A 17th century castle that offers life in the heart of a lovely Cotswolds village
A delightful little castle has come to the market in the Cotswolds – but unusually it's for rent rather than for sale.

A few years ago, the idea of spending a few years renting a wonderful property such as Castle House in Deddington would have been almost nonsensical. With steadily-rising property prices, the idea of sinking £100,000 a year into rent would have made about as much as sense as using banknotes to stoke up the fire.
But times change, nothing is certain and context is everything. Take Weimar Germany, for example: hyperinflation meant that banknotes were indeed used to keep people's houses warm. And in modern Britain, a slightly different financial phenomenon now means that long-term renting of top-end properties can make sound financial sense.
That phenomenon is, of course, stamp duty. Buying a house worth £3 million means paying almost £300,000 in taxes – more, if it's a second home – a fact which has shifted the dynamics of the British property market. Throw in cooling prices and there's little wonder that a new breed of house-hunter is becoming more and more common: those after a long-term rental by people who could easily afford to buy.
'We are seeing an increasing number of high net worth clients coming from London who are looking to rent a property in preference to buying,' says Alice Protheroe, who heads up the lettings team at Strutt & Parker.
'They have an exacting time plan which more often than not runs in parallel with education and schooling.
'A good number of these families, once that process is finished, drift back to London and the house becomes vacant again ready for another family.”
For those whose plans are short-to-medium term, then, buying might not sense. That £300,000 they could pay in stamp duty would rent the £8,500-a-month Castle House for a full three years. They'll also be saved from any maintenance headaches: while they might bear the inconvenience of problems arising, the costs will all come back to the landlord rather than the tenant.
Sign up for the Country Life Newsletter
Exquisite houses, the beauty of Nature, and how to get the most from your life, straight to your inbox.
In the case of Castle House, there is also no question of compromising on quality by renting instead of buying. This is a gorgeous house in the centre of a delightful and thriving Oxfordshire village.
The house itself, which is Grade II* listed, was built upon the site of a 13th century manor house, with the building as it stands now mostly build around 1654. It was fully restored in 1894 and an extension was added a few years later, but remains rich in 17th century features.
There are stone-mullioned windows, a balustrade roof, an oak doglet staircase, plus flagstone floors, beams and characterful fireplaces throughout. There's also a castellated tower which contains there oak-panelled walls.
As well as the dining room and drawing rom there is a morning room – with a tiled floor and plenty of storage – plus a library with panelled walls and idyllic window seats. The kitchen-breakfast room has been recently re-fitted and boasts a gas Aga, while the white goods are tucked away in a utility room.
Upstairs on the first floor there are seven bedrooms and, somewhat incredibly, a consecrated chapel.
Above that again are two more bedrooms, while on the third floor there's a box room – probably to be used as a study – which has access onto the roof.
Castle House is available to rent through Strutt & Parker – see more details and pictures here.
Toby Keel is Country Life's Digital Director, and has been running the website and social media channels since 2016. A former sports journalist, he writes about property, cars, lifestyle, travel, nature.
-
Athena: We need to get serious about saving our museums
The government announced that museums ‘can now apply for £20 million of funding to invest in their future’ last week. But will this be enough?
By Country Life Published
-
Six rural properties with space, charm and endless views, as seen in Country Life
We take a look at some of the best houses to come to the market via Country Life in the past week.
By Toby Keel Published
-
Six rural properties with space, charm and endless views, as seen in Country Life
We take a look at some of the best houses to come to the market via Country Life in the past week.
By Toby Keel Published
-
380 acres and 90 bedrooms on the £25m private island being sold by one of Britain's top music producers
Stormzy, Rihanna and the Rolling Stones are just a part of the story at Osea Island, a dot on the map in the seas off Essex.
By Lotte Brundle Published
-
A home cinema, tasteful interiors and 65 acres of private parkland hidden in an unassuming lodge in Kent
North Lodge near Tonbridge may seem relatively simple, but there is a lot more than what meets the eye.
By James Fisher Published
-
A rare opportunity to own a family home on Vanbrugh Terrace, one of London's finest streets
This six-bedroom Victorian home sits right on the start line of the London Marathon, with easy access to Blackheath and Greenwich Park.
By James Fisher Published
-
A tale of everyday life as lived on Britain's most expensive street
Winnington Road in Hampstead has an average house price of £11.9 million. But what's it really like? Lotte Brundle went to find out.
By Lotte Brundle Last updated
-
Damon Hill's former home in Marbella is the perfect place to slow down
The glorious Andalusian-style villa is found within the Lomas de Marbella Club and just a short walk from the beach.
By James Fisher Published
-
A 327-acre estate in the heart of 'England’s Côte d’Or', with a 26,000sq ft Georgian style home at its heart
Stokes Hall in the Crouch Valley is an inspiring property looking for a new owner.
By Penny Churchill Published
-
Schreiber House, 'the most significant London townhouse of the second half of the 20th century', is up for sale
The five-bedroom Modernist masterpiece sits on the edge of Hampstead Heath.
By Lotte Brundle Published