A rare opportunity has come up to live like a lord or lady by renting the historic Water Eaton Manor in Oxford.

However, you may need a lottery win to afford it as the rent guide price is £5,500 a month.

The Grade II-listed house, which is part of the Water Eaton Estate, sits in farmland, a five-minute drive from Oxford Parkway Station.

It has six bedrooms, four reception rooms, three bathrooms, home office and kitchen.

It comes with a two-bedroom annex all set amid extensive gardens with a tennis court, oak and glass framed garden pod and a detached barn.

A paddock is available by negotiation.

Oxford Mail:

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The handsome property features period details, including wood panelling, exposed beams, original fireplaces, stone mullion windows and flagstone floors.

And it is council tax band H.

The manor was built in 1586 by William Frere, son of a former Mayor of Oxford, and dates back to the middle of the 9th century when it was owned by King Burgred of Mercia.

By the time of the Domesday book, in 1086, the property was firmly in the hands of the Normans in the person of Robert d’Oilly, builder of Oxford Castle.

The Manor has since changed ownership many times, including throughout the 17th century, when it was owned by the Lovelace family, one of whom was John Lovelace, whose father had been a Royalist politician during the English Civil War.

The Lovelaces extended the house to include a great hall, parlour, drawing room, dining room and six chambers, plus the principal bedroom, kitchen and service rooms, and two servants’ halls.

Oxford Mail:

Sold to the Sawyer family in 1767, Water Eaton Manor was used as a farmhouse during the late 18th and early 19th century. It was also under the Sawyer family ownership that one of the wings of the house was demolished.

In the late 19th century, the property was restored by Sir Thomas Graham Jackson, 1st Baronet, who is recognised to be one of the most distinguished British architects of his generation.

He is largely responsible for the appearance of Oxford today as he designed many well-known buildings including the Examination Schools along the High Street, along with Trinity College quadrangle, Brasenose College and Hertford College, including the famous Bridge of Sighs.

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Now in the care of Christ Church, the Manor is available to rent for the first time in over 50 years.

Kelly Matthews, head of residential lettings for Savills in Oxford, said: "Situated between Oxford and Kidlington, the Estate benefits from its stunning rural setting, with far-reaching countryside views, while still being within easy reach of local amenities, including the renowned north and central Oxford schools.

"It is also very well situated for transport into central Oxford and London with Marylebone only 50 minutes away."

Water Eaton Manor is available to let for a guide price of £5,500 per month. For further information please contact Savills on +44 (0) 1865 339 737.

 

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This story was written by Miranda Norris, she joined the team in 2021 and covers celebrity and showbiz news across Oxfordshire as well as news from Witney.

Get in touch with her by emailing: Miranda.Norris@newsquest.co.uk

Follow her on Twitter @MirandaJNorris