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Chaucer Townhouse is located in the centre of Woodstock inOxfordshire, sitting on the Oxford Road which runs rightthrough the middle of the town. Woodstock itself is roughly

13km north-west of the county town and about an hour and a half’sdrive from London. It is perhaps best known for being the location ofnearby Blenheim Palace, but there is plenty on offer here besides themagnificent John Vanbrugh-designed country house. The local shops

and restaurants are right on Chaucer Townhouse’s doorstep and theproperty has a lovely courtyard with plenty of seating, plants andflowers, which makes a great place to enjoy drinks in the afternoon sun.

Paul Hageman and his wife Sharan are the current owners of thisdelightful home that has a fascinating history. It has been part of theMoney family, of which Paul is a descendent, since it was built at thestart of the 18th century. It was initially constructed in 1708 for a local

This exquisite Oxfordshire property has been in the family for 11 generations.Present custodian Paul Hageman has given it a new lease of life

A Family Affair

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REAL HOMES 18th Century Townhouse

councillor and mayor, and it’s one of a few grandhouses in Woodstock designed in a ‘Vanbrughan’style. “The house was built by our family, withconstruction beginning in 1704,” says Paul. “It hasbeen our ancestral home now for 11 generations,and we renovated it last year. There really aren’t anysimilar properties nearby.” There are, however,noticeable similarities with Blenheim Palace. Withthe two properties being built at same time it is easyto see why Chaucer Townhouse has been describedas a sister property to its grand neighbour. Therailings to the front of the house and the stone inwhich they are set are the same as those within thePalace grounds around the Queen’s Pond. Similarly,the stone used for construction was taken from thesame source for both properties.

New beginningsOther architectural points of interest include the flatroof, which is a rare example of an original lead roof.It has generations of the family’s footprints carvedinto the lead, as well as some from friends of theMoney family, such as the Churchills. The Baywindows to the front of the house were added in theearly 18th-century, and the malt house, as its namesuggests, is where the family brewed local ales.

But having fallen into something of a state, theproperty has been renovated to pay its way as aluxurious bed and breakfast. “The house was derelictwhen we took over,” explains Paul. “So it was sometask bringing it all up to scratch. We started work in2007 and it took three years in total to finish. Westuck to our commitment to use only local

The house has been our ancestral home now

for 11 generationsPAUL HAGEMAN, OWNER

craftsmen.” From the flagstone hallway filled withlight and character, to the spacious dining room inwhich to enjoy a wonderful breakfast, and theopulent and decadent bedroom suites, everythinghas been designed to set the tone for an indulgent,comfortable and relaxing stay.

Looking backAs host of his family’s historic home, Paul has agreat passion for running Chaucer Townhouse, andstrives to make everything warm and welcoming.“Visiting my grandparents here in the 1960s waswhen I first fell in love with the house,” he recalls.And with a vast amount of his family historywrapped up in the property, he is able to point outwhere his grandfather hand-carved roses into the

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REAL HOMES 18th Century Townhouse

Further InformationThis beautiful early-18th-century townhouseis available from Unique Home Stays as oneof its many fine boutique B&Bs.

Chaucer Townhouse is also available onan exclusive hire basis for an indulgent groupstay to enjoy this special property withfriends and family.

Prices vary for each suite throughout theyear. Call 01637 882 012 or visitchaucertownhouse.uniquehomestays.com forbooking details and enquiries.

oak beams and where other family members etchedportraits into the window panes. And with plenty ofknowledge about Woodstock itself, including the bestrestaurants, shops and places to explore, he is morethan happy to help visitors plan their day. “TheMoney family owned and operated some of theglove-making factories in Woodstock,” Paul explains.“It was once famous for having a royal warrant forsupplying Queen Anne and Queen Victoria withriding gloves, saddles, bridles and boots.” With a vastand interesting lineage Paul has been looking intothe possibility of further exploring his genealogy.“We are hoping to perhaps compile an ‘owners’history’. As well as the glove-making businesses, mygrandfather, John Marston Money, was a highly-decorated Royal Navy officer responsible for theRoyal Navy in the North Atlantic during the SecondWorld War.”

Boutique chicInside, this light and airy townhouse is beautifullyproportioned. The interior design contrasts simpleneutral hues with bold statement colours such as richreds, golds, blacks and greens, adding an element of

grandeur. “We were hoping to achieve a boutique-style look when we were decorating the property,”says Paul. “But it was important that it didn’t look likea hotel. It had to retain its period character.” Eachbedroom offers something different, with its ownunique style, but the attention to detail and luxuryelements are consistent throughout. Each room hasits own lounge, where visitors can unwind with aglass of wine.

The rest and relaxation doesn’t stop there. Allof the bathrooms at Chaucer Townhouse areequally luxurious. The heated marble floors arewelcoming underfoot, and you can spend sometime soaking in the tub while watching a film onthe LCD bathroom television, while in themorning the walk-in Monsoon showers are a greatstart to the day. Outside meanwhile you can take awalk around lovely Woodstock, exploring themany independent boutiques and great pubsand restaurants. And, of course, there isalso the beautiful Blenheim Palace;this stunning property withdelightful gardens is definitelyworth a visit.

BreakfastContinental and full

English is served daily,with Paul using

organic and locally-sourced producewhere possible

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REAL HOMES Georgian Cottage

get theLook

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Vanity FairAntoinette noir triple screen, £399,

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In the frameMoulin noir carved mirror,

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