Friars Court

Friars Court Stories about my C17th moated home
💍 weddings
🪴garden tours & 🍰 cream teas
🚐 caravans sites

Founded in 1149 by the monastic Knights of St John the current Cotswold stone house has stood on its moated site for over 350 years. Today Friars Court is a thriving conservation farm with woods, wetland and wildlife habitats. Surrounding the house are three acres of part-moated gardens where borders and specimen tree divide the grounds into smaller ‘room like’ areas. To the front of the house are

water lily filled moats ponds whilst behind the house a woodland walk lies beyond the imposing Yew Arch and ‘Monet’ style bridge

In the summer the grounds of Friars Court can be visited by arrangement by groups and clubs and there are public open days, check our website for more information. Friars Court is also a licensed wedding venue and further information can be found by visiting either www.silverpearweddings.co.uk or the Silver Pear Weddings page.

02/06/2026

Rain…. at long last (the garden needs it !). But like everything I don’t want too much all at once, especially with my roses coming into bloom 😬. The forecast does seem to be all over the place so who knows how the rest of week will pan out. Hopefully 🤞🙏 things will be okay for Friday, Saturday and Sunday as I have back-to-back events.

31/05/2026

Size isn’t everything… but there is something deeply satisfying about a large peony.

At 7 inches across, this one isn’t even huge — some blooms can reach 10 inches wide — but these fluffy flower heads are still a delight to behold.

There are lots coming into bloom at the moment and, judging by the abundance of buds on all the surrounding shrubs, I reckon the rose garden is going to put on a magnificent display in the next few days.

Which 🤞will coincide beautifully with my garden open day at the weekend 🌺😀

For everyone who would like to see them for themselves, you’ll be pleased to hear that I’ll be opening the grounds of Fr...
26/05/2026

For everyone who would like to see them for themselves, you’ll be pleased to hear that I’ll be opening the grounds of Friars Court for the National Garden Scheme on Sunday 7th June, from 2pm–5pm.

Three acres of gardens surround my 17th-century, part-moated home, including formal borders, ponds, bridges, hidden corners and curious features… and that’s not just the labyrinth garden!

There will also be afternoon teas and cakes served during the afternoon, for which I’ll be baking all the scones that morning. For some people, that alone is reason enough to plan a visit 😉

Admission is just £4 for adults, children are free, and proceeds go to the National Garden Scheme.

It’s a hot one folks. After hosting a lovely wedding yesterday, today it was time for some R&R and what better than visi...
24/05/2026

It’s a hot one folks. After hosting a lovely wedding yesterday, today it was time for some R&R and what better than visiting the Oxfordshire Young Farmers County show, followed by exploring the picturesque village of Ramsden on their gardens open day.

The highlights were the 🍦 stands. I am rather partial to a Mr Whippy with chocolate flake 😋

What a lovely way to spend a Sunday afternoon.
17/05/2026

What a lovely way to spend a Sunday afternoon.

15/05/2026

My garden is waking up, despite a very dry start and some biting Arctic winds, and dotted throughout it the irises are now bursting into flower 🌸. They were definitely worth the wait, so here’s a quick look at some of the best displays.

From bold bearded irises to small delicate sweet irises, these seven are putting on quite a show — I love them especially as they are shades of blue, purple and lilac… my favourite colours 💜

If I had to pick a favourite, it would be a toss-up between No 2 and No 5.

I hope your gardens are looking good too 🪴

There’s something rather special about days like these which I always enjoy.A group of local artists came to Friars Cour...
11/05/2026

There’s something rather special about days like these which I always enjoy.

A group of local artists came to Friars Court to paint 🎨 — but it was a little more than just about art.

It was a day of slowing down in quiet surroundings, enjoying the sunshine and taking the garden views, which became part of their inspiration too. There were moments of chat and laughter, followed by long, quiet spells as everyone gently drifted away to become completely immersed in their painting.

I love hosting days like this — and they must have enjoyed it too, as they’ve already asked if they can return and do it all again 😊

Radcot is a tiny, unassuming hamlet in West Oxfordshire — a handful of bridges over the Thames, a pub, and a scattering ...
08/05/2026

Radcot is a tiny, unassuming hamlet in West Oxfordshire — a handful of bridges over the Thames, a pub, and a scattering of pretty cottages. Blink and you could easily miss it.

Yet beneath its quiet appearance lies over a thousand years of history. Radcot has witnessed castles, medieval battles and WWII defences, bustling river trade, and the construction of the oldest surviving bridge across the Thames.

Generations have passed through this remarkable riverside crossing, leaving behind a legacy of stories. This is just a few of them.

Address

Bampton
OX182SU

Telephone

01367 810206

Website

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