Manor Holding Cottage, Buttonoak, Shropshire
The cottage has two bedrooms and a bathroom on the first floor, with three living rooms and a hall downstairs. Inside, white painted walls, pale terracotta and oak floors are complemented by discreet 24/7 under-floor central heating, creating a gentle, even warmth throughout the house. Much of the original character has been carefully restored using traditional materials such as earth daub, lime plaster and green oak. In the sitting room, an inglenook fireplace with wood-burning stove forms a natural focal point, while in the kitchen an old stone bread oven, still usable, hints at the building’s long domestic history.
Outside, the cottage enjoys a separate, enclosed and sheltered front garden with lawns, a games area and a viewing terrace. Shady seating arbours provide welcome refuge on hot days, and an intimate suntrap patio paved in antique bricks invites guests to sit and enjoy the peace of the surroundings. On the north side, the old farmyard is framed by a ruined stone and brick pigsty, a small converted barn, a high hedge bank, an outhouse under renovation and a matching stone scullery leading from the east gable, all contributing to the sense of a place shaped over centuries.
Visitors are often immediately struck by the old-world charm of the crooked timber frame, leaning walls, low beams and ceilings. Small details reward closer attention: wrought iron windows dating from 1720, sculptural iron door handles and heavy three-plank ledged oak doors, each studded with rose-head cut iron nails. Together, these features create an authentic historic atmosphere that has not been smoothed away by modernisation.
Rustic seclusion is one of Manor Holding’s defining qualities. The cottage lies around 100 metres off a rough forest track, with a recommended maximum speed of 10 mph, and about half a kilometre from the nearest country lane. It stands in approximately five acres of wildflower grassland and ancient orchard, carved out of the forest before the industrial revolution. The land is rich in wildlife, including occasional visits from Fallow deer, and is managed under a Higher Level Countryside Stewardship agreement in partnership with Natural England. The two orchards beside the cottage form part of England’s largest ancient woodland National Nature Reserve and designated Sites of Special Scientific Interest.
The wider landscape adds further depth to the setting. This ancient oak forest stands astride the River Severn, south of the Ironbridge Gorge, now a World Heritage Site. Much of the surrounding countryside is classified as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and is rich in historic settlements and other places of interest. Manor Holding itself sits within a scattered hamlet named after the royal Forest of Wyre, in whose centre it stands. In Iron Age times this was a thriving small town, but now only subtle traces of old earthworks remain in the neighbouring fields and woods.
For those who enjoy the outdoors, the location is especially appealing. The forest is threaded with long and short-distance cycling routes and horse riding trails, along with a comprehensive network of footpaths that reach right to the cottage door. The holiday cottage is also well placed for visits to the Severn Valley Railway and West Midland Safari Park, making it a convenient base for both quiet days in the countryside and outings to classic local attractions. Manor Holding offers a rare blend of historic charm, natural beauty and genuine seclusion, suited to guests seeking more than a standard holiday cottage experience.
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