Written by Bicester historian Paula Hessian

WITHIN the grounds of the Manor Country House Hotel, in Weston-on-the-Green, stands Rupert’s Cottage.

It is mostly of 17th century construction but much altered in the early 20th century and has limestone rubble walls, wooden lintels and a Stonesfield slate roof.

Other features are possibly 15th century having been reused from some previous building. Long used as an outbuilding it was converted to living accommodation in the 1920s.

The staid details of the listing (Grade II) gives a clue to the building’s importance – it is reputed to have been a hiding place for Prince Rupert.

The Civil War (1642-1649) is recorded in diaries written at the time and details are reinforced by finds in the parish of musket shot etc. With the King based in Oxford and Parliament holding towns nearby, skirmishes and the battle for Islip Bridge bought the war to Weston’s doorsteps.

Prince Rupert was born in 1619, the son of Elizabeth of Bohemia and nephew to King Charles I.

From the age of 14 he was a soldier, fighting in wars in Europe. When, at the age of 23, he came to the aid of his uncle he was already an experienced soldier; a quick thinking and energetic cavalry general who was ultimately undermined by youthful impatience.

During the Civil War Royalist troops are known to have been quartered in Weston and all the surrounding villages.

The local population must have been sorely tested to support both men and horses.

By April 1645 Cromwell wanted to prevent the King leaving Oxford where he had kept his court since the start of the war. There followed a battle for Islip Bridge – an important crossing point of the river.

The Parliamentarians were successful and the following day called for the surrender of Bletchingdon House.

The Royalist commander there did surrender – he had only a few men and he wanted to save the women in his care from the experience of a siege. For this surrender a Royalist court martial sentenced him to death despite a plea from Prince Rupert that he be reprieved.

Thus we have documentary evidence that Prince Rupert was in the area a few days after Islip Bridge. What happened to him immediately after the battle is pure speculation.

General Fairfax, a Cromwellian commander used Weston Manor, immediately after Islip Bridge. Unbeknown to him Prince Rupert, in attempting to flee the battlefield also took refuge at the manor.

He reputedly hid up a chimney while Fairfax himself slept in the same room. Where this chimney was isn’t known. Was it in what we know, now, as Rupert’s Cottage?

We can imagine a large fireplace giving space, ledges, hidey holes to secrete a man, but for the whole night, without giving himself away by sneezing, coughing, breathing.....?

Early the next morning Rupert escaped, dressed as a dairy maid, presumably aided by the Royalist sympathies of the manor’s tenants.

This is intriguing as Rupert was about 6ft 4ins in height – was there really a dairy maid who could supply clothes large enough for the Prince?

Following defeat at Bristol four months later, Rupert spent the winter at Woodstock before banishment to the continent where he both served Louis XIV of France and operated as a Royalist privateer in the Caribbean only returning to England on the accession of his cousin Charles II in 1660.

During his time fighting for the King, Rupert was the subject of numerous accusations of witchcraft relating to his pet dog, a large white hunting poodle called Boye. There were many stories of the dog finding hidden treasure, being invulnerable to attack, catching bullets in his mouth and uttering prophesies.

In truth the dog had been a gift at a time when Rupert was held captive in Europe and remained with him until its death. There was also a pet monkey said to be able to disguise itself and go behind enemy lines.

Prince Rupert never married, but did have two children, both born after his return to England in 1660 - a son who died fighting in Europe aged just 20 and a daughter Ruperta Hughes who outlived her father.

From his return to England in 1660 until his death in 1682, aged 63 he continued to serve the country.

He was associated with the Hudson Bay Company and was active in both scientific invention and the arts.

Did he really hide at Weston Manor and did we have a 6ft tall dairy maid here? All that is certain is that Prince Rupert was in the area at the time of and just after the Battle for Islip Bridge and his name has lived on for over 370 years in the name of a building in the grounds of Weston manor.