An adorable 17th century stone cottage, packed with character & recently renovated. Two vast bedrooms, refitted kitchen & bathroom, living room with Inglenook fireplace, a wonderful garden, even a turreted staircase! Great village location close to Oxford & Bicester with amenities incl pubs & shop/PO

Weston on the Green is a small and pretty village just to the North of Oxford. A drive past gives little hint to its ancient origins which include the local church dating in part to the 12th century. Today it is well known by locals for some lovely architecture, two excellent pub/ restaurants, The Milk Shed, a highly acclaimed cafe/ restaurant, a great local store/ Post Office, and the Weston Manor Hotel which is a business venue as well as offering "murder mystery" and other theme nights. The access to all points of the compass is exceptional via both road and rail, with Oxford, London, Birmingham and Milton Keynes all easily accessible. Schooling is also amply catered for with several primary and secondary schools locally which enjoy high Ofsted ratings. Fibre broadband is available in the village.

North View was bought by our client only a few years ago, as a chance to enjoy that buzz of taking a tired cottage and giving it back some pride and pizzazz. And whereas a developer/ professional might cut the corners, as it's a labour of love by a gifted amateur the love expended on it is obvious throughout. That does not mean it's become a perfect shrine to modernity, far from it. The wibbly wobbly lines, eccentric beams, wonderful ledge and brace doors, uneven ceilings and floors, are all still there. But working within that framework our vendor has given the house modern fittings that enable 21st century living without irksome compromises. It's a delicious and attractive compromise that we are sure many people will love as much as we do.

The sturdy timber door (mind your head if you're tall) brings you straight in to a hall with all that history literally evident in the rough plaster wall straight ahead. Take a right and the downstairs bathroom (note there is also an upstairs wc) is beautifully executed and practical, with a large airing cupboard that also houses the washing machine and drier, and a modern suite including a power shower nestling behind a glass screen above the bath. Pleasingly, all the character niceties have been retained from the window seat to the beams. And when we say our client's a bee-keeper the hexagonal tiling behind the bath and sink that are nods to that make delightful sense! Back across the hall, the ceiling beams and rafters in the living room confirm the great age of this house, as does the enormous stone Inglenook fireplace with the outline of an old bread oven still evident behind the wood burner. Cottages are not generally known for good natural light. But between large amounts of glazing to two sides, whitewashed walls and stripped timbers everywhere, this room feels deliciously bright and positive. And at the rear, the conservatory is an ideal place to sit and gaze out at the garden even on a wet day.

Head out towards the kitchen and you'll pass a rarity we see few of these days - a turreted staircase. Such things were common in village houses in the 17th and 18th centuries, but most have been replaced with a more conventional item, so this is a rare survivor. Its exposed stone walls and ancient stairs with their timber treads (probably elm) are a delight. Carry on past the understairs cupboard and you're into the most comfy of kitchens. The decor and layout are splendid. Thick timbers overhead as with the living room contrast with the whitewashed ceiling and walls; there's a cream, Karndean floor to help bounce the light, and this plus the cream cupboard units contrast beautifully with thick timber work tops - just perfect. And the attention to detail is great, as demonstrated by the built in seating in the corner, inside which is yet more storage. It's simple, elegant, and extremely inviting. And the door plus window to the rear mean you're always drawn to gaze at the garden.

Take the staircase to the first floor, albeit with a pause to admire the wonderful stone mullioned window, and you come to a landing off which are the two bedrooms. In choosing one over the other, the only reason for preference might be that there is an en-suite wc in one (which could be expanded for a shower if desired), but then again the other contains a large run of wardrobes. But either way, both are surprisingly large, and both are also very brightly lit by windows to both front and rear. The proportions are also excellent, which has made furnishing choices very easy - especially working from home as a desk is swallowed comfortably and unobtrusively if needed.

Outside is just as appealing. At the front, the cottage sits well back from the lane behind a deep grass verge. This verge has been used for parking for many years without issue, and the vendor has put discreet plastic mesh down to allow two vehicles to park side by side without churning up the grass. It's a very clever solution. Behind the house, a pretty terrace provide a peaceful spot for seating as well as doubling as the path to the shed, which is stone and attached to the rear of the house. It's a good size, exceptionally handy for all sorts of general storage. Thereafter, the garden meanders off to a very good size with a lovely, diverse array of themes and purposes. The lawn dominates the centre. A further paved area off to the rear left is another great seating space if desired, and the gravelled area next to it is set out with various veg planters. Then there are all sorts of borders absolutely bursting with lovely flowers and shrubs. And amongst various trees including a magnificent conifer is a palm!! The whole garden is enclosed, with a dry stone wall to two of the three sides and fencing elsewhere. It all adds up to a space that we instantly loved, and one we could see ourselves spending every waking hour in where possible!