Rooms

About the House cont'd
The property is U shaped around a sheltered courtyard garden and is surrounded by wrap around private gardens which include a copse, a vegetable garden, and a natural pond. The plot extends to approximately 5.5 acres and is surrounded by open countryside with far reaching views in all directions. The property is in a peaceful rural oasis and yet is within 10 minutes’ drive of amenities in neighbouring villages and is only 11 minutes’ drive from the market town of Winslow and fewer than 30 minutes’ from the wide range of amenities in Buckingham, Bicester and Aylesbury.

History and Heritage
The property was originally a barn and stables for the neighbouring Middle Farm where the vendors formerly lived. They converted the original Victorian buildings about 20 years ago and have created a characterful residence which makes good use of original features like vaulted ceilings, beams and timbers, and large barn doors which have been glazed to allow in plenty of natural light and to take advantage of the views over the surrounding countryside. The insulation of the barn was over specification when built and has been subsequently upgraded. Bespoke internal features include a hand made English oak kitchen, and an open tread staircase. An air source heat pump was installed about 10 years ago.

Ground Floor
The entrance door is sheltered by a porch with seating. Bespoke arched oak double doors open to the entrance hall which has space for coats and shoes, and a slate tiled floor.

Reception Rooms
The impressive sitting/dining room measures over 38 ft. long and has an exposed pine floor and stairs to the first floor. It is a light filled dual aspect room with windows overlooking the courtyard garden and four original arched barn doors, spanning the whole width of the room, which have been glazed creating windows and two sets of French doors overlooking the rear garden. The family room has a vaulted ceiling with exposed A frames and a Velux window, windows overlooking the courtyard garden, and a walk-in shelved storage cupboard.

Kitchen/Breakfast Room
The dual aspect kitchen/breakfast room has a vaulted ceiling with Velux windows and exposed A frames. The kitchen is fitted in a comprehensive range of bespoke hand built English Oak full height, wall and base units, including larder cupboards, with granite work surfaces which incorporate a double Blanco sink. There is a Rangemaster Excel electric range cooker with a five ring induction hob, two ovens, a grill and a warming oven. Other appliances include a Miele dishwasher and there is space for a fridge/freezer. Glazed sliding doors lead to the sheltered courtyard garden. A loft hatch leads to a loft area which houses the hot water tank which was replaced in 2022.

Utility Room
An inner hall gives access to the utility room which has a range of wall and base units with a Beech work surface incorporating two circular sinks. One of the cupboards houses a water softener and there is space under the work surface for two appliances. The room also has a range of full height storage cupboards, space for coats and shoes, a ceiling hung clothes airer and access to a loft space. There is a Velux window and a door to the garden at the front.

Ground Floor Bedrooms and Shower Room

Annexe Potential
The family room, the two ground floor bedrooms and the shower room have potential to be converted into an annexe if desired. There is space to put a small kitchen in the cupboard off the family room to create a self-contained area for guests or to allow multi-generational families to live together while maintaining some independence.

First Floor
The stairs from the sitting/dining room split at a half landing into two staircases to separate landings. One staircase leads to a landing which has a hatch and ladder to the boarded main loft for storage. There is access to a shower room, and a dual aspect bedroom which has views of the courtyard garden and towards Quainton Hill.

Principal Bedroom Suite
The other staircase leads to a second landing which has a built-in shelved double airing cupboard. The principal bedroom has dual aspect windows with far reaching views over the garden and countryside beyond. The en suite shower room has a walk-in shower cubicle with a rainwater and standard shower, a concealed cistern WC, a vanity washbasin and a towel radiator. The suite also has a walk-in dressing room which has a range of hanging rails and shelving, and a window to the rear. The dressing room was originally a bedroom and it would be possible to reinstate the door to the first landing and have it as a fifth bedroom if preferred.

Outbuildings
Attached to the property there is an over 43 ft. barn which has electricity connected, a log burning stove and stairs to a mezzanine storage room above. The barn is currently used as a workshop but it is a versatile space which could alternatively be used for a gym or games room, or as a party barn for entertaining. There are also two store rooms attached to the property. A detached 232 sq. ft. outbuilding comprises a central carport, a tractor shed and a potting shed. There is also a greenhouse in the vegetable garden.

Gardens and Grounds
The property is set well back from the road and is accessed via a long tree lined driveway which is owned by Pond House but also serves the neighbouring house which has a right of way over the drive and contributes 50% of the cost of maintaining the surface. As it approaches the property the drive divides into two with one branch continuing to the front of the property where there is a gravelled parking area. The other branch of the drive continues to the rear, where there is space for additional parking in front of the workshop, and then leads to the carport in the detached outbuilding. The property has a plot of approximately 5.5 acres which includes a copse, a wildflower meadow and a vegetable garden which is screened by mature hedges and has a greenhouse, raised vegetable beds, an outside tap and sink, and an orchard area with an apple tree and two plum trees.

Gardens cont'd
The courtyard garden is enclosed on three sides by the property with a brick wall on the fourth side with a gate to the parking area by the workshop. The courtyard has block paved and gravel seating areas, an ornamental fish pond and established shrub borders. The main area of garden is southerly facing and is mainly laid to lawn with established herbaceous borders and numerous mature trees interspersed. A paved terrace outside the sitting/dining room is partially sheltered by a pergola, and provides ample space for outside dining and entertaining. The terrace overlooks the natural pond which is a haven for wildlife including ducks, heron, badgers, deer, foxes and hares. The pond varies in depth during the year but a run off ensures that it never floods.

Situation
The property is surrounded by countryside with a network of footpaths in all directions directly accessible. It is located in the Aylesbury Vale between East Claydon and Quainton, which is about 4.5 miles away (about 10 minutes’ drive) and has a Church of England school, a village store, tennis courts, a playground, a windmill, a church and The George and Dragon public house and tea room. North Marston village is about 8 minutes’ drive or 45 minutes’ walk across the fields and has a community shop, a Church of England Primary school rated good by Ofsted, and a pub, The Pilgrim, which was rated as a best local restaurant in the Good Food Guide. The property is also only 11 minutes’ drive from amenities in the market town of Winslow which include a range of shops, cafes and restaurants, and a farmers’ market on Wednesdays. A new station on the east west rail line is being constructed in Winslow and is expected to open in 2024. A wider range of facilities are available in (truncated)

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