Piccadilly Cottages, Stockbridge, SO20

Believed to be approximately 300 years old, this beautiful three-bedroom cottage is positively brimming with character and has been lovingly cared for by its current owners for twenty nine years. From the impressive inglenook fireplace and exposed timber framed walls to flagstone flooring, cottage windows and the quintessential Rayburn, there are reminders of the property's history at every turn.

Yet this isn't a cottage that has simply been preserved in time. Considerable care and attention has been given to the details that make it comfortable for modern-day living, with oak engineered flooring, quality internal doors, skirting boards and architraves sitting beautifully alongside its original features.

The accommodation enjoys three bedrooms and an enchanting landscaped front garden, this is a wonderful permanent home, but equally a tempting country retreat for someone looking to escape to village life within easy reach of London.

About the Property:

Approached through its pretty cottage garden, there's a wonderful sense of arrival before you've even stepped through the front door. A timber gate bearing the name opens beneath a rustic timber garden arch, with established planting creating a wonderfully secluded first impression.

Inside, the cottage has that warmth and individuality that is almost impossible to recreate in a newer home.

The lounge is a cosy and characterful reception room, with the magnificent inglenook fireplace providing a natural focal point.

The country-style kitchen is full of personality, with the Rayburn adding exactly the sort of feature you would hope to find in a home of this age. The combination of traditional materials, cottage styling and carefully considered finishes gives the room an authentic feel rather than something overly styled or manufactured. The dining area provides a lovely space for everyday dining or entertaining and complements the kitchen perfectly.

An entrance porch complete the main ground-floor accommodation, including a separate WC.

Upstairs there are two good size bedroom and a shower room. And further stairs lead up to the third bedroom and another bathroom which enjoys a roll-top bath.

Throughout the house, cottage windows, exposed features and the natural irregularities that come with a home of this age are part of its charm, while the oak finishes and thoughtful improvements demonstrate just how well the property has been cared for.

Outside:

The garden is every bit as pretty as the cottage itself.

A traditional timber gate and cottage-style arch introduce an attractively landscaped garden filled with mature shrubs, established greenery and seasonal planting. A pathway meanders towards the cottage, with the planting creating privacy and a wonderfully established feel.

It isn't an immaculate, overly formal garden and that's precisely its appeal. It feels natural, mature and entirely appropriate to a cottage of this age, providing a lovely spot for a morning coffee, a glass of wine at the end of the day or simply somewhere to enjoy the peace of its surroundings.

Its tucked-away position is another significant part of the attraction, giving the property a feeling of seclusion while remaining part of an established Hampshire village.

Summary of features:

Believed to be around 300 years old, a genuinely characterful period home rather than a modern imitation.
Not Listed
The inglenook fireplace, a fabulous centrepiece and exactly the sort of feature you want to discover in an English country cottage.
The Rayburn, adding warmth, personality and quintessential country-cottage charm to the kitchen.
Beautiful period details, including exposed cob walls, flagstone flooring and traditional cottage windows.
Thoughtfully improved, oak engineered flooring, doors, skirtings and architraves demonstrate the attention to detail throughout.
Three bedrooms, making it more versatile than its pretty cottage exterior might initially suggest.
An enchanting landscaped garden, established shrubs and cottage planting create a wonderfully private approach.
Over Wallop lifestyle - village shop, pub, church, recreation space and glorious surrounding countryside are all part of everyday life here.
Country living with London connections- direct trains to Waterloo from Grateley, Andover & Salisbury.

General Information:

Tenure: Freehold.

Local Authority: Test Valley Borough Council.

Council Tax: Band B

EPC: F

Utilities: Mains Electric. Oil for Rayburn, hot water and cooking. Private drainage-new system shared with the property opposite. Mains water.


Location & Lifestyle:

Over Wallop is one of those Hampshire villages that offers the increasingly sought-after combination of proper countryside and genuine connectivity.

The village lies approximately five miles north-west of Stockbridge, surrounded by the rolling countryside of the Test Valley and forming part of the collection of villages known as The Wallops. The landscape is shaped in part by the Wallop Brook, a seasonal chalk stream, with footpaths, open countryside and bridleways contributing to the distinctly rural character of the area.

For day-to-day village life, Over Wallop has a village shop/post office, traditional pub, church, playing field and recreational facilities, while neighbouring villages provide further amenities.

And then there's Stockbridge.

Around five miles away, this hugely popular Test Valley town sits on the River Test and has become renowned for its independent shops, cafés, restaurants and pubs. There are also everyday essentials including a supermarket/post office and medical facilities.

For anyone wanting country living without feeling disconnected, Grateley mainline station is around a five-minute drive away, with regular direct services to London Waterloo taking approximately 1 hour 20 minutes. Andover is approximately six to eight miles away, while Salisbury and Winchester are both readily accessible and the A303 provides connections towards London and the West Country.

And I think that's a major part of who we market this to. It isn't simply "a three-bedroom house in Over Wallop". It's the opportunity to own a beautiful slice of Hampshire village life.

For someone leaving London but not wanting to lose their connection to it, someone wanting a weekend country retreat, a second home, or simply somebody who has always dreamt of owning a proper English cottage near Stockbridge, this cottage has an enormous amount of appeal.

And after being loved as a home for more than twenty years, it feels ready for somebody else to write its next chapter.