Step back in time in this charming historic Grade II Cottage. Tucked away in a peaceful corner of the city, discover a home filled with art and light. Built on the site of a notorious highwayman’s Inn, the cottage is steeped in Oxford’s history. Sensitively restored, with a beautifully planted garden. Watch the birds with a morning coffee. Light a fire for dinner. Sink into one of the double beds, refresh in the elegant bathroom with views of the trees. Then explore Oxford on your doorstep The space Set back from the bustle of the street, at the end of a short path, the cottage feels like it has been forgotten by time. Built on the site of a notorious C17th drinking den and highwayman’s refuge, destroyed by fire in 1760, the row of 4 cottages were finished in 1840. There is now (thankfully) a bathroom, modern kitchen and underfloor heating, but in many respects remains as it was when it was built. Although built at the beginning of the Victorian period, the cottage was designed in the Georgian style, with elegantly proportioned rooms, sash windows, sliding shutters and cornicing in the main reception room. The front door leads into a small hall space divided by a painted pine screen from the living room. There are brass hooks for coats and a large coir mat. The original plaster cornice and sliding window shutters give the living room are elegant and homely. A comfortable sofa and pair of tartan upholstered armchairs cluster around the open fireplace and bookshelves. Walls are neutrally decorated in Farrow and Ball Wimborne white and hung with a selection of 20th century prints and paintings. There is a neutral jute rug on the slate floor which is kept wonderfully warm underfoot by the underfloor heating. The bookshelves are filled with ceramics, art and architecture books and there are a wide selection of board games. Although the living room fire is not in a condition to be used the dining room fireplace can be, and the Georgian oak table provides the cosiest place to sit on a cold day around the open fire. The 1792 fireback and fireguard reflect heat into the house. This room contains the original pine floorboards. Both rooms are sensitively lit with dimmable wall and picture lights in addition to the floor standing and table lights. The kitchen is paved in slate. A single run of units contains the Miele oven, hob, dishwasher, fridge, and drawers for cutlery and utensils. The oak worktop holds a large deep sink and ample preparation space. There is a microwave and open shelves above containing all the crockery, glassware and dishes you could possibly need. A Georgian sideboard stores a slow cooker, coffee grinder, juicer and nutribullet. At the end of the kitchen a sash window frames a lovely view into the cottage garden. The window seat and chairs provide the perfect morning spot to watch the birds come and feed and drink at the pond. Upstairs the master bedroom provides a comfortable double bed with 400 thread count Egyptian cotton sheets and French Provençal style throws. South facing, the room is bathed in sunlight through the morning. Original black stained floorboards, and a neutral jute rug frame the room. Drawings, prints and paintings decorate the walls, and a salvaged Jekyll aesthetic movement fireplace replaces the original lost decades ago. There is ample built-in wardrobe space and a 19th century mahogany chest of drawers. The room fascinatingly retains the original name of the first two cottages, painted on what was then the outside wall, before being covered up when the two ‘new cottages’ were added a decade later, and hidden for many years under wood-chip paper and layers of paint. The second bedroom is perhaps the most delightful room in the house. The most intact, with the original fireplace, stained floorboards and bedroom cupboard. Facing north it is bathed in the most beautiful artists light. There is a comfortable double bed with 400 thread count Egyptian Cotton sheets, a small mid century desk and bookshelves with great selection of novels to while away the hours. There is no hanging cupboard but a 19th century chest of drawers provides plenty of drawer space. The upstairs bathroom is more like a studio. In fact, it used to be the third bedroom. Light floods in through the rooflight and west window. The classic Scola sink and Vola tap celebrate mornings. From the large shower you catch glimpses of the trees and chimneys pots through the rooflight. A Victorian pine blanket box provides a place to sit and a surface for magazines. A Georgian commode provides storage and cupboards conveniently house the washing machine and dryer. The bathroom is supplied with the softest white company towels and stocked with Molton Brown bath toiletries to make sure every stay is wonderfully comfortable and a little bit luxurious. Outside the garden has a terrace for a bbq or alfresco dining, or simply sip tea or a gin and tonic in the chairs under the apple tree. The garden is an oasis of calm. Clematis, roses, and jasmine climb the trellises. A Mt Etna Broom, Judas and olive tree provide structure, colour and shade and a small pond teems with dragonflies and tadpoles summer. The front of the house too has a small courtyard garden of pots and a wooden bench to rest weary feet at the end of a long walk. Guest access Guest will have access to the entire property apart from the attic and the cellar. The host retains use of 3 locked cupboards Other things to note Unfortunately dedicated parking is not available, however you can find affordable, local parking spaces on JustPark online. Free 2-3 hourly parking can be found in the neighbouring streets and paid parking in the Summertown car park is a 2 minute walk away. Please note there is a pond in the garden and if you are travelling with young children they should be supervised appropriately.