Greenlooms Cottage is on a secluded, winding country lane 5 miles from Chester. The name 'greenlooms' comes from 'loon' meaning land, ploughland or pasture land.
And so this 1850s Cheshire brick and sandstone cottage under a welsh slate roof, is set in an acre of garden with fields all around and was once a small holding on the Duke of Westminster's Eaton Estate, an estate which still takes up the bulk of the surrounding land.
Geese were herded to market from here. The water pump is from that time, as are the damson trees, apples and pears. Walnuts and quince have been planted and a quirky number of vegetables. A fig tree shades the front door. Peter's workshop and wood store are housed in the barn and if you arrive on a bike en route for John O'Groats or Lands End there is a dry lock up for your wheels.
The Shropshire Union Canal, with its narrow boats, is a couple of fields away, snaking down to the Pont Cysyllte aqueduct near Llangollen or round to the Anderton Boat Lift at Northwich.
And so this 1850s Cheshire brick and sandstone cottage under a welsh slate roof, is set in an acre of garden with fields all around and was once a small holding on the Duke of Westminster's Eaton Estate, an estate which still takes up the bulk of the surrounding land. Geese were herded to market from here. The water pump is from that time, as are the damson trees, apples and pears. Walnuts and quince have been planted and a quirky number of vegetables. A fig tree shades the front door. Peter's workshop and wood store are housed in the barn and if you arrive on a bike en route for John O'Groats or Lands End there is a dry lock up for your wheels.
The Shropshire Union Canal, with its narrow boats, is a couple of fields away, snaking down to the Pont Cysyllte aqueduct near Llangollen or round to the Anderton Boat Lift at Northwich.
We sit, secluded, in the heart of the quiet countryside, but conveniently close to the bustle of Chester and Liverpool, the Manchester and Liverpool International airports, Crewe and Chester rail stations, Irish ferry connections at Holyhead and the road and motorway links serving NW England and NorthWales.
And again from the states, Janell from North Bend planning a return visit "– would seriously doubt that you might remember me from the hordes of tourists who have stayed with you at your B&B. But my husband and I had occasion to stay with you for one night in October. We remember it as one of our fondest memories of our trip. We look at our pictures and recall the hot water bottle in our bed, the fresh flowers on the window sill, but we most remember our wonderful visit with you.
Your son was a fine young boy who was learning to ride his bike, and he was good enough to pose for my camera."
For directions to Greenlooms Cottage click here.