An image of The Avenue, Shotover Estate appears on our Decaf coffee packets. Shotover is one of the few remaining parts of Wychwood Forest, a large area designated as a royal forest as far back as the saxon period. Shotover lies to the east of Oxford and comprises of Shotover House, the 900 acre Shotover Estate, Shotover Hill and the Shotover Country Park. An image of the grasses at Shotover Country Park appears on our Indian Green tea packets.

A mix of formal gardens, arable land and wooded areas, Shotover has mostly survived the town, city and agricultural development that has cleared much of the orginal Wychwood. Shotover Country Park is rich with wildlife and is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).

The current Shotover House was completed in 1730 by James Tyrrell of Oakley and his son, also called James. Much of the formal gardens and wooded walks built around the house survive to this day, with long avenues and cross walks extending into the estate.

Since the Tyrrells, the house and estate have been home to numerous residents. The most notable recent family were the Millers, a family with a military tradition and strong links to the Queen. They initially bought the house in 1871, and Sir John Miller, former Crown Equerry to the Queen, lived there until his death in 2006. Alexander, the grandson of his late brother-in-law Brigadier Sir Alexander Stanier, has now taken over Shotover House with his family.

Further Reading :

- Shotover in Wikipedia
- Unofficial Shotover House website
- Shotover Hill and Country Park
- The Shotover Preservation Society
- Shotover Wildlife voluntary group