Le Manoir is nestled in the sleepy Oxfordshire village of Great Milton, which lies approximately eight miles South East of Oxford, in a fold of low hills overlooking the rich water meadows of the Thames Valley. It is a very old site, certainly Saxon, and perhaps even earlier.

Great Milton has never been on a main road and so has always been a little secluded; remaining comparatively unspoilt, growing old with grace while retaining some traces of each stage of history.

At the time of the Norman Conquest, Great Milton became a Prebendal Manor of the Bishop of Lincoln, helping directly to provision his Abbey at Dorchester. But the first real resident of the Manor to whom we can give a name is Basilea, the widow of Roger de Cundi, who held the Manor under the Bishop of Lincoln and was living in Great Milton in 1225.

By 1634 the Manor had been purchased by Lord Coventry, trusted servant of James I. He became lord keeper of the Great Seal, one of the most important ministerial positions in the land. The Coventry family owned the Manor until 1773.

In 1908 the house was greatly enlarged. Where possible, local stone was used and most of the windows were replaced and darker north Oxfordshire stone was used for the new housing. A large south wing was added as well as a new more impressive drive and gateway, built in line with the old south wing, which became the new porch.

It seems fitting that the last private owner of Great Milton Manor should Hon. David Bewicke-Copley, who, after he succeeded his father as Lord Cromwell in 1966, became Senior Government Broker. The continuing role of Great Milton Manor as a peaceful refuge from the city for public servants of high standing in London, was amply sustained until his untimely death in 1982.

On the 17th March 1984 Raymond Blanc opened the doors of Le Manoir aux Quat’ Saisons to the public for the first time.

The business flourished and it became evident that the Manor would soon be outgrown if it was not extended. So, as others had done before him, Raymond Blanc sought out specialists who could sympathetically develop the manor without destroying its character. Symm & Company, an old established Oxfordshire firm, was appointed to add a conservatory, extend the kitchen and transform the Dovecote and stables into bedrooms. Work was also undertaken to restore and re-landscape the gardens, again with specialist help.

Today we feel sure Lady Cromwell would be very satisfied with her Manor House. 32 beautiful individually designed bedrooms, an unbeatable dining experience from the two Michelin starred kitchen and a garden to rival the greatest.