Church End, Swerford, Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, OX7

Listed farmhouse and traditional courtyard in sought after north Oxfordshire village.

Description

Grange Farm is situated in an enviable position at the edge of the village, along a private drive. The farmhouse is set within a picturesque courtyard with small pond and water feature, and is flanked by a traditional stone barn, listed in its own right and further outbuildings overlooking open fields. Constructed of marlstone with slate roof the property is Grade II listed and believed to date back to the late 17th century with later additions. Grange Farm retains many period features including window seats, some mullion windows and exposed floorboards and timbers. The house has locally handmade oak framed double glazing and oil fired central heating radiators throughout.

Accommodation in the main farmhouse is arranged with main entrance hall including cellar access and cloak area. This leads off to an L shape living room with a magnificent Inglenook fireplace with wood burner and under floor heating. Kitchen/breakfast room with bespoke oak units and Stoves double oven electric cooker and dining room with ornate fire surround and wood burner. There is a useful utility room, WC and rear hall providing external access to garden.

On the first floor is the principal bedroom with attractive feature window seat and a large bathroom with exposed floor boards, free standing bath and walk-in shower. There are a further two bedrooms and family bathroom. On the second floor are two more bedrooms with exposed timbers and dormer windows.

The other side of the main courtyard is The Old Stables, which provides accommodation for holiday lets. Converted in 2011, the accommodation includes an open plan kitchen, dining, sitting room with a wood burning stove, a double bedroom and bathroom with underfloor heating throughout. Outside there is a utility room, terrace area with a Jacuzzi hot tub and garden. The annexe has its own parking area with a raised bed and water feature.

Attached to the main farmhouse to the south is a single storey outbuilding providing a triple garage. To the west and also attached to the main house are useful outbuildings including two store rooms, both with electricity, hot and cold water, and one with a fruit press. Another large room has been converted and has underfloor heating and a wood burner. Previously used as a professional kitchen, it is currently used as an arts and crafts room and has a WC and mezzanine seating area, but lends itself to a variety of other uses (subject to relevant planning) such as additional accommodation, office from home or games room.

The pretty traditional barn to the west of the courtyard is Grade II listed, has electricity, and is used for storing hay. Stone steps to the left end lead to a double room space with wood burner, water and electricity, currently used as an art studio. Below are store rooms, one providing secure lockable storage for garden machinery. Backing onto this there is a further lockable store room.

Gardens with potting shed, woodstore and greenhouse are on the north and west of the farmhouse and mainly laid to lawn with the courtyard providing a focal south facing area and terrace from which to purvey the adjoining pasture.

To the south of the property is a paddock area with a pond and timber field shelter providing three loose boxes and feed room. To the west of the courtyard the land extends to the edge of the village and pasture has been divided in to smaller paddock areas with two additional stables and field shelters and larger grazing with a wildlife pond. There is an orchard with various fruit trees and small wood in another area.

Location

Swerford is an unspoilt North Oxfordshire village between Banbury and Chipping Norton at the edge of the Cotswolds. Made up predominantly of pretty period stone houses and cottages, amenities include the parish church, The Boxing Hare public house and a village hall.

The market town of Chipping Norton provides local amenities including supermarkets, (Sainsbury’s, Coop, Marks and Spencer food store and Aldi), schools, a theatre and luxury cinema. Banbury, Stratford-upon-Avon, Cheltenham and Oxford provide for more extensive leisure, retail and cultural facilities.

Mainline train services to London/Marylebone from Banbury (from 59 minutes) or Oxford Parkway and London/Paddington from Charlbury (from 70 minutes). Motorway connections with the M40 both at Banbury (J11) about 10 miles and Oxford (J8) about 24 miles, giving access to London to the South.

The area is well served for schools including the village primary schools in neighbouring Great Tew and Hook Norton, with secondary at Chipping Norton and Bloxham. Independent preparatory schools include St John’s Priory (Banbury), Kitebrook, (Moreton-in-Marsh), Sibford School and in Oxford The Dragon School and Summer Fields School. Senior independent schools include Bloxham School and Tudor Hall (girls), both in Bloxham, Sibford School, Kingham Hill School and St Edwards, Magdalen College and Headington (Oxford).

Leisure and sporting activities include Soho Farmhouse private members club at Great Tew; Daylesford Organic Farm shop offers cafes, a spa, a cookery school, and thoughtfully curated retail; Estelle Manor hotel and country club; golf at Tadmarton Heath and Chipping Norton; horseracing at Cheltenham; theatre at Stratford upon Avon, Chipping Norton and Oxford.

All distances and times are approximate.

Square Footage: 4,381 sq ft


Acreage: 11.24 Acres

Additional Info

Services - Mains water, drainage and electricity are connected to the property. Heating and hot water provided by oil fired boiler. The Old Stables services consist of mains water, Klargester septic tank for sewage, electric underfloor heating and hot water provided by electric boiler. We understand that the Klargester septic tank is compliant with the relevant government regulations/registered with the appropriate body.

There is a restrictive covenant on a north-west parcel of the field. Please contact Savills for more information.