later, he died on 20th August 1790, and a record of his will was read on 23rd September 1790. Having no children Weston Manor became the property of his older brother Willoughby Bertie 4th Earl of Abingdon, born 16th January 1740, at Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, and he attended Magdalen College, Oxford. He was a music patron and composer, but also bred race horses. ( do read our REVIEW EIGHT for an interesting account of his time as a racehorse owner ). He married Charlotte Warren on 7th July 1768, and they had seven children. In 1769 the family were living at Rycote in Oxfordshire, and he funded the building of the Swinford Toll across the river Thames. Although enjoying an extravagant lifestyle, he had many financial problems, and he had to sell off his estate at Westbury, Wiltshire over a period of years, and he died insolvent on 26th September 1799. Weston Manor was then inherited by his son Peregrine Bertie, born 1790, who then held on to the manor and actually living there until his death in 1849. Now the house was passed on to become the property of Peregrines younger son Reverend Frederick Bertie who had been born in 1793. He was educated at University of Oxford, and on becoming the owner of the manor, made many changes. In 1820 the front of the manor was again replaced, and an entry into the Great Hall perhaps called the Monks hole dates from about 1851 when alterations were being made, the plaster corbel angels which support the roof being part of this work as well. In 1825 he married Lady Georgina Anne Emily Kerr, and they had 10 children. During his life he became vicar at St Helens church at Albury, quite a few miles away, and he travelled between his estate and the vicarage. He died in 1868 at the manor, but his wife continued to live there for another 13 years , census records showing this to be the case in 1871 and 1881 as she is noted as living at the manor with her daughter Agnes and six servants. Lady Georgina passed away on 20th May 1881. Her daughter Agnes then moved into “The Cottage” a house on the estate, until her own death in 1900. Lady Georgina’s son, captain Frederick Arthur Bertie, born 24th September 1837 at Weston manor, then joined the army, and served in the Bengal Staff Corps. In 1873 he married Rose Emily de Montmorency, who has lived in Ireland, and they had four daughters, Margaret, Henrietta, Mary and Kathleen, and one son Richard. Captain Frederick Bertie died 20th September 1885, but his wife Rose and the children continued to live at the manor. Sadly her son Richard, who served during the First World War in the Berkshire Yeomanry, died during the war on 20th November 1917 at Palestine, and is buried at the Jerusalem War cemetery. There is a plaque in St Mary’s church in his honour. Rose Bertie then sold the house in 1918 by auction, and she moved to 13 Bradmore road in Oxford, before dying on 19th March 1935. Weston Manor was then bought by Henry David Reginald Margesson, 1st Viscount Margesson, who had been born on 26th July 1890, and grew up in Worcestershire, then educated at Harrow School, then Magdalene college Cambridge. During his youth he decided to live in the USA for a time, before serving as an Adjutant in the 11th Hussars. He met and married Francis Howard Leggett in 1916. During 1918 he bought Weston Manor, and had their first child, daughter Janet Hampden, she was born at Marylebone, London. They had another daughter, Mary, born in 1919, and one son Francis Vere Hampden, born 1922. Viscount Margesson sold Weston Manor in 1922, and in that year at the general election he was elected as MP for Upton, and his political career took off, in 1924 becoming MP for Rugby which he held for 18 years. In 1931 becoming the Chief Whip until 1940. He died on 24th December 1965 at Nassau, Bahamas. Charles Greville 3rd Baron Greville bought Weston Manor during 1922 who was the second of four children for Algeron Greville 2nd Baron Greville, and Charles was born 3rd March 1871. He also had a political career, but first starting as an Aide-de- camp to Earl Cardigan during 1893-1895, then Aide-camp- to the Governor of Australia. On 24th November 1909 he married American heiress Olive Kerr at St Paul’s church, Knightsbridge, but she arrived 20 minutes late due to her car breaking down when bringing her to the church. They became the parent of Ronald Charles Faulk Greville, but he died unmarried. Charles and Olive Greville only lived at Weston Manor for twelve years, until 1934, when it was advertized for sale. He died 14th May 1952 The Manor was bought now by Stuart James Beven, born 31st March 1872, who would become a British Barrister and a conservative MP elected for Holborn. He married Sylvia Grossman and had a son Peter James Stuart Beven. His wife Sylvia died in 1932. Two years later he married Clair Marguerite Jacobson, but a year later he passed away, and is buried in St Mary’s churchyard, Weston-on-the-green. His wife Clair sold the manor in 1936. History moves on, and by 1946 Weston Manor has been operating as a hotel. In 2012 developer Paul Oberschneider acquired the hotel, having been bought to market in June 2019 for £5.6m but then fell into administration. The grade two listed property , now with 32 bedrooms, was bought by Gargash Holdings, with a suggested price of £4.8m, but they recognised the potential for this historic 12 acres of grounds and gardens, and have great ideas for its future, and with many highly motivated buyers ready to buy, it will be interesting to see the results ahead. THIS REVIEW FOLLOWS OUR LOOK AT THE MANOR, AND OFFERS YOU OUR THOUGHTS REGARDING TOILETS AND DINING ROOM. (photo 21) shows gentlemen’s toilet which is accessed from the open lounge area by the reception desk, and is very nicely decorated, lovely floor tiles (photo 22) BUT this is a reason we can only give 4 stars to the hotel, because although the gents who need to stand can do so as it’s on the level inside, if you need to sit in the cubicles, then there are three steps you have to go down to get to cubicles (photo 23) then back up again, so that may be very difficult for some disabled to manage, so bear this in mind. The ladies to have a problem, as you have to go out by the reception desk (photo 24) and turn right to walk along a corridor (photo 25) which is again nicely decorated out, and adds age to the Manor so that it feels it’s history for us (photo 26) highlighted by that lovely recessed window (photo 27) but then they to have to get down a couple of steps into the next passageway (photo 28) and face right to then get up two steps to get into ladies toilet, so if you are in a wheelchair you have no chance of using toilets, and sadly that is why we cannot offer top marks, which in fact the Manor should deserve, as we feel it’s a warm friendly cosy Manor House, certainly historical, and worth a visit. Just along here also is another staircase to take you up to more bedrooms (photo 29) again these are very stylish and comfortable (30) which we will recommend for the able bodied visitors, who will enjoy this hotel. As you walk back from the ladies toilet area, a door to our right will take us into the delightful restaurant (photo 31) overlooking the garden areas, and nicely decorated in stylish old looking furnishings and deco (photo 32) as the panelled walls show (photo 33) but it looks so appealing and would love to one day enjoy dinner with them at this most appealing hotel. Once back into our seat in the reception lounge, you have a view ahead towards the driveway when you exit, and from here you may wander around the estate and admire the grounds, which we are pleased to say we review for you next, SO PLEASE READ OUR REVIEW FOR THE GROUNDS, IN OUR PART EIGHT. OUR FINAL THOUGHTS It is well worth a visit, especially if you have a little mobility, characteristic, historical, and well maintained. A delightful small hotel. WE CAN ONLY RECOMMEND THE HOTEL FOR THOSE WHO HAVE SOME MOBILITY.

You will enjoy visiting this historical old Manor with history taking us right back to 1066 and before that even. William the conquerer fought at the famous battle of Hastings in 1066, and aided by a man named Wigod, an eleventh century Saxon Lord, who at that time held the whole estate of the manor of Weston, and helped him to conquer England. Wigod died shortly after this period, and his estates was passed on to his son in law, Baron Robert D’Oyly, who had married Ealdgyth, the daughter of Wigod. The land at the time of 1086, was rated at 10 hides (a Hide was regarded as an area of land that a man needed to support his family, which varied in size because of the quality of the soil, as a good fertile land would be smaller that land with poor soil) On his death in 1094, it passed on to his brother Nigel, who died about 1115, then on to his son, another Robert D’Oyly, who was then persuaded by his wife to build a church for the St Augustine Monks, which later became Osney Abbey. The then bailiff of Osney Abbey built a house at Weston-on-the-green, which would years later become Weston Manor House. Apparently at this time it was surrounded by a 13th century Moat, which has long ago been filled in. On the front door of the Manor the original knocker remains, dated 1496. The Abbey retained the manor until it had to surrender the land to the crown in 1539 during the time of the dissolution of the monestries. King Henry V111 then passed the manor to Sir John Williams of Thame, and the only part of his manor that remains is the Barons Hall, which is today the Dining room. During the 1500’s at some time, the front of the manor was altered and the with a Tudor fireplace was built by the then owners of the manor. A wealthy family of landowners and early politicians, The Norreys family line became the owners of Weston manor, around the mid 1600’s and by 1669 Sir Edward Norreys was the owner, and it seems the panelling in the drawing room dates back to around 1680. He died in 1712, and the manor was passed on to his son, James Norreys, who remained here until his death just six years later in 1718. The grandson of Sir Edward Norreys, through his daughter Philadelphia was now bequeathed the manor from his uncle James Norreys, and this James Bertie ( who had been born in 1687) married Elizabeth Harris, and they had one son, Norreys Bertie. When James died in 1728, he and his wife Elizabeth, were buried at St Mary’s churchyard at Weston on the green and a son Norreys Bertie then inherited Weston manor. He became a Tory politician and represented Oxfordshire county from 1743 until 1754, a truly Tory stronghold. His estate in Weston became part of other estates he held at Yattendon, Hampstead Norreys and Bothampstead. During 1743 he rebuilt most of St Mary’s church. He never married, and in his later lifetime he spent the remaining years on the continent, but got into difficult financial problems, and he died bankrupt at Ghent on 25th October 1766. He left his estate at Weston-on-the-green to his second cousin once removed, Captain Peregrine Bertie. THE HISTORICAL HISTORY WILL NOW CONTINUE WITH OUR NEXT REVIEWS, SO PLEASE READ THESE AS WELL TO GET THE FULL FLAVOUR OF WESTON MANOR, ON PART SEVEN AND PART EIGHT. Our photos will show what you can look forward to when visiting Weston Manor hotel. (Photo 21) is the main gate entrance to the manor, two old Cotswold honey coloured stone pillers allow you to feel the historical history that will unfold as you read along with us. You will pass the deciduous trees along Monks Walk (photo 22) proberbly planted by the Bertie family. Then the courtyard becomes you forward towards the main house, with plenty of parking available (photo 23) and you have three electric car points ready for your use (photo 24) With a round water pool and founting that will be in use during the warmer months ahead. When entering the manor, there is a small step (photo 25) but easy enough to cope with, then it’s nice and level for most of the hotels ground floor. But just glance upward first and take in the Bertie’s family emblem on the turrent (photo 26) and notice the inscription on the wall (photo 27) which will give you a clue as to how old the manor really is. Then you need to turn the original 1496 latch to open the wooden oak door itself (photo 28). Once you enter you immediately sense the history that involved the Manor, with the family portraits making you feel we should know these people (photo 29) and the receptionist who warmly greets you with a friendly and helpful attitude at the desk, that makes you feel at home straight away, as you gaze over the lounge that invites you to settle and relax (photo 30) while you look around and take in the homily atmosphere. The carved wooden beams warmed by the ceiling gives that sense of age (photo 31) While the original Tudor fireplace catches the eye (photo 32) and a nice cup of tea always goes down well (photo 33) and helps you feel relaxed and at home here in the Manor (photo 34) while the fire glows and warms the heart in the original Tudor fireplace placed here during the 1500’s. The doorway into Bertie’s Bar encourages us to investigate (photo 35) and again it has been laid out to offer that homily feel, with warm colours and carved armchairs (photo 36) and highly decorated panelling (37) and you can easily settle onto the the corner (photo 38) a glass of your favourite tipple in hand. Sadly, the Manor House is NOT YET wheelchair friendly throughout, but don’t worry, plans are afoot to help disabled get more from this friendly and smallish Manor House, so let’s hope their plans can go ahead in the next year or so. There is no lift here, and if you arrange for an overnight stay, and why not, it’s a lovely setting to tour around the area, the now famous Bicester Village shopping outlet is only a seven minute drive away, and Oxford town is but a short few miles and that is well worth taking an afternoon visit to see, but as we were saying, with no lift it will mean you being able to cope with the steps needed to get you up to your room (photo 39) and a variety of rooms are available (photo 40) all individually decorated in stylish colours and furnishings. OUR FINAL THOUGHTS This is a very interesting and historical hotel to visit, comfortable to just sit and think, see the portraits, and see how the Manor developed over the years. By reading all three parts of our reviews we will learn so much that will help us appreciate the Manor even more. Although not disabled friendly in many areas, if you have some mobility, then we would recommend you come and visit and enjoy this fine building.