The Old Kiln House

I was brought up in Sussex on the South Coast of the UK and studied geology at Kingston University. For many years we lived in Wimbledon and I worked in the corporate sector as an Operations Director for a FTSE 100 company. My life consisted of commuting up and down the country and was exhausting. When our daughter left for university we decided to make a major change in our lives. We have always loved the Cotswolds so we jumped in and opened The Old Kiln House Luxury B&B and have loved every minute of it. One of the best parts of this job is meeting all of our lovely guests who come to this beautiful area from all around the world.

The Old Kiln House is a fascinating building over 300 years old. The oldest part of the house was built in 1750 and in the 19th century was extended adding some Georgian features. We have not changed any of the original features so for example the Avalon room still has the original 300 year old flagstone floor complete with ammonite fossils in certain areas. The Westminster room also has some beautiful beams which appear to have been recycled from a ship and make a splendid feature in the room. The house also has some beautiful exposed stone and brick in parts of the house. We also have a beautiful courtyard garden which is lovely in all seasons and has a section with a fountain which catches the sun in late afternoon. Perfect for sundowners!

We are located in a hidden section of Shipston that is quiet and private. However we are only a two minute walk from the town centre which contains several restaurants, pubs and some very interesting shops. Shipston is a market town which used to be a key place in the sheep based economy. The name Shipston comes from the Old English Scepwaeisctune which means Sheep-wash-Town. Hence there are several very narrow alleys between the streets whish were used to count the sheep on their way to market or on their way to be washed.