Freehold Street, Lower Heyford

A pretty, late Victorian cottage presented in lovely order having just been extended & renovated. Huge open-plan living/kitchen/dining room, two double bedrooms, plus a fine garden office with both power and water. Great village location, nearby amenities. Part furnished. Available 1st December for a 6 month tenancy.

Lower Heyford is a delightful village. Nestling in a valley with the River Cherwell parallel to the Oxford canal, farmland surrounds the village and the local scenery is wonderful. There is a good local school, a lovely old pub, local store, and access to all points of the compass is exceptional with the M40 and A34 close by and the Cherwell Valley railway line Heyford station within the village. For those looking for a rural existence combined with nearby access to all amenities, there are few better villages in North Oxfordshire.

The cottage was owned by an Oxford University College for many years as a lettings property, with an elderly tenant in place for decades. Our client purchased having spent a long time looking for something charming, well located, with a good garden, that was also ripe for improvement, for their own pleasure. Comparing the previous photos with today is a revelation. So much of the character was hidden or otherwise compromised, and it's been lovingly re-established. But in addition, the extension of the rear has created a thoroughly splendid mix of kitchen, dining and relaxation space that integrates perfectly with the garden through broad glazed doors across the rear.

The front door opens into a hallway to the rear of which is a stunning staircase, complete with original timber treads, probably oak. The period tiling of the hallway floor is also original, perfectly reminiscent of the Victorian origins, and this continues into the cloak room, which is equally characterful from the high-level Victorian cistern right through to the toilet seat! Across the hall, the living room is instantly welcoming, light and generously sized with a large window looking out towards the front garden. The herringbone flooring in another example of in-period correct detailing that's so pleasing (and rare) to see. The fireplace also now contains a wood burning stove, perfect for winter days).

Where once kitchen and living room were separate, today the living room perfectly interacts with the kitchen, with an uninterrupted view right through the extension and out to the garden. Traditional style units are pastel painted, contrasting pleasingly with the lighter worktops. There are wall units to left and right, containing cooker to left and sink to right, with peninsulars to both front and rear. This cumulatively provides huge prep space and storage, a really clever way to provide an effective and beautiful kitchen that does not remotely diminish the feeling of openness and light. Beyond, a couple of steps lead down to the dining area behind, which is vast. All the glazing in the roof lights above and patio doors to the rear flood the whole area with light, and it's such a good size space it happily swallows the largest if dining suites with room to spare. And, cleverly, the vendor has push-close doors in the wall to the side, behind which is the "utility", containing a plethora of shelves surrounding a washing machine and drier.

Heading up the curving stairs leads to two bedrooms. The largest is elegant and lovely, really quite generous and overlooking the front garden and the lane outside. The richly textured boards of the stairs continue right through to this room. This plus the fireplace and the gentle angles of the high ceiling and eaves give it immense charm. Bedroom two is also a double room, a little more compact but still and ample double, this time overlooking the garden to the rear. The pair are served by a very pretty bathroom which, as with everywhere else, delights with small touches ranging from the old dresser now doubling as a vanity unit to the panelling.

Outside, to the front a pair of metal gates between stone walls and a hedge enclose the front garden. To the side of the house a path runs past the bin store to the rear garden. A wonderful terrace behind the house provides a broad and appealing spot from which to relax or dine, enjoying the garden. A broad lawn runs a good stretch down to a large and useful outbuilding that's fully insulated and fitted with mains power. This has many uses from outside office, to guest space, or just a really swish summerhouse, complete with store cupboards along rthe main wall culminating in a sink. And the building includes a smaller workshop/store next door, complete with rack shelving.