Buckland, Oxfordshire

Orchard House Buckland | Oxfordshire | SN7 8QW

ORCHARD HOUSE Orchard House is an exquisite Grade II Listed property, nestled in the heart of Buckland in Oxfordshire. Dating back to the 18th Century, this superb property has all of the charm and character of its past but has been sensitively reconfigured and upgraded to create a truly stunning and substantial family home.

Orchard House is a handsome period property that has been extended and reconfigured to create an elegant and impressive family home with over 3,200 sq ft of versatile accommodation in the most idyllic village setting.

Orchard House is the perfect blend of period charm and modern comfort and convenience. It has now been thoroughly and beautifully upgraded to create an exceptional home that is both stylish and practical but also full of history and magic.

With four bedrooms, three reception rooms and a large kitchen / dining room, this property has been beautifully designed to be entirely versatile, with open spaces for family and friends to gather and quieter corners to work, relax or hide the toys away.

The beautiful garden is the perfect extension to the home, surrounding two sides of the property, giving opportunity for sunshine at different times of the day. The garden is bursting with colour from the various trees and year-round planting and the views of the adjoining paddock and chapel beyond provide a wonderful backdrop.

As well as there being elegant nods to a more formal past framing the view of the property, there is plenty to enjoy for keen gardeners and little explorers too.

Despite its grand proportions, this property has a real warmth to it. This truly is a very special and tranquil family home that has been sensitively and extensively upgraded in every room to create a property that is easy to live in and enjoy but also has the wow factor.

Ground Floor As you step through the large front door, this property will charm you instantly.

There is an appropriate grandeur to the entrance hall with the high ceiling and sweeping staircase, but it is entirely welcoming with glimpses of the warm and cosy rooms beyond.

The triple aspect sitting room to the left of the entrance hall is a substantial room but it is surprisingly cosy with a beautiful fireplace with wood burning stove. Light pours in throughout the day from the large sash windows, and the views of the West side of the garden are delightful.

There are two more reception rooms, currently used as an office and a snug, one at the front of the property and the larger one overlooking the garden. Both of these rooms are entirely versatile and have had many incarnations over the years as the needs of the family have changed. Both have been used as formal dining rooms and the rear reception room could even be a ground floor bedroom as it has an adjoining shower / wet room.

The kitchen / dining room is truly superb and links to both the smaller reception rooms. It is tastefully traditional and befitting of the age of the property but has been designed to function brilliantly for a busy modern family to gather and entertain together with a central island and space for a large kitchen table.

There is also a practical utility / boot room leading to the garden and a cloakroom (in addition to the shower room adjoining rear reception room).

Seller Insight Orchard House has been a wonderful and versatile home for our family for nearly twenty years. On our first viewing we stood in the beautiful hall and were bowled over by the light which poured in from all directions and has always been a joy. In the mornings the warm and cheery kitchen gets the east light – a room where cooking, eating and chatting have been a shared and happy experience. As the sun moves past noon the sitting room is bathed in light in its turn although, even on the hottest of days, it remains a cool haven. In the winter, in contrast, the log burning stove and Aga provide for really cosy and comfortable places in which to relax.

The garden, which wraps around the house, is easy to maintain and allows plenty of space to run around, while the flowerbeds are always interesting and colourful. There is a mixture of shady and sunny areas and a beautiful ‘borrowed landscape’ across the paddock to the chapel. The vine covered gazebo has been a place for long, lazy summer meals and, with figs, asparagus, hazelnuts and walnuts the house is well named. The formal round pool adds attraction for birds and wildlife.

Orchard House is on a quiet road in the middle of Buckland – which has a lively and friendly community, with more than its fair share of young families attracted by the village primary school and nearby prep and secondary schools, the frequent bus service between Oxford and Swindon and its well known pub. St Mary’s is a large, Grade 1 listed church and the Memorial Hall is well used with many activities for all ages.”*

* 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 The beautiful sweeping staircase rises to the first floor, where the large galleried landing is just bursting with character with vaulted ceiling, fabulous exposed beams and never-ending bookshelves. The quality, character and light continue throughout the entire first floor, without compromise.

There are three double bedrooms, a large single room, a bathroom, shower room and ample storage on this floor. There is a super dual aspect primary bedroom on the West side of the house, which neighbours the stylish and spacious shower room. This is a beautifully light and peaceful room with delightful garden views and generous built-in wardrobes. At the opposite end of the house, there is an equally impressive double room with fitted wardrobes, which could also be used as your primary bedroom if you wish. This bedroom neighbours the immaculate bathroom.

Outside The property sits in just over a third of an acre and the garden is an absolute delight, perfectly befitting of this substantial and elegant property. It wraps itself around two sides of the house, giving opportunities to enjoy the sun throughout the day, with perfectly placed seating areas to make the most of the surroundings. There is a variety of beautiful mature trees and flower beds, a formal round pond and a vine-covered pergola with west facing seating area to enjoy evening sunsets and views of the paddock and chapel beyond. It is an established and mature garden, carefully designed to bring joy and colour throughout the year. The garden is the perfect size for the property, a generous but manageable space for keen gardeners but also a safe and fun space for children and pets to run around.

There is a driveway at the side of the house with parking for 3 cars and with access to the garden. There is also opportunity to create more parking, should you wish as there are double gates leading to the garden on the other side of the property (where the original front door would have been for that part of the house).

LOCATION Buckland is a delightful rural village in the Vale of the White Horse, peppered with unique and characterful homes and with a thriving community. It has a consistently rated Outstanding Primary school as well as St Hugh’s Prep School and it is well placed for access to some of the County’s most sought-after Independent Senior Schools.

The village has an excellent pub serving great food and a thriving community, as well as being part of a network of wonderful villages and communities, all with beautiful surroundings and charming pubs and restaurants. Buckland is a village where you can enjoy all of the peace, beauty and fresh air of the surrounding countryside, but Oxford is conveniently only 15 miles away when you need it, with its array of shops and restaurants and its direct train link to London Paddington.

Other options for access to London are Didcot Train Station (16 miles), which has a regular service to Paddington in less than 40 minutes and Oxford Parkway (18 miles), which will take you to Marylebone in 1 hour 10 minutes.

Registered in England and Wales. Company Reg No. 8328850. Registered Office: 121 Park Lane, Mayfair, London, W1K 7AG. copyright © 2023 Fine & Country Ltd.

EPC Exempt Council Tax Band: H Tenure: Freehold

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 09.11.2023

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.

YOU CAN FOLLOW EMMA ON

FINE & COUNTRY Fine & Country is a global network of estate agencies specialising in the marketing, sale and rental of luxury residential property. With offices in over 300 locations, spanning Europe, Australia, Africa and Asia, we combine widespread exposure of the international marketplace with the local expertise and knowledge of carefully selected independent property professionals.

Fine & Country appreciates the most exclusive properties require a more compelling, sophisticated and intelligent presentation – leading to a common, yet uniquely exercised and successful strategy emphasising the lifestyle qualities of the property.

This unique approach to luxury homes marketing delivers high quality, intelligent and creative concepts for property promotion combined with the latest technology and marketing techniques.

We understand moving home is one of the most important decisions you make; your home is both a financial and emotional investment. With Fine & Country you benefit from the local knowledge, experience, expertise and contacts of a well trained, educated and courteous team of professionals, working to make the sale or purchase of your property as stress free as possible.

6

Fine & Country Tel: +44 (0)1285 339019 emma.brooks@fineandcountry.com 2 A P Ellis Rd, Upper Rissington, Cheltenaham, GL54 2QB