Overview

Cowley, recorded in the Doomsday book, simply means “cow pasture” and it stood by the river Churn, which runs past lakes in the Manor before joining the river Thames a lot further down river. A church, which stands in the grounds, was built in the 13th century, along with an old manor, both becoming the property of the Dean and chapter of Westminster, after King Henry V111 got rid of the Abbey that stood here. In 1695 a Manor House was built, and over the years has been in the care of many tenants, until the church gave the lease over to a Mr James Hutchinson, who in 1850, using stone from the old house, built a new house on the site, now part of the present building. He then built the Victorian water garden and its cascade. The Cowley Manor we see today was the work of Sir James Horlick, (of Horlick Malt) who extended the house and laid out the grounds. It is believed that Lewis Carroll visited the village of Cowley quite often, using the grounds as part of his Alice in wonderland story. If this is so, then maybe that’s why the hotel as we see it today, is regarded as being rather quirky and different, it’s certainly is so as you look around. After the Second World War, the property fell into disrepair, and remained so until bought in 1999 by Peter and Jessica Frankopan, who then restored the manor. This was the first of their four hotels they own as part of “A curious group of Hotels” and a different hotel it looks , with 31 bedrooms standing in 55 acres of grounds with grade 11 gardens. OUR REVIEW OF COWLEY MANOR. Situated in the hamlet of Cowley, which holds a few houses of typical warm Cotswold yellow stones along its winding lane, your journey here will begin when you arrive at a picturesque tree lined impressive gateway and drive, (photo 1) with many species of trees from around the world, and moving along, over to your left, you pass the first of the small lakes, Lodge lake (photo 2) and the river Churn, leading ahead to the next lake, the Boat house lake, with its bank of well tended grassy slopes (3) before turning a corner to arrive at the old Cowley Manor (4). Towards the front entrance (5) you pass the car park, and just two disabled bays in the corner, and then you have a small step to get up before you can enter the hotel. We were greeted at a highly unusual reception area, (6) which would thereafter highlight the quirky hotel we were about to see, and this led us into a very shall we say, more modern and different bar area, colourful to say the least (7). We found it difficult to describe the main lounge (8), bare, yet holding its own character, but we did enjoy a very nice cup of coffee (9). Beyond, a pleasant wooden staircase and hallway (10) guided the way into what we assumed was the library (11) and then a games room (12). The last room past the reception, we enter the breakfast room (13) with pale Ash wood panels, which provides a continental breakfast included in the cost of your room, but you pay extra for any type of hot meal you would like. Now we don’t know why it’s a popular hotel, we are working on that, but it was certainly well booked, and although we requested a few days before if we could join them for breakfast, they sadly had to decline our request because of being so full at that time of the week. If the weather holds promise on your day here, you may wish to enjoy breakfast on the small terrace area, (14) overlooking the third of the lakes, still fed by the river Churn, known as Upper lake, home to a few ducks. Now this is a very dog friendly hotel, your canine friends may join you wherever you want, and there were certainly a lot of well behaved owners guiding their pets around the grounds, and actually this was nice to see, for it is a delightful park to walk around. The only way a disabled person could get around the grounds, was to leave by the reception area, and down that small step, and the first building you see is the old Anglican St Mary’s church of the 1200,s restored in 1872, (15) with dressed limestone, Ashlar Cotswold stone tower and chancel, with a stone slate roof, now a grade 11 historical building. Across from the car park is the level compressed path for the gardens, (16) lined with many decorative trees and shrubs, leading down to the third pool, (17) which is held back by the impressive wall of the decorative carved frontage of the cascade below, and gratefully, in use today (18) running on down into a small pool (19) before reaching the pool beyond, and from up here, we had our last view of the unusual and quirky Cowley Manor (20). OUR FINAL THOUGHTS. What can we say, other than different, glad to have seen the hotel and grounds, but it’s not for us, but it has its supporters, so don’t mock it, but we are pleased to say that it is at least a very dog friendly hotel, and it’s welcoming, and many families were enjoying with their canine friends the hospitality and freedom to roam and run. If you are into a different style of furnishing then you will enjoy your stay, ( do take a look at the many websites offering room deals here so as to note the way each room is furnished ) but it is wonderfully landscaped with long walks available. Different !

Transport & Parking

A lovely scenic drive took us through the estate to the manor, and a fair sized car park. Only two bays for disabled, but all spots are close enough to the house anyway

Access

There is a small step to get up to enter reception as you enter the Manor, but a ramp could be placed down for you. Inside we found it nice and level and easy enough to move around. There are compacted pathways to allow you to enjoy the well laid out parkland, reasonable level, and your Carer should manage it easily enough.

Toilets

We did not need to use, so forgot to check then out.

Staff

Pleasant, willing enough, a little quiet, but helpful.

Photos