Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire

ORCHARD COTTAGE

Orchard Cottage is a very special cottage, tucked away in the heart of Milton Under Wychwood in Oxfordshire. This superb property has been brought to life by the current owners, who have put their heart and soul into renovating and upgrading the property to create a truly stunning family home.

This superb 5-bedroom home is perfectly placed on a no-through lane, set back from the road, yet just a short stroll from everything the village has to offer. From your doorstep, you can immediately enjoy beautiful circular countryside walks, as well as being able to walk to all of the amenities the village has to offer, including the village shop, a lovely independent café, village pub, vets, hairdressers, dentist, Church and the primary school.

When the owners bought the property, it was clear that it had been loved and enjoyed over the years but needed someone with the vision to create an exquisite family home. Orchard Cottage still has all of the charm and character of its past but has now been thoroughly and beautifully upgraded to create an exceptional home, that is both stylish and practical but also full of Cotswold charm.

The cottage is surprisingly large, and the ground floor space is fantastic and flexible, with a super kitchen / diner, two large reception rooms and two smaller reception room, which could be ideal as offices, a snug or playroom. This property has been beautifully designed with a wonderful flow between the rooms, with open spaces for family and friends to gather and quieter corners to work or study. Externally the private South-facing Garden is the perfect extension to the home, a peaceful yet manageable space to enjoy throughout the year. Additionally, the gated driveway, garage and summer house offer ample storage and parking.

This truly is a wonderful family home that has been sensitively and extensively upgraded in every room to create a property that is easy to live in and enjoy whilst still bursting with character.

Ground Floor

As you step through the front door, this property will charm you instantly. There is a welcoming entrance hall with flagstone floor and a glimpse of one of the smaller reception rooms beyond, with beautiful vaulted ceiling, exposed stone wall and view of the garden.

From the entrance hall, you also access a larger reception hall, which could be an ideal formal dining room, with stairs rising to the first floor and access to the sitting room and kitchen / diner.

There are so many great spaces on the ground floor but the impressive kitchen/dining room is bound to be the heart of the home, a stylish yet practical space and the prefect blend of traditional farmhouse kitchen and high-quality modern appliances, with space for a large table to gather around while food is prepared on the Everhot Range Cooker. There is also a super sitting room at the rear of the property, with large bay window and French doors leading to the patio in the garden. This room is both elegant and large and has been beautifully and sympathetically restored so that it is bright and fresh, but with a real warmth to it, with a wonderful wood burning stove.

Beyond the kitchen, there is also practical pantry leading to a utility / cloakroom and another smaller reception room, which could be a fantastic office, snug or playroom, with a door leading to the garden.

Seller Insight

Orchard Cottage is a unique and welcoming family home, with a rich history dating back 300 years. The original cottage which encompasses the lounge and the two bedrooms above, is filled with original features and we have loved and restored the property to its former glory, exposing the beams and the brick fireplace. In the kitchen you will find an Indenture of the sale of Orchard Cottage which took place in 1895, at the Quart Pot public house, which is now called the Hare.

The Hare is a favourite local of ours, 2 minutes around the corner from the house. The food is excellent and the staff are really friendly. We also really love the Lamb, which is owned by the same team as The Bell at Langford. The food here is outstanding, and in fact you are spoilt for choice locally for great food and drink, with the Swan at Ascott Under Wychwood, and the Chequers at Churchill firm favourites too.

Daylesford organic farm is 10 minutes from the cottage, which has lovely food, homeware and walking routes. Bruern farmshop is also super close, which has a fantastic cafe, the most wonderful staff and plenty of beautiful walking routes through Bruern Woods, filled with bluebells in the spring, and the nearby Bruern Estate. The quiet lanes around Milton Under Wychwood are fabulous cycling routes too.

We moved to Orchard Cottage during the pandemic, and were attracted to the large and flexible living space of the house. As well as a spacious reception room, the house has two offices which have been great for working from home, and now we use one of the spaces as a home gym. With 5 bedrooms we have had plenty of guests to stay, and the large kitchen and spacious garden are perfect for entertaining through the winter and over summer. The garden is south-west facing, which makes a great afternoon spot and we enjoy a ‘sundowner’ in the summer house after a hard day’s work.

As we move on to our next chapter, we hope the new owners enjoy living in and adding to the rich tapestry of Orchard Cottage.*

* These comments are the personal views of the current owner and are included as an insight into life at the property. They have not been independently verified, should not be relied on without verification and do not necessarily reflect the views of the agent.

First Floor

Stairs rise from the reception hall to the first floor, where the character, quality and attention to detail continue throughout, without compromise. There are two beautiful ensuite double bedrooms with wonderful character features complimented by immaculate bathrooms, three more bedrooms and a Jack & Jill shower room. The charming primary bedroom has a high vaulted ceiling with exposed beams and slipper bath and stone wall in the bathroom. The second ensuite bedroom has a beautiful vaulted ceiling, exposed stone wall and a bath and shower in the ensuite. Every room is immaculate, bright and fresh but full of character.

Outside

Orchard cottage is hidden away, set behind double gates with ample parking on the gravelled driveway, a detached garage and a garden wrapping round the South and East sides of the property.

The South facing garden is perfectly sheltered and a wonderfully sunny and tranquil space, with a large patio area, ideal for a large seating and entertaining area and with lovely views of the garden beyond. There is a lawn wrapping round the rear and side of the property, with beautiful planting adding colour throughout the year but also with plenty of space for families to enjoy garden games together. There is also a delightful Summer House overlooking the garden on the East side of the house.

LOCATION

Milton Under Wychwood is a delightful Cotswold Village, peppered with unique and characterful homes, with glorious surrounding countryside and a thriving community. It has a highly regarded Primary School, village shop, café, pub, dentist, vets and so much more, as well as beautiful walks all on your doorstep, and even more to explore and enjoy in the neighbouring villages.

The Wychwoods are a network of wonderful villages and communities, all with beautiful surroundings, great amenities and sports clubs, and charming pubs and restaurants. There are some great school options here too. As well as the popular Wychwood Primary School, Windrush Valley School is just 3 miles away and currently rated 21st in the Sunday Times top Prep schools in the country. The village is also very well placed for access to some of the County’s most sought-after State and Independent Senior Schools, with Burford School just 6 miles away and Cotswold School just 10 miles away in Bourton on the Water.

The Wychwoods are perfectly placed in the heart of the Cotswolds between Burford (5 miles) and Chipping Norton (8 miles) and the list of places to visit and enjoy within minutes of your doorstep is endless. London is also within easy reach as Kingham Train Station is less than 5 miles away, with its direct link to London Paddington.

Milton Under Wychwood is a village where you can enjoy all of the peace, beauty and fresh air of the Cotswolds, and be part of an active village community should you wish.

Council Tax Band: G

Tenure: Freehold

EPC Rating: D

Agents notes: All measurements are approximate and for general guidance only and whilst every attempt has been made to ensure accuracy, they must not be relied on. The fixtures, fittings and appliances referred to have not been tested and therefore no guarantee can be given that they are in working order. Internal photographs are reproduced for general information and it must not be inferred that any item shown is included with the property. For a free valuation, contact the numbers listed on the brochure. Printed 03.04.2023

FINE & COUNTRY

EMMA BROOKS MNAEA ASSOCIATE PARTNER

Fine & Country

T: 01285 339 019 | M: 07585 914 373 emma.brooks@fineandcountry.com

Emma is the Associate Partner for Fine & Country in Oxfordshire & the Cotswolds. She lives in the Cotswolds with her husband, children and two dogs. She is completely immersed in, and passionate about, the area she lives and works in and is perfectly placed to advise you on all aspects of moving to and within the area.

Emma has a depth of knowledge and experience from 19 years of working in the property industry as an Estate Agent in Oxfordshire and the Cotswolds. She has run highly successful businesses during changing and challenging markets, training her staff to her own exacting standards and creating a reputation as an honest and reliable professional who will guide you through the whole process and get you the best result for the circumstances.

Emma is dedicated to providing exemplary service throughout the whole buying and selling journey, offering expert and honest advice and developing long term relationships as a trusted advisor and friend to her clients.

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