Description
Summary
The Old School House is a beautiful, historic house which sleeps 12 guests, in five bedrooms, with two bathrooms. Dating back to 1869, the house was originally built for the village school mistress, and has various wonderful character features including a large fireplace with a wood burning stove, original walk-in pantry and a spacious bathroom with a freestanding clawfoot bath.
The period features have been complemented by the warm contemporary décor and modern facilities, including a Smart TV with home cinema system and built-in HD Freesat, two iPod docks and wireless internet access. There is a stunning enclosed garden and off-street parking for up to five cars is available on the driveway.
Location
The Old School House is located in the pretty village of Lower Swell, surrounded by the stunning Cotswold countryside. Two of the village’s focal points are the beautiful War Memorial standing on the tranquil village green and the silvery waters of the River Dikler, a popular spot for trout fishing. The village benefits from having a beautiful countryside inn which offers superb food, an open fire and hosts local walks and activities.
Lower Swell is just one mile from the delightful market town of Stow-on-the-Wold which is popular for its numerous antique shops, pubs and restaurants. The location is also ideal for exploring the wider region including the many beautiful towns and villages of the Cotswolds, as well as further afield places, such as Stratford-upon-Avon, Oxford and Bath.
Description
The Old School House is the perfect setting for groups of friends or family who are looking for a relaxing break surrounded by the beautiful Cotswold countryside. The house is laid out as follows:
| Room | Amenities |
|---|
| Kitchen/dining room |
This spacious open plan kitchen/dining room is the heart of the house and contains:
- electric oven with four-ring induction hob
- fridge and freezer
- dishwasher, microwave, coffee machine, kettle and toaster
- wooden dining table with seating for 12
- small book library
|
| Utility room |
Contains:
- washing machine and tumble dryer
|
| Living room |
This lovely cosy living room contains:
- large fireplace with wood burning stove
- two-seater sofa, two three-seater sofas and pouffe
- Smart TV with built-in HD Freesat and home cinema system
- two portable iPod docks
|
| Bedroom 4 |
A bright bedroom in the eaves which contains:
- double bed
- chest of drawers and wall hooks
|
| Shower room |
Contains:
- walk-in electric shower, toilet, wash basin and heated towel rail
|
| Bedroom 5 |
A characterful dual aspect eaves room which contains:
- antique Victorian double bed
- single bed
- chest of drawers and wall hooks
|
| Master bedroom |
The bright and stylish bedroom contains:
- double bed
- built-in cupboard with hanging rail
- Lloyd Loom style chair with cushions
|
| Family bathroom |
Contains:
- roll top bath, toilet and wash basin
- ornamental stone fireplace
|
| Bedroom 2 |
This beautiful dual aspect bedroom contains:
- double bed
- chest of drawers and wall hooks
- armchair
|
| Bedroom 3 |
Another lovely dual aspect bedroom (accessed via bedroom 2) which contains:
- double bed
- single bed
- chest of drawers and wall hooks
|
The fabulous peaceful garden, with distant views towards the church in Stow-on-the-Wold, is accessed via the front door. This enclosed outdoor space has a beautiful patio area with teak garden furniture seating eight, and a charcoal barbecue. The patio overlooks the lovely lawn, bordered by pretty flower beds and shaded woodland areas. There is off-street parking on the driveway for up to five cars.
Key Features
Booking and payment
Character Cottages is a marketing agency and we do not own or manage any of the cottages listed on our website. Bookings made via us form a legal agreement directly between you and the property owner.
For bookings commencing more than 10 weeks in advance, a 30% non-refundable deposit is required to confirm the booking. The balance payment is then due 10 weeks prior to arrival.
All payments are made subject to the cancellation policy set out in the standard Booking Conditions.
Security deposit
A security deposit of £100 is payable, which is returned after the letting period, subject to an inspection of the property. For the avoidance of doubt, guests are requested to leave the property in a reasonable condition, consistent with the property's appearance upon arrival. In the event that the owners, or their appointed housekeepers, have to spend additional time tidying up after your departure, then the cost of this extra time may be deducted from your security deposit. The security deposit is payable prior to arrival at the property, via a bank transfer or a valid debit or credit card.
Occupancy
The maximum occupancy of the property is 12 guests, at any point during your stay. Unauthorised over occupancy is a breach of our terms and conditions and may result in the cancellation of your booking and additional charges. Please consult us prior to booking if you wish to discuss the possibility of having more than 12 guests at the property.
Infants who sleep in a cot do not count towards the occupancy figure, however, due to space restrictions, the occupancy figure may only be exceeded by two additional infants.
Pets
Regrettably, The Old School House does not accept pets.
Bed linen and towels
Conran bed linen and two bath towels per guest are provided.
Arrival and departure times
Arrival time at The Old School House is after 3pm and departure time is by 10am, unless prior arrangements are made with the owner. Access is via a key safe, therefore it does not matter if you are arriving late at night.
Bed sizes and configurations
- Master bedroom (first floor): Double bed
- Bedroom 2 (second floor): Double bed
- Bedroom 3 (second floor): Double bed and a single bed
- Bedroom 4 (first floor): Double bed
- Bedroom 5 (first floor): Double bed and a single bed
Please note that bedroom 3 is accessed via bedroom 2.
Bathrooms
- Family bathroom (first floor): Roll top bath, toilet and wash basin
- Shower room (first floor): Walk-in electric shower, toilet and wash basin
Heating, fuel and logs
Electricity and oil for the central heating are included in the price. There is a wood burning stove in the living room and an initial supply of logs is provided for guests.
Services provided
The Old School House has super-fast fibre broadband to the property and a Smart TV with home cinema system. A telephone is available with free calls to standard UK land line numbers.
Parking
Off-street parking for up to five cars is available.
Housekeeping
Where a letting exceeds nine nights, a mid-stay clean, bed linen and towel change may be included in the price. Please check with us to confirm.
Child friendly facilities
Two travel cots (without linen) and two high chairs are available.
Initial consumables
A small quantity of initial consumables is provided for your convenience (eg. tea, coffee, sugar, dishwasher tablets, washing up liquid, soap, washing powder, etc), however, you should not expect the quantity of these provisions to be sufficient for the duration of your stay.
Accessibility, health and safety
The Old School House is an old property and has many character features, including narrow and steep stairs, and multiple floors, which could pose difficulty to guests with limited mobility, or carrying babies, both in terms of their general movement and their ability to quickly exit the house in the event of an emergency.
The smoke and CO detectors operate on a sound only basis and, therefore, those who have serious impairment of hearing may not be able to hear the alarm systems and could be at risk.
Smoking
No smoking is permitted throughout the property.
Photographs
In order to provide you with as much detail of our properties as possible, we sometimes use wide angle photography, which can make certain rooms, or spaces, appear larger than they actually are. Wherever possible, we try to include a floorplan, with detailed dimensions of rooms and areas. If you have any queries regarding the size of any rooms or spaces, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Reviews
The Old School House was launched as a Holiday Let with Character Cottages in November 2011. Customer reviews and feedback for this lovely property are provided below:
Other Guest Feedback:
-"We had a fantastic weekend catching up with friends in a relaxing environment! The wine and chocolates were much appreciated. Your house was full of character, well presented and clean.", Catherine, November 2019
-“Great location in the Cotswolds. Has everything you need for a weekend away with a group - Lovely cosy cottage in a good location. Very well equipped with everything you need. Very clean and comfortable.”, Alison, November 2019
-"The house was ideal for our requirements having a 3 month old baby and six adults. As the house divides in two we could have the parents and baby in one side and the other 4 adults in the other side. Lr Swell is an idilic village with a very good pub serving good food and within walking distance from Stow.", Philomena, September 2019
-"The owner was great in answering all our questions and on arrival the property was well stocked with everything you could need. The welcome wine was appreciated! It is a great base to explore on foot, on a bike or even by horse. I would recommend this property!”, Katherine, July 2019
-“The house was perfect for a group of friends looking for a lovely weekend in the Cotswolds, and the owners were very obliging and kind.”, Miranda, March 2019
-"This is a fantastic property very nicely presented. There was loads of room for our stay and really well kitted out. All the advance correspondence was thorough and very detailed. We thoroughly enjoyed our weekend and would highly recommend this House to anyone considering it.", Steve, January 2019
-"This a fabulous property in a great location. Walking into Stow is easy and all accessible via public footpaths. Some great quirky shops and wonderful pubs, you are literally spoilt for choice. We also loved the local pub which is about 3 minutes walk from the cottage and does the most amazing Sunday lunch. The cottage is very well equipped and has everything you need. An separate toilet would be advantageous with a large group as there are 2 but both in the 2 bathrooms which if being used creates an issue. All the bedrooms were lovely. The double bed in the room above the kitchen is very, very small though. A full sized double bed would be better even if it takes up more of the floor space available. All in all we had a great weekend and made some wonderful memories. The owner was really helpful and I would definitely go back.", Sharron, November 2018
- "Excellent place to stay for a family weekend in the Cotswolds. Comfortable and well-appointed house with a pretty garden and plenty of space for parking.", Deirdre, May 2018
- "Yes we had a brilliant time. The house was perfect for 4 couples and 3 children – total 11. The only criticism was that there was no shower, other than over the baths! But would definitely go again if opportunity arises.", Rebecca, November 2012
-" The Old School House is absolutely beautiful. We literally could not believe our eyes when we got there. Very well appointed and gorgeous furnishings. It felt thoroughly indulgent! I was there for a hen-do and we all had a wonderful time. The spacious lounge and huge tv were perfect for a girls movie night, and since the weather was so glorious we also made good use of the bbq and beautiful outdoor space. I haven't got a single bad thing to say about this place. I was very sad to leave." - July 2012
- "Yes, we very much enjoyed our stay. It was a perfect location and a lovely house. Exactly as described, it was very well equipped and had all the facilities we were looking for. Also, it was very welcoming with the owner providing some wine and snacks for us when we arrived. Wouldn't hesitate to stay again and/or recommend. Thanks!" - James, June 2012
- "Very spacious and comfortable cottage. Owner was very helpful too. Thank you." - Feb 2012.
- "I like the fact that there were in effect 2 self-contained bedroom wings which is ideal for 2 families wanting their 'own space'." - Dec 2010.
- "Excellent place in an excellent location. Two minutes away from Stow which is a beautiful town" - Aug 2010.
- "Immaculate. A beautiful setting for an exciting weekend away with good friends. Lots of space. Helpful and friendly owners. Everything we needed was there for us, and more. We had a really lovely time staying here, and would strongly recommend it to anyone - one of our party members is already planning a similar do there next year!" - July 2010.
Floorplan
Inventory
Our aim is for you to enjoy The Old School House as if it was your own home and this information is provided to ensure that you are aware of, and are able to use, all the facilities that are available.
| Main appliances, furniture and facilities |
|---|
| Electric oven with four-ring induction hob |
Freezer |
Fridge |
| Kettle |
Microwave |
Washing machine |
| Dishwasher |
Toaster |
Tumble dryer |
| Slow cooker |
Barbecue and utensils |
Outdoor table and seating |
| 2 x high chairs |
2 x travel cots (without linen) |
Smart TV with HD Freesat |
| Home cinema system |
2 x iPod docks |
|
| General provisions |
|---|
| Bin bags |
Dishwasher tablets |
Hand soap |
| J cloths & scourers |
Small quantity of instant coffee |
Small quantity of sugar |
| Small quantity of tea bags |
Toilet roll |
Washing up liquid |
| Bathroom spray |
Cling film |
Duster |
| Flash All Purpose |
Kitchen roll |
Multi-surface polish |
| Tin foil |
Washing powder |
|
| Other equipment and facilities |
|---|
| Dustpan and brush |
Mop and bucket |
Tall brush |
| Vacuum cleaner |
CO detectors |
Fire blanket |
| Fire extinguishers |
First aid kit |
Smoke alarms |
| Torches |
Appliance instructions |
Iron |
| Ironing board |
Tourist information |
Clothes dryer |
| Maclaren buggy |
Books |
|
Travel
The Old School House is located in the small and peaceful village of Lower Swell, one mile from Stow-on-the-Wold.
Travelling by car
Lower Swell is easily accessible by car, being one mile from Stow, which is located at the junction of seven roads, including the A429 (Fosse Way).
Travelling by train
The nearest railway station to Lower Swell is Kingham (approximately six miles away), which has regular, direct services to London Paddington, with a typical journey time of approximately 90 minutes.
Travelling by plane
Lower Swell is within easy reach of a number of international airports:
- Heathrow International Airport: 75 miles, approximately 90 minute drive;
- Birmingham International Airport: 45 miles, approximately 60 minute drive.
