Overview

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.

Transport & Parking

Driving here and parking is easy enough, with electric points available.

Access

Not an easy Hotel to move around in, too many steps for disabled to feel at home, but a smashing place to visit if you are able bodied or can cope with steps on your own.

Toilets

Very clean and tidy, well maintained, but of no use to disabled who do not have any mobility, as steps needed for both ladies and gentlemen, and we did not see any disabled toilets at all.

Staff

Excellent, really friendly, polite, and willing, no problems at all.

Photos