5 bedroom detached house

The Old Rectory is a valuably unlisted former Old Rectory believed to date from the late Victorian era. The property benefits from well proportioned rooms and high ceilings in keeping with houses of this period, and has wonderful views across the beautiful gardens and fields beyond towards Highclere church. The property was originally associated with the Highclere Estate, now famous as the setting for the Downton Abbey film and television series. The Old Rectory offers fantastic space and is filled with natural light from the many large sash windows. There is a fabulous kitchen/breakfast room which has been designed to suit modern day living with a sleek modern kitchen at one end and a spacious seating area at the other creating an ideal family living and entertaining space, with doors opening out to the terrace and wonderful views across the gardens. The impressive 18' dining room is ideal for formal entertaining, and there is a delightful dual-aspect drawing room with an open fireplace and beautiful views. Upstairs a spacious landing leads to the five bedrooms and five bathrooms, including the principal bedroom which has a large bay window and fantastic views over the gardens and countryside beyond. In addition there is a separate annexe comprising two bedrooms, bathroom, sitting room and kitchenette. The annexe is linked to the house via a large integral garage which could potentially be converted into further accommodation, subject to all necessary planning permission.

The beautiful landscaped gardens and grounds extend to approximately 3.5 acres and have been designed to create year round interest with mature specimen trees and shrubs, and a delightful meadow of naturalised daffodils in Spring which later becomes a wildflower meadow. Gravel paths meander through the gardens and smart clipped lawns, and there is a series of established ponds with fountains. The neighbouring fields beyond the garden abut Highclere church.

The property is situated in Highclere, a very popular village on the Hampshire/Berkshire borders, set in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and surrounded by beautiful rolling countryside. There is a thriving local community, and good local facilities with a pub, farm shop, village hall and beautiful church in the village itself, as well as highly regarded schools. Nearby Newbury offers a wide range of facilities catering for most daily needs, including Tesco and Waitrose supermarkets and an extensive range of shops, cafes and restaurants, as well as leisure facilities including Newbury racecourse and the Watermill Theatre. Andover and Winchester are also within easy reach. Communications in the area are excellent, with easy access to the A34/M4 and A303 linking with London and the West Country, and there are regular train services into London from Newbury, Whitchurch and Andover. There is a wide choice of highly regarded schools in the area.