Woodstock Road, Charlbury, Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire

THE PROPERTY
Kimber Cottage stands within a plot of just under 1/3 acre and is set well back from the road in an elevated position, with a large, gravelled parking area to the front of the property capable of accommodating 8-10 vehicles. A modern and comfortable family home with five bedrooms it also boasts an integral home business suite with a separate entrance, comprising an office/consulting room with adjacent client waiting room and w.c. Ideal for home-workers it could equally well be adapted as additional guest accommodation.

On the Ground Floor
Entering the house through the front door, immediately ahead are the stairs and to the right the front hallway which leads, on the left, to a cosy Snug which also gives access to the Kitchen, and then directly ahead the Sitting room. This grandly proportioned room has a strikingly light and airy feel, benefitting from windows to the front and rear of the house. French doors opening on to the south-facing garden make this a perfect space for entertaining.

Returning to the snug, another door leads into the rear hallway with useful back porch/boot room, and then on to the kitchen/dining room. Well-equipped with a good selection of cabinets and storage units all with solid hardwood worktops, the kitchen also features a traditional but stylish double butlers’ sink. A glazed kitchen door gives access to the outside.

The remainder of the ground floor has been set aside for the use of a home business conducted by the owners. Comprising an office/consulting room, an outer waiting room for clients, and also a cloakroom, this business suite benefits from a separate entrance at the front of the property which permits clients to enter and leave without passing through the rest of the house.

A short corridor, with a door at each end, leads from the kitchen to the waiting room, connecting the public and private areas of the house. This arrangement is ideal for anyone running a home-based business, particularly one that requires clients or perhaps an employee to visit the property. However there is also the option to repurpose the space and provide additional domestic accommodation, perhaps for guests or a relative.

On the First Floor
The stairs lead up to a wide landing which gives access to each of the generously-proportioned first-floor rooms. Bedroom 1 has an en suite shower room, and adjacent to this is the family bathroom. There are three more good-sized double bedrooms, and a smaller Study. A large closet located between Bedrooms 2 and 3 provides significant storage space.

On the Second Floor
As second flight of stairs leads to Bedroom 5 at the top of the house which, although having restricted ceiling height does provide additional accommodation and a good amount of storage space.

OUTSIDE
To the front of the property is a wide gravelled parking area capable of accommodating perhaps 8-10 vehicles, ideally suited to any home-based business with visiting clients. There is then a garden terrace with steps leading up to the house, and two doors, one being a private entrance for the home-owner, and the second giving access to the business rooms.

To the rear of the property is a mature and well-tended garden comprising a large lawn bordered by numerous plantings of flowers and shrubs. Several seating areas have been created in order to enjoy the space at different times of day, and a summerhouse provides the perfect place to relax, dine al fresco, or entertain. There is also a greenhouse, and a timber garden shed.

LOCATION
Lying in the Cotswold’s beautiful Evenlode valley, some 15 miles north west of Oxford, Charlbury regularly appears in rankings of Most Desirable Places to Live. It is a haven for foodies, and locals enjoy a wide choice of excellent pubs and eateries such as The Bell and The Bull, numerous delis and bistros, artisan bakeries, and farmers markets. The famous Daylesford Organic farm and restaurant is just over 11 miles away in Kingham, the more down-to-earth Diddly Squat Farm a mere 5 miles away at Chadlington. For those in need of further pampering, the famous Soho Farmhouse is just 8 miles away in Great Tew. Fortunately, there is also a Co-op supermarket, two pharmacies, hardware stores and other essential shops within the town as well as a GP medical centre, dentist, and post office.

The town benefits from excellent transport links, and there are direct trains to Oxford and to London Paddington from Charlbury railway station (1 hr 15 mins), regular bus services to Oxford and Woodstock, Chipping Norton and Witney. And, while the wider road and motorway network is easily accessible, there is no main road through the town itself, which helps to preserve the peace and tranquillity that residents value so highly.

There are a number of excellent local schools. Finstock Church of England and Holy Trinity Catholic primary schools are both rated ‘Outstanding’ by OFSTED, while for older pupils Chipping Norton Academy (rated ‘Good’) is only 6 miles distant. Nearby independent schools include Carrdus prep, Kingham Hill, Tudor Hall, Bloxham and Sibford Schools, and a 15 min train journey brings within easy reach the many excellent schools in Oxford, including Magdalen College School, Headington School, d’Overbroeck’s, and The Dragon. Many of these schools also operate private bus services to and from Charlbury.

Charlbury is also very much a centre for the arts and culture, hosting several festivals throughout the year including the Riverside music festival, and the Wilderness festival in Cornbury Park, while good music and great food are combined at Alex James’ Big Feastival held at nearby Kingham. And let’s not forget Charlbury’s own famous annual Beer Festival, a volunteer-run event raising funds for charity. Open-air performances of Shakespeare are held in the park, and the town is also very well-represented during the Oxfordshire Arts Weeks, with more than a dozen local artists exhibiting.

Set within some of Oxfordshire’s most beautiful countryside amid what remains of the ancient Wychwood Forest, Charlbury is also the perfect base for walking, cycling or horse-riding, with numerous walks and bridleways leading to nearby villages and sites of interest.

Approximate distances:

Oxford 15.6 mi/25.1 km
Chipping Norton 6.9 mi/11.1 km
Witney 7.8 mi/12.6 km
M40 to London (J9) 15.6 mi/25.1 km