Cottages Archives - Broadway Manor Cottages

Covid-19 Update

Covid 19 update

Our Commitment to Your Health and Safety

We understand that the world has changed since the outbreak began earlier in the year and we want you to know what we are doing to ensure your safety and reassure you of the hygiene standards in our holiday cottages.

At Broadway Manor Cottages we oversee the changeovers personally and we have always considered the cleanliness of our cottages to be of the upmost importance. Whilst we have been closed we have carefully followed the UK Government’s guidelines as they emerged and have taken action to revise our procedures to greatly reduce the risk of a guest contracting the virus from a previous guest or from contact with us. Going forward all of these new protocols will be constantly reviewed and are subject to change in accordance with the UK Government’s advice and best practices.

The Major Changes:

Longer gaps between guests departing and arriving to limit the potential presence of any residue of the virus. When we initially re-open we will implement a 3 day gap between bookings. This will allow us time to conduct an intensive clean of the cottage using the appropriate recommended procedures and disinfectants. This may be subject to change if the guidelines are changed.

Many decorative items in the cottage and items in the bedrooms such as bed runners, scatter cushions, etc. will be removed. Each bed will always offer freshly and hygienically cleaned linen.

Unfortunately we will no longer be providing our Welcome Hampers.

Check-in and New Bookings

We already have a contactless check-in and key storage facility in place and the lead guest is made aware of where and how to access the key once they have booked.

New bookings will require you to ensure you follow the UK Government’s guidelines before coming to stay and tell us if you believe you have been in contact with someone with Covid-19 and if so to follow the Government’s guidelines regarding self-isolation. If you become ill during your stay we require that we are informed immediately and that you follow Government guidelines. Should this mean cutting your stay short, no refund will be due as we would not be able to re-let the cottage and we do, as always, encourage you to take out holiday insurance to cover other circumstances that may impact your stay. Please remember to ensure that your reservation complies with current Government travel restrictions.

Only guests named on our Booking Form are permitted to stay overnight in the cottage. We request that if you are having people visit you at your cottage during your stay that you advise us of their details by email beforehand and that, in accordance with the current guidelines, any visitors entering the cottage are only from one other household.

We have a no pet policy and request that visitors do not bring pets on site.

Our Grounds and Facilities

Our grounds are extensive (6 acres surround the cottages) with plenty of room for social distancing and our garden terraces and seating areas will remain open but our firebowls/barbecues have been removed for the time being. We will ask you to respect the Government’s social distancing guidelines of 1 metre plus whilst using these shared spaces.

Due to size, our Laundry Room and Cycle Store will unfortunately not be available.

We have removed books, toys, puzzles, DVDs etc and other leaflets and maps that would normally be available for you to use or borrow during your stay to make it easier to ensure the cottage is thoroughly and hygienically cleaned. We are able to provide guests with online links to all the important and useful information before arrival or during their stay (see below for how to contact us).

Maintenance

Should it be necessary for us to attend to any essential maintenance issue during your stay we will find a way of doing this to make it safe. We will wear a mask and use disposable gloves and if it cannot be dealt with while you are out we will ask you to stay in one area of the cottage whilst the work is carried out.

Longer Stays

For stays in excess of 7 nights, we will arrange a convenient time to drop off and clean linen and towels but for everyone’s protection we will not offer a mid-stay cleaning service.

Waste Disposal and Recycling

We ask you to dispose of all and any rubbish by placing it in rubbish bags securely and disposing of it in the appropriate communal bins as directed or alternatively taking it away with you. To ensure the health and safety of our cleaning staff, please do not under any circumstances leave rubbish in the cottage at the end of your stay.

Contacting Us

We are contactable throughout your stay as usual by telephone, email and WhatsApp.

We Look Forward to Welcoming You to Stay

Despite the Government’s rules and restrictions currently in place, we will continue to offer you our best service and do everything we can to make your stay enjoyable.

We thank you for supporting us and we look forward to welcoming you to stay!

Preparing Your Cottage for Your Stay

Coronavirus Taking Proactive Action

We understand that the last few months has created a lot of uncertainty for travellers and we are implementing industry standards as they become available. Your safety, and that of our own staff, is at the heart of our thinking moving forward.

We hope to be able to welcome guests back to stay in our holiday cottages from 4th July and in the meantime we want to share with you some of the steps we are taking to ensure your health and safety whilst staying in one of our cottages.

Preparing your Holiday Cottage for Your Stay

Whilst we have always gone to great lengths to maintain and prepare our cottages for our guests’ arrival, we have recently updated our operating procedures and will be allocating extra cleaning time between guests to disinfect and sanitise all surfaces paying particular attention to frequently used items (light switches, door handles, remote controls, etc).

This will mean, however, that we will be unable to accept any requests for early check-in before 4pm and we will be requesting check out by 10am at the latest on the day of departure. This will ensure that we have the time we need to prepare the cottage for you. Of course, if you have any concerns, we recommend that you bring any additional cleaning items with you.

To help combat Covid-19 health officials recommend washing your hands frequently and for at least 20 seconds to help prevent the spread of the new coronavirus. In light of this we will continue to provide a bar of soap in each of our cottage bathrooms and an anti-bacterial handwash in the kitchens.

Unfortunately, we will be unable to provide our usual Welcome Hamper of goodies but both the Co-op and Nisa Local supermarkets in the village are open 7 days a week with usual opening hours.

Social Distancing

To maintain social distancing all keys to the cottages are kept in lock boxes so that guests can self check-in (the code for the lock box will be communicated to you before check-in).

The grounds surrounding the cottages extend to several acres allowing our guests to spend time outside enjoying the garden and terraces whilst continuing to practise social distancing. Do take a look at this video of our location and surroundings so that you can appreciate the space you will have to enjoy during your stay.

Places to Visit and to Eat during Your Stay

Many attractions in the Cotswolds that have opened or will be opening this summer will be operating on a pre-booking system. Please plan ahead to avoid disappointment.

At the time of writing local restaurants and pubs are not yet open but many in Broadway, and the surrounding villages, are offering a takeaway service and some are offering a delivery service.

If you need further information about places to visit and to eat during your stay please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

We Look Forward to Welcoming You to Stay

We are committed to ensuring that all our guests have a fantastic stay and are available if you need any additional information.

We look forward to welcoming you to stay!

Debbie Williamson
Owner, Broadway Manor Cottages

4th June 2020

Coronavirus Update

Coronavirus (Covid-19) Update: Last updated 30th May 2020

We understand that some guests may be concerned about their cottage booking in light of the spread of Covid-19 and the current lockdown on travel in the the UK. Given the evolving situation, we are continuously monitoring official UK Government advice and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) website along with the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) TravelHealthPro website that provides specific health advice for travellers.

On 23rd March 2020, the Government issued the instruction that everyone must stay at home. You will not be able to travel, therefore, to your holiday cottage for any holiday starting on or before 4th July 2020.

During these difficult times we encourage everyone to follow the Government’s guidelines to keep each other safe and well.

FAQs

1. I had an upcoming booking with an arrival date on or before 4th July what happens now?
The Government instruction means that you cannot travel to your holiday cottage. As you have already paid for your holiday in full (and assuming you booked before 15th March 2020 – see 3 below) we will have contacted you about rebooking your holiday, subject to availability, for any period commencing up to 12 months from the start date of your original holiday booking. Such new bookings will be non-cancellable and if the cost is higher than the value of your existing booking the difference will have to be paid under our normal booking terms and conditions.

If you have not yet heard from us about a holiday with an arrival date on or before 17th May please email us with details of the booking and we will be in touch as soon as we can.

All changes to bookings are subject to an administration fee of £30.

2. Can I make a booking with you?
We are currently not accepting new bookings with a start date before 4th July 2020. You can make a booking with us for after this date if you wish to but our normal Booking Terms & Conditions including those on cancellations apply (which include you not being able to travel).

3. What if I made my booking after 15th March 2020?
Our normal Booking Terms & Conditions apply to cancellations (which include you not being able to travel).

4. What happens if I want to cancel a future holiday booking?
You will need to check your travel insurance as to whether you would be covered for cancelling your holiday. We will provide whatever information you need in this regard to support a claim.

Our Booking Terms & Conditions do not allow any refunds for cancellation but we will operate the deferment policy set out in 1 above if the holiday start date is within any extended travel restriction period and the booking was made before 15th March. We will contact you around 7 days before the start date of your holiday to confirm the position with your booking.

5. What if I have not yet paid the balance for my holiday?
We are monitoring Government advice closely and as the position on these later holidays becomes clearer, we will contact all guests whose holidays are within the updated travel restriction period.

Please note, we are NOT currently requesting or chasing balance payments for holidays. If the Government restriction on travel will still be in force when you are due to travel then we will contact you and explain the options available. If the travel restriction is lifted and the start date of your holiday is outside of the restriction dates then we will issue you with a balance invoice either for immediate payment or for payment on the standard due date if later.

We are aware that some guests have been instructed by the Government not to travel for up to 12 weeks from receipt of the Government’s letter of instruction, if this is the case please contact us to let us know.

To transfer or discuss a booking taking place in the next 3/4 weeks please contact the Debbie Williamson either by email or telephone 01386 852913.

All of our other booking terms and conditions agreed by the guest at the time of the booking, still stand.

Debbie Williamson
Broadway Manor Cottages

Our Medieval Fishpond

A Medieval Fishpond in Broadway

In our grounds is a medieval fishpond. The rectangular pond has a traditional puddle clay lining and is fed by a nearby source of spring water from the Cotswold escarpment. Overflow water from the fishpond flows via a smaller pond in to Bunchers Brook, the stream at the bottom of our grounds. Further downstream, Bunchers Brook joins the River Avon at Evesham.

The tradition of constructing and using fishponds in England began during the medieval period. At that time our grounds, and surrounding fields along West End, were owned by Pershore Abbey. The Abbey was a wealthy landowner owning many farms and hundred of acres across the Vale of Evesham. In 1320, nearby Abbots Grange was built as the summer residence for the Abbot. The fishpond in our grounds would have been used for breeding and storing fish for the Abbot’s kitchen and is likely to have been stocked with tench, bream, perch or roach. Neighbouring fields were also once cultivated by medieval ridge and furrow to provide food for the monastic grange. The remains of the features associated with ridge and furrow cultivation can still be seen in the surrounding fields today.

1933: A Fire Fighting Display at the Fishpond

Over the years the fishpond has served as a water source for the surrounding farmland. In 1933, when the Manor and farm was owned by Austin R. Williams, a demonstration of Broadway’s new fire fighting equipment was held with the fishpond providing a source of water for the demonstration. Earlier that year Broadway Fire Brigade had become part of a new fire authority which was set up jointly by the Evesham and the Pershore Rural District Councils. The joint brigade was formed following concerns about the poor standard of fire protection in the village and surrounding area. Despite many subsequent changes in the Fire Service, Broadway still has its own fire station located on Keytes Lane off the High Street.

The Fishpond today: A Sustainable Habitat

Today sheep and horses graze the fields surrounding our holiday cottages and the fishpond provides a tranquil spot for our guests to enjoy. The pond is a natural environment and provides a sustainable habitat for our pet Indian runner ducks, wild ducks, coots and moorhens. The relatively still waters of the pond are also a great breeding ground in the spring for frogs and toads. We have tried to reintroduce fish to the pond but a predatory Grey heron is a frequent visitor and can often be seen perched stock-still on the banks of the pond waiting to strike.

Debbie Williamson
Broadway Manor Cottages

Book Direct and get the Best Price #BookDirect

Broadway Manor Cottages, Cotswold holiday cottages in Broadway in the Cotswolds AONB, Worcestershire — Broadway Manor Cottages, Cotswold holiday cottages at The Manor House, Broadway

Book Direct and get the Best Price

Book Direct with us and get the best price on your rental of your chosen Cotswold holiday cottage at The Manor House, Broadway. We guarantee you will get the best publicly available price on our website or through contacting us by email or telephone.

We offer short breaks (minimum stay 2 nights) and weekly stays, or longer, all year round in our Cotswold holiday cottages: Willow Cottage (sleeps 4), Corner Cottage (sleeps 4), The Stables (sleeps 3), Sheldon Cottage (sleeps 2) and Rafters (sleeps 2). Free Wi-Fi and parking and no hidden extras. All located in grounds on several acres just a few minutes’ walk from the centre of the village of Broadway ‘Jewel of the Cotswolds’.

Book Direct Online or Contact Us

For more information about our holiday cottages, contact us. From 2020 all of cottages can be booked online via our website www.broadwaymanor.co.uk, or by sending us an email, or telephoning 01386 852913 or 07779 604527.

Book Direct in 2020 and get the best price guaranteed!

Debbie Williamson
Broadway Manor Cottages

Cycle Hire in and around Broadway

There are various options for cycle hire, including E-bikes, to explore the villages and towns in the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Popular cycling routes include Broadway, Snowshill, Bourton-on-the-Water, Stow-on-the-Wold, or the less undulating Vale of Evesham with its many cycle routes. A popular cycle path is The Stratford Greenway, a 5.3 mile route on the National Cycle Network, connecting Stratford-upon-Avon with Long Marston in nearby Warwickshire.

If hiring bicycles or bringing your own bicycles with you during your stay in one of our Cotswold holiday cottages, we have a secure lockable Cycle Store on site for your bikes and equipment.

Bicycle Hire Shops in the Cotswolds

TY Cycles in Chipping Norton is the best bet for cycle hire for a few days. Road, hybrid and E-bikes can be rented and they will deliver and pick up the bikes from your cottage – they can’t always deliver straight away so it’s best to give them a couple of days’ notice. Delivery, helmets, locks, etc are all included in the hire price. The address for TY Cycles is: Unit 11, Worcester Road Trading Park, Chipping Norton OX7 5XW, their website is www.tycycles.co.uk and they can be contacted on tel. 01608 2381504 or 07850 361146.

E-bikes can be hired locally by the hour or for the day from either the Tower Barn at Broadway Tower (tel. 01386 572284) or Willersey Stores, Main Street, Willersey WR12 7PJ (tel. Mark Jepson on 01386 853489/07895 028448). Packed lunches and refreshments are also available for an additional cost.

If visiting Bourton-on-the-Water bicycles can be hired from Hartwells Cycle Store, High Street, Bourton-on-the-Water GL54 2AJ (tel. 01451 820405 or visit www.hartwellscotswoldcyclehire.co.uk.

Far Peak Cycle Hire, Northleach (tel. 01285 700370, email cycling@farpeak.co.uk) – a huge range of Hybrid, Mountain, Electric and kids bikes.

Other Cycle Hire Locations

Bicycles can also be hired from:

Stratford Bike Hire (for a ride along The Greenway), Seven Meadows Road, Old Town, Stratford-upon-Avon CV37 6GR. Tel. 07711 776340.

Pedalabikeaway in the Forest of Dean, Cannop Valley, New Road, Coleford GL16 7EH. Tel. 01594 860065, www.pedalabikeaway.co.uk.

Bike Box Hire

If you have a bicycle and would like to hire a bike box to transport your bike look no further than Cotswold Bike Box Hire at The Manor House, Broadway. Cotswold Bike Box Hire rent out Trico Sports Bike Boxes from £5 per day. See www.cotswoldbikeboxhire.co.uk for more information.

Debbie Williamson
Broadway Manor Cottages

Life in Broadway is an Amble from One Day to Another: Broadway Today and in 1962

This wonderful British Pathé film of Broadway, Worcestershire, was in the summer of 1962. Life may be busier in Broadway today but not much has changed in the picturesque North Cotswold village. Broadway’s High Street is still lined with grass verges and majestic horse-chestnut trees still stand tall alongside the wide ‘broad way’ running through the centre of the village. The village with its range of hotels, shops, galleries, restaurants and tea rooms, has retained its wonderful historic character. Old buildings line the High Street, a mixture of period houses and picturesque Cotswold stone cottages. Many of the buildings date back hundreds of years and have retained their original character.

As in the summer of 1962, Broadway looks its best when the sun lights up the honey-coloured limestone buildings but the village is an all year-round destination. During the first weekend in September, as autumn approaches, the village hosts its annual Horticultural & Craft Show and award-winning Food Festival with stalls selling local produce on the village green. From mid-November to January the horse-chestnut trees and the large domed topiary yews outside the Broadway Hotel, twinkle with hundreds of white lights giving the village a magical atmosphere over the Christmas period and during the Late Night Christmas Shopping Evenings at the end of November and beginning of December. Broadway is a great place to visit whatever the time of year.

Broadway is an ideal place to visit and spend a day or more ambling along the High Street with its wide range of independent shops, art galleries, restaurants, tea and coffee shops.

If you are looking to stay in Broadway we have a range of fully-equipped holiday cottages in the grounds of the 16th century Manor House located on West End just a few minutes’ walk from the centre of the village. For further information about our Cotswold holiday cottages (short breaks available) visit: www.broadwaymanor.co.uk.

Debbie Williamson
Broadway Manor Cottages
www.broadwaymanor.co.uk

RMS Titanic and the Broadway Connection

At 12 noon on 10th April 1912, RMS Titanic set sail from Southampton for New York. Amongst the 1st Class passengers on the ill-fated liner was Broadway resident, writer and artist Francis Davis Millet.

Francis Davis Millet (1846-1912)

Frank Millet (Civil War soldier, painter, mural decorator, sculptor and writer) was born in Massachusetts on 3rd November 1846. He spent many years of his life painting and living in Broadway with his wife and family, firstly at Farnham House and later at Russell House on the village green. Millet had joined the ship at Cherbourg, France, and was travelling to the US with his friend Major Archibald Willingham Butt, military aide to US President William Howard Taft and President Theodore Roosevelt. Millet died in the sinking of the ship and was last seen helping women and children into the lifeboats. His body was later recovered from the sea by the crew of the cable ship MacKay Bennett and was returned to East Bridgewater, Massachusetts, where he was buried in Central Cemetery.

Millet’s paintings can be seen in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, the Detroit Insitute of Art and the Tate Gallery, London. Millet was the first director of the American Academy in Rome and his painting Between Two Fires,painted c1892, which hangs in the Tate, was painted in the refectory of the 14th century Abbots Grange, Broadway. Millet restored Abbots Grange from its monastic ruins and it became a studio for the artists’ colony in Broadway he helped create. The ‘Broadway Colony’ included artists and writers such as John Singer Sargent, Alfred Parsons, Fred Barnard, Henry James, Edmund Gosse, Edwin Austin Abbey and the actress Mary Anderson (Mme de Navarro), to name just a few. Sargent spent the summers of 1885 and 1886 with the Millet family at Farnham House and Russell House. It was in these Broadway gardens that Sargent painted Carnation, Lily, Lily, Rosewhich now hangs in the Tate Gallery, London.

St Eadburgha’s and the Lychgate

At the saxon church, St Eadburgha’s, on the Snowshill Road in Broadway there is a lychgate dedicated to Frank Millet. In 1932, twenty years after the Titanic disaster, Millet’s son Jack (John Alfred Parsons Millet) sent £120 to St Eadburgha’s for the creation of the lychgate. The inscription was devised by two Harvard classics professors and reads:

‘FRANCISCO DAVIS MILLET VIRO IN ARTIBVS LITTERISQVE PRAESTANTI QVI NAVI TITANICA FRACTA DVM SPEM TIMIDIS AFFERT MORTEM LAE TVS OPPETIVIT HOC MONVMENTVM SVAVIS AMICITIAE MEMORES SODALES PONENDVM CVRAVERVNT’

the original English translation is:

‘To Francis Davis Millet – A man of outstanding attainment in literature and art who, when the ship Titanic was sunk, gladly faced death while bringing hope to those in great need. His intimate friends have had this memorial erected in memory of a dear friendship’.

St Eadburgha’s is a lovely peaceful place to visit and is open to visitors most days from 10am to 4pm. The church is about a 15 minute walk from our Cotswold holiday cottages on West End. The oldest part of the current church is from the 12th century. The nave arcades are supported on beautiful Norman columns with large diameter bases and simple scalloped capitals. The roof of the nave is crafted from lovely old timber, with a frieze along the wall-plate with small, carved faces mixed with foliage designs. Against the west wall of the south aisle is one of the newest monuments in the church, the Millenium Stone which was inserted in 1972 to celebrate 1000 years of Broadway history. The lychgate is located a little further along the Snowshill Road at the entrance to the new cemetery.

Debbie Williamson
Broadway Manor Cottages

Broadway Car Show July 2019

An exciting two-day car show is coming to Broadway in the Cotswolds this summer. A celebration of fabulous supercars, classic and vintage cars will take place in the village on 13th and 14th July 2019.

As in previous years, the show will take place right in the centre of Broadway (postcode WR12 7AA). The weekend will be a great opportunity to soak up Broadway’s Cotswold charm and character. The village has a range of fabulous independent shops, art galleries, museums, restaurants, tea shops and cafés. Alongside beautiful cars, there will be plenty happening on the village green with street food and memorabilia on sale and a live jazz band.

Saturday 13th July 2019 – Supercar Saturday

Supercar Saturday starts for exhibitors with an optional drive through the Cotswolds culminating with a parade through the village by members of the Cotswolds branch of the Ferrari Owners’ Club and the Supercar Drivers’ Club. The cars will park along the High Street and the village green for viewing alongside a display of Bentleys, Aston Martins (including an Aston Martin Vantage S), a SLK55 AMG Mercedes and many others.

The Lygon Arms will be hosting a lunchtime charity fashion show by Slate Clothing and the day will end at The Lygon Arms with a black-tie dinner hosted by a motoring celebrity (both events are subject to booking and availability).

During the day there will be an opportunity to take a Morgan sports car for the morning or for an afternoon drive around the Cotswolds (subject to prior booking).

Getting a Ferrari 430 F1 ready at Broadway Manor Cottages for the 2017 Broadway Car Show

Sunday 14th July 2019 – Classic and Vintage Cars

The theme on Sunday will be classic and vintage cars with a parade through the village and a fabulous display on the village green and High Street. Expect classic and vintage Jaguars, Aston Martins, Bentleys, Rolls Royces, Bugattis and many more. The Morgan Motor Company will again be adding to the atmosphere with the opportunity to take a Morgan for a morning or afternoon drive.

Bugatti Owners’ Club meet, Broadway, 1937 (Bill Brunell)

For more information about the 2019 Broadway Car Show click here.

Stay with us in a Cotswold Holiday Cottage during the Show

Volkswagen Karmann Ghia outside Rafters (sleeps 2) at The Manor House

Why not make a weekend of it and stay in one of our Cotswold holiday cottages or stay for a week or more and spend time enjoying the surrounding area? Our holiday cottages are located on West End less than 10 minutes’ walk from the village green. We have availability in Rafters (sleeps 2) either for the weekend or for a longer stay. For more information about our holiday cottages in Broadway click here.

Broadway Classic and Vintage Car Show
Ferraris, High Street, Broadway
Ferrari Enzo, Broadway High Street
1966 Sunbeam Rapier, West End, Broadway
Broadway Manor Cottages, West End, Broadway
Broadway Manor Cottages, West End, Broadway

Debbie Williamson
Broadway Manor Cottages

Broadway Station Car Park and Café

A new car park opened in Broadway this week opposite Broadway Station on Station Road. 85 car parking spaces, including spaces for ‘Blue Badge’ holders, have been created by Wychavon District Council on land provided by the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway (GWSR). The car park is less than 5 minutes’ walk from the station. The parking area also includes a pleasant grassy area next to the line that can be used for picnics. Later this year electric vehicle charging units will be installed.

The parking charges are from 50p for half an hour up to £5.00 for 10 hours. Those purchasing a £5.00 parking ticket will receive a £3.00 refund from GWSR against the purchase of one train ticket for the same day. Pay and display parking tickets can be purchased with cash or by using the RingGo parking website or app.

GWSR Refund for Car Park Users

A new café, offering a range of light refreshments, will also open at the station when the service resumes in a few days’ time.

For those that prefer to walk rather than drive to the station, it about half a mile from our holiday cottages on foot. The railway resumes services for the 2019 season on Saturday 9th March.

Debbie Williamson
Broadway Manor Cottages