The Old Manor Farm Preservation Trust

Our Story

How an ancient place of living faith became a registered charity, and why its story is far from over.

The Beginning

Built by Faith,
Sustained by History

Old Manor Farm was built in the late thirteenth century by Sir Roger de Cotesford, in the small Oxfordshire village of Cottisford, neighbouring the hamlet of Juniper Hill. The house is listed on the National Heritage List for England (Entry 1046440) and holds the highest designation of Grade I, placing it among the most significant historic buildings in the country.

For much of its history, Old Manor Farm was formerly believed to be the oldest continuously inhabited house in Oxfordshire. That long and unbroken occupation reflects the care that generations of families gave the building, keeping it standing across eight centuries.

The farm also appears in Flora Thompson's Lark Rise to Candleford, which gives it a place in the literary memory of rural England as well as in its architecturally historical record.

Old Manor Farm, Cottisford, limestone manor house in summer

The Winnington-Ingram family legacy at Old Manor Farm

A Family Legacy

The Winnington-Ingram Heritage

The Winnington-Ingram family's connection to Old Manor Farm spans generations, and their ecclesiastical legacy runs deep. The family has a distinguished Christian heritage that shaped the character of the farm and continues to define the Trust's mission today.

John Winnington-Ingram, the farm's last private owner, devoted his life to its care and to his Christian faith. When he died on Saint Patrick's Day, 17th March 2021, his sons Nick and Gerald faced a straightforward choice: sell, or find a way to put it to better use.

They chose the latter. Rather than sell, they established the Old Manor Farm Preservation Trust as a registered charity and saw the property belong to the nation, with a clear purpose: to preserve its heritage, carry forward its spiritual mission, and open it as a place of education, community and faith.

A Living Chronicle

Eight Centuries
at a Glance

From Sir Roger de Cotesford to the founding of the charitable trust, a timeline of remarkable continuity.

Old Manor Farm, Cottisford, front elevation and garden in summer

c. 1280

Foundation

Old Manor Farm is built by Sir Roger de Cotesford in the village of Cottisford, Oxfordshire, beginning over 700 years of continuous habitation.

19th Century

Flora Thompson's Chronicle

The farm and its surrounding landscape appear in Flora Thompson's Lark Rise to Candleford, immortalising Cottisford's agrarian heritage in English literature.

20th Century

Winnington-Ingram Stewardship

The property passes to the Winnington-Ingram family, who maintain it with care and Christian devotion, preserving its character across generations.

March 2021

John Winnington-Ingram Passes

Following the death of John Winnington-Ingram on Saint Patrick's Day, 17th March 2021, his sons Nick and Gerald begin the process of establishing a charitable trust.

2022–Present

The Trust is Established

The Old Manor Farm Preservation Trust (Charity No. 1200105) is formally registered in England and Wales, with a mandate to preserve, educate, and serve the community in perpetuity.

Our Legal Framework

Five Core
Charitable Purposes

Formally registered under charity law in England and Wales, the Trust operates within five core charitable purposes.

Advancement of Religion

Promoting and supporting religious harmony, locally and globally.

Arts, Culture, Heritage & Science

Preserving and conserving the Grade I Listed property in its 13th-14th century state.

Advancement of Education

Creating and delivering advanced educational programmes for educators, clergy and lay people.

Environmental Protection

Promoting and supporting environmental protection and improvement projects, locally and globally.

Community Development

Providing practical support to the local communities of Cottisford and nearby villages and hamlets.

Looking Ahead

A Future Worthy
of the Past

"Old Manor Farm has a Christian foundation arising from the personal spiritual beliefs, studies and experiences of the Trustees, whilst also drawing from the ecclesiastical legacy of the Winnington-Ingram family. However, our staff and volunteers may work with individuals and groups of any faith or none at all."

The Trust's aim is to help people and organisations live and work towards a more Christ-like life, and in doing so to help Make Earth Godly Again. That's not just a religious aspiration. It's a practical commitment to goodness, integrity, stewardship, and care for others.

Through education, restoration, community service and spiritual formation, Old Manor Farm will remain a place where its long history and its living purpose come together.

Our Five Pillars Support the Trust