The Old School, Winterbourne Stoke

Tucked away behind mature trees in a peaceful corner of Winterbourne Stoke, The Old School is a home with real character and a story to tell. Built by the village church in the 1870s and once the heart of the community, this former village school was converted into a home in the 1950s and has since been thoughtfully extended and adapted. Today, it offers nearly 2,000 sq ft of accommodation. It is a rare blend of Victorian charm and flexible modern living, all wrapped up in a private, tranquil setting just minutes from the A303, Salisbury and the Wiltshire countryside.

This is a home with history in its bones, from original floorboards and pencil shelves to its quirky outbuildings, yet it has been designed for everyday family life. The current owners say it makes them feel "comfortable and relaxed," and it's easy to see why.

A Welcoming Ground Floor

Step through the front door and you're met with high ceilings and generous proportions. The main reception room, once part of the old schoolroom, is now a welcoming space centred on a log burner that radiates warmth through the adjoining kitchen and garden room. The owners call this their winter retreat, a cosy place to read or gather as a family while the fire roars.

Just off the kitchen, the Garden room serves as the home's second reception space, a bright, glass-fronted room with bifold doors that open straight onto the garden. In the warmer months it's perfect for barbecues and long suppers with friends, or simply for throwing open the doors and enjoying the view of children playing on the lawn or in the tree house. In the cooler months, it transforms into a cosy cinema room.

The kitchen itself has been extended and refitted with a sleek Howdens design. Practical as well as stylish, it offers generous worksurfaces, a durable floor that's ideal for pets, and clever storage solutions such as pull-out shelving and ladder cupboards. The owners love its "light and spacious feel" and the way it works as the hub of the house, with space for a dining table at its centre.

Bedrooms for Everyone

Flexibility is at the core of this house. The ground floor has three bedrooms, including the main bedroom which is described by the owners as their "quiet, calm sanctuary". With its air-conditioning unit (which also doubles as rapid heating when needed), it stays comfortable in every season. Another bedroom connects directly to the rear of the house for easy wheelchair access, while the third is currently used as a home office and shows just how adaptable the space can be.

Upstairs, the loft conversion has transformed the property. Two further double bedrooms sit beneath the eaves, filled with natural light and with lovely views over the village rooftops to Grovely Woods. A shower room serves this floor, making it perfect for guests, teenagers or even a self-contained work zone.

Across the house, there are two shower rooms, a bathroom, plus a cloakroom which means there's never a queue in busy households.

Gardens Full of Character

Outside, the garden is a joy; it is private, green and full of charm. Mature hedging, traditional style walls and established trees create natural boundaries and a sense of seclusion. A mulberry and silver beam shelter a treehouse that has been the backdrop for countless family adventures, while the quince tree has delivered bumper harvests in recent years. Roses, peonies, bluebells and daffodils add seasonal colour, and the wisteria, which flowered for the first time this year, promises to become a showpiece.

The patio is perfect for barbecues, and there are sunny and shaded spots to follow the light throughout the day, from the bench under the treehouse in the evening glow, to the Garden room on crisp winter mornings.

Practicalities are well covered too: the former boys' loo from school days is now a characterful store with light and power, and the garage has further storage plus a loft. Parking is easy, with space for three cars on the drive and more on the lane outside.

A Village with Heart

Winterbourne Stoke is a small but lively village, known for its friendliness and community spirit. The events committee organises Easter egg hunts, summer fêtes and carol singing, while the parish council is proactive in keeping the village safe and well cared for. From the door you can step straight out onto footpaths - short circular routes across the fields, longer walks up to Druids Lodge or even trails across farmland to Stonehenge.

For day-to-day needs, Shrewton (just over a mile away) offers a Co-Op, GP surgery and post office, while Berwick St James is home to The Boot Inn (a favourite village pub). Salisbury, Bath, Winchester and even London are all within easy reach, making this a practical base as well as a peaceful one.


Council Tax Band: E (Wiltshire County Council)
Tenure: Freehold