"We moved here from Kent. We were looking for somewhere more easily commutable for my work, when we found this house. It was the house that brought us to Newbury.”

The moment you step under the oak-framed porch and through the oak front door, with its arts and crafts inspired glass inlays, you know you’re in a home that’s been built with pride and lived in with love.

“The house wraps itself around you. It makes you feel safe and calm.”

 This sociable family home is made to be lived in and enjoyed. With approx. 4,300ft2 / 402m2 internal space, it manages the almost impossible, feeling at the same time both spacious and wonderfully cosy and welcoming.

“Most years we have what we call a ‘Christmas crush’. Last year, probably because it was post lockdown, we had 120 people here. It’s not usually that many!”

 With a larger than average garden to balance the larger than average house, White Cottage gives you the space and flexibility to adapt and change as your needs and family grow and evolve. 

 “We use all the rooms. It’s very much a family home, with the family growing within it rather than leaving and shrinking.”

Outside

Drive through the electric remotely-operated gates onto the wide gravelled front drive, and into the ‘arms’ of this elegant home.

“The bench at the front is a lovely spot to catch the last of the day’s sun.”

The drive has space for numerous cars, parked carefully, 6 or 7 normal sized cars is very doable, while the double garage protect your pride and joy(s) from the elements.

The side gate leads you into the tree-enclosed rear garden.

“I’ve lived here longer than I’ve lived anywhere. The same goes for my husband. We love the house. If we could move it, we would.”

INSIDE

Throughout

• Internal doors feature a walnut inlay detail.
• Lighting is professionally designed with electronic controls throughout.
• Heating is underfloor throughout the ground and first floor.

“It’s a very warm house. We don’t have underfloor heating on the top floor, it just doesn’t need it.”

• You have a digital multi-room audio system.
• A TV distribution system provides bedrooms with TV sockets.
• Windows are double glazed.
• Secure electric gates are operated by a video intercom in the kitchen.

Hallway

The attention to detail is visible everywhere, starting with the bespoke oak front door with opening side panel – for those extra wide deliveries.

The recessed mat takes care of muddy feet, while the travertine stone floor adds a harmonious elegance to the hallway and kitchen.

By day, light floods in from the tall feature window above the stairs, while at night light levels are controlled by adjustable recessed ceiling lights.

Kitchen diner

A 33’/10m long showpiece of a kitchen diner with a wall of windows that extend up into the roof, flooding the room with light and giving expansive views onto the wraparound decking and garden.

The handmade ‘in frame’ kitchen units, with polished black granite worktops, are by Parlour Farm Kitchens.

In the centre of the kitchen, the island breakfast bar is the place to converge. On the cook’s side you have storage – of which there’s plenty in this kitchen, and a built-in Neff microwave oven.

Behind it, flanked by wide pan drawers, the Rangemaster cooker invites culinary creativity with a 4-burner gas hob, induction panel and two electric ovens, sitting below a matching extractor hood. To the side is a tall pantry unit and opposite space and plumbing for an American-style fridge-freezer.

Running along the wall of windows, the long granite preparation surface is broken only by well-placed double sockets, a 1½ bowl undermount sink and mixer tap.

Beneath the counter you have a Neff built-in dishwasher and a run of storage cupboards and vegetable drawers.

To the other end of the kitchen diner, you have space for a dining table – the perfect spot for impromptu meals and helping with homework, a dresser, sofa, whatever your family room would use the most.

Recessed lighting has variable brightness settings. The dry-system underfloor heating keeps toes toasty. TV and network points keep everyone up to date.

Internal doors lead into dining room, hallway, utility room and adjoining garage, while French doors open onto the decking.

“It’s lovely being able to step out onto the decking with my morning coffee, it’s sheltered here and always seems that bit warmer.” 

The kitchen diner – in a nutshell:

• 33’/10m long room
• Rangemaster 4-gas hob oven with induction plate and two ovens
• Neff built-in convection microwave oven and dishwasher
• Parlour Farm Kitchens handmade units with polished black granite worktop
• American-style fridge-freezer
• One-and-a-half bowl kitchen sink
• TV and network points
• Travertine stone floor with underfloor heating
• Dining / living / family area

Utility room

Another surprisingly spacious room. This house has more than its fair share of the two precious commodities – space and light.

The Hotpoint washing machine and tumble drier sit beneath a counter with a tiled splashback. You have plenty of base and wall storage units, with a hard-wearing tiled floor.    

Dining room

Connected to the hallway and, through wide glazed double doors, the kitchen diner, this room has tall wide widows on one wall and French doors that open onto the wraparound decking on another.

Serving as a dining room and music room, sometimes at the same time, this bright versatile room would also make as a lovely library or drawing room. The floor is oak.

“This house is made for Christmas, and I LOVE Christmas. There’s plenty of room for a big tree in the living room and hallway.

On the day we have breakfast in the kitchen, Christmas dinner in the dining room, then we all gather here in the lounge to play games and sing karaoke. The place looks like a grotto by the time we’ve decorated it.”

Lounge

“The lounge is an absolute haven of peace.”

From the hallway, glazed double doors lead you from the warmed stone floor onto the plush carpet of the living room.

This room is large, light and airy, and proportioned to enable you to arrange it however the mood and season suggest. In summer you can face out to the large opening windows and decking. In winter, you can face inwards towards the marble mantle, granite hearth and roaring fire – the perfect combination for lazy evenings on the sofa and even some indoor ‘camping’ and toasting marshmallows.

Office

One of the two potential ‘nerve centres’ of the house. While the office sits in the centre of the house, it provides peace and quiet – perfect for a productive day’s work.

“It’s a very calm, quiet space. I wouldn’t have been able to write my books here if it wasn’t calm.”

With views out onto the decking and garden beyond, the office has plenty of space for a pair of desks and bookcases. Wifi connectivity is excellent.   

“When we first viewed the house, it was important to check how loud the road was: inside you can’t hear it at all.”

Wine cellar

Beneath the house, the hidden cellar has potential to become a wine store to ensure your favourite tipple is kept perfectly naturally chilled.

Garage

Do you have a classic car or restoration project? Have you longed for the space to have a classic car or restoration project? This garage gives you the space to park a cherished car and indulge a hobby, store gardening equipment, create a home gym or simply filling with ‘kit’.

The roller door is electric, and you have access to the kitchen and rear garden. The garage is also home to the boiler.

Loo

Even the ‘smallest room’ receives the same attention to detail as the rest of the house, with travertine stone tiles extending up behind the stylish close-coupled loo and matching wall-mounted hand basin.   

UPSTAIRS – FIRST FLOOR

Master bedroom suite

A feeling of zen greets you as you enter this master bedroom suite. With windows on two walls filling the room with light, a walk-in dressing room and an elegant ensuite, this is a luxurious space to relax and unwind.

Along with your king or queen-sized bed, there’s space for a boudoir chair or chaise longue, dressing table, chests of drawers, ottoman and more. But why clutter it when the walk-in wardrobe offers ample hanging and drawer space?

The beautiful travertine tiled ensuite bathroom is the perfect place to start and end your day. The generous walk-in shower, with thermostatic controls and mosaic tiled enclosure, stands opposite the deep bath with tiled surround offering safe standing for candles, ice buckets and vases of flowers.

These are complemented by the twin basins on a limestone surround, a huge full-width mirror, back-to-wall loo, heated towel rail and ceiling speakers.

Bedroom 2 with ensuite  

Spanning the full width of this wing, the second bedroom has views to the front of the house and, through the Velux, out to the back, ensuring plenty of light throughout the day.

This lovely wide space comfortably accommodates a double or king-size bed, sofa, chests of drawers and more.

The large ensuite, with its wide shower enclosure, thermostatic valves, modernist basin, loo and towel rail, will probably mean there’s stiff competition for who gets this room.

Bedrooms 3, 4 and 5

It’s not often a bedroom, other than the master bedroom, could accommodate both a double bed and a sofa, but bedrooms 3 and 4 can comfortably do just that and more.

All of these rooms have views over the back garden, while the end bedroom spanning the full width of the wing, has views to the front as well.

Bedroom 5, the smallest of the three, is still larger than most main bedrooms, and very comfortably accommodates a double bed, four-door wardrobe and two chests of drawers, with room to spare.   

Family bathroom

The larger than average bathroom, gives you a deep contoured bath and generous shower with thermostatic shower valve. In addition, you have a stylish close-coupled loo, elegant pedestal basin and heated towel radiator.

A wide recess provides out of the way storage for piles of deep fluffy towels, hanging rails and a chest of drawers.

The floor and walls are tiled, with the walls featuring a contrasting mosaic detail.

UPSTAIRS – SECOND FLOOR 

Bedroom / bathroom / kitchenette

This compact room offers you a variety of options, thanks to having plumbing in place ready for use as a bathroom or kitchenette.

The Velux window looks out onto the rear garden, capturing the curve of the sun. With eaves storage. 

Hallway

Light from the south-facing Velux fills this quiet space with light – making it an ideal spot for a mini library, additional study space or extra family storage. A walk-in cupboard provides yet more handy storage to keep the living areas clutter free.

Bedroom / office / cinema room

Running most of the length of this wing of the house, this 29’/8.8m room has real wow factor.

Huge opening Velux windows make the most of the daylight, while central recessed spotlights illuminate it at night.

Currently a much loved and well-used home cinema, this would make a lovely large and comfortable home office, ideal for the easily distracted with scope to add a kitchen area on the same floor.

It could also give an older teen a feeling of independence, having their own floor, or be used as a playroom for younger members of the family, or a self-contained guest suite perhaps for an au pair.

OUTSIDE

Garden

Hugging the house, this garden gives you the luxury of space and privacy, sun and shade, and plenty of room to play, socialise and grow.

“The blossom in spring is amazing. From the cherry in the front to the three trees in the back, there’s an abundance of red and white blossom, before the different shades of green leaves appear.”

It’s worth noting, this garden is over half an acre, and while roughly 10x the size of a typical modern family house, is still quite low maintenance.  

“We get all sorts of wildlife, birds, of course – I think we have two robins, one front and one in the back, wood pigeons, we’ve even had ducks come in from the river and the occasional muntjac deer visit.” 

The decking is another fabulous feature, allowing you to step out of any number of doors to enjoy a morning coffee, alfresco lunch, end of the day tea or G&T, big social gatherings with friends and family and quiet lazy days with a book on the outdoor sofa.  

“The trees change the light and create lovely dappling.”

With most of the garden facing south and east, you can follow the sun or the shade, both on the grass and wraparound decking.

“When we garden, if it’s hot we start at the front and move round to the back following the shade, if it’s cool we do it in reverse.”

Within the garden you have a variety of mature trees, giving shade and a rich variety of colours, both in spring and autumn, the start of a productive vegetable garden and a well-loved children’s area.

Local area

White Cottage sits at the end of Well Meadow, a well-established and easily-missed rood tucked away in Shaw, on the northern outskirts of Newbury.

“The road is a bit of a hidden secret – the Tydehams of north Newbury.” 

A no through road, this wonderfully quiet road is home to a small cluster of properties, several still occupied by the original owner, each sitting within their own large garden.

“We have what I’d call a ‘community’. All the neighbours know and look out for each other, but we’re not in each other’s pockets.”

Almost next door to Well Meadow is the Elizabethan Grade I listed Shaw House, a beautiful venue for outdoor sculpture exhibitions, as well as weddings and other events.

“There plenty of parks and green spaces within a short walk. We often stop to play Poohsticks from the bridge over the river on the walk into town.”

The busy town of Newbury is a short walk across an ancient park, and offers a wealth of shops, cafes, restaurants, pubs, cinema and theatres.   

“Newbury is a very welcoming and accommodating town. When my daughters go out with their friends, they can look a bit like the United Nations, it’s wonderful.”

Slightly further afield you have the unique Watermill theatre and Arlington Arts, historic woodland and parks, and of course the Kennet & Avon canal, beautifully restored and lined with natural habitat. You’re also a short distance from The Living Rainforest.

There are fantastic country pubs and restaurants within close reach, and some high-end dining – not least with the Vineyard and Michelin starred Woodspeen.

For ways to expend some energy, you’re within a short drive of several golf courses, an athletics track that has nurtured some of the county’s top talent, numerous gyms and not forgetting this is popular cycling country with destinations including the famous Watership Down, and too many great country walks for us to list.

Transport links

Trains from Newbury into London Paddington take from just 42 minutes, less if you join at Thatcham or Midgham.

The nearby M4 takes you to London, Oxford, Bristol, Bath, Wales, the A34 carries you to Winchester, Portsmouth and the south coast, while the M3 connects you with London and Southampton. This is a very well-connected area.

Heathrow and Southampton Airport are under an hour away, with Gatwick and Bristol airports roughly 1½ hours away.

Schooling

According to the West Berkshire Council website, White Cottage is in the catchment area for:

Primary. The Winchcombe School, St Joseph’s Catholic Primary.

Secondary. Trinity School.

In addition, there’s a wide range of private schooling available, including Elstree, Downe House, St. Gabriel’s, Brockhurst & Marlston House, Horris Hill, Cheam, Marlborough College and Bradfield College.

Services

Mains gas fired heating & hot water.

Mains water.

Mains drainage.

Broadband: according to OFCOM, ultrafast broadband at up to 1000Mbps is available.

Mobile. According to Vodafone, their 5G service is “Good indoors & outdoors.”

Council

The local authority is West Berkshire Council

The house is Council Tax band G

Tenure

Freehold

“It’s going to be a very hard house to leave, but our lives have gone west, so that’s where we must move.

We’ve looked at a lot of houses, and keep comparing them to this. It’s going to be very hard to find anything as good.”