Maypole Green, Bishops Waltham, Southampton, Hampshire

A handsome Georgian house with a gracious sense of space, The Old Rectory was built in 1805 and served as the village rectory to Bishops Waltham until 1962. The Grade II-listed house is an attractive and substantial period house, offering generous, well-proportioned accommodation arranged over three floors. Its architecture and setting give it a distinctive presence, while the house has been sympathetically maintained to retain the character and atmosphere of its Georgian origins. Original features include tall sash windows, a handsome Diocletian’s arch window, decorative fan lights and wood detailing.

The façade is centred on a pillared porch with an elegant fanlight, while wisteria softens the red brick elevations. Inside, the inviting reception hall is warmed by an open fire – there are three within the property - and leads to a series of well-balanced principal rooms, each enjoying the natural light and generous proportions characteristic of the period.

The drawing room is a particularly fine room, with full-height Georgian sash windows and doors opening onto the terrace. A fireplace fitted with a wood-burning stove provides an attractive focal point. The dining room is similarly impressive, with full-height windows and period detailing, making it well suited to both formal entertaining and family gatherings.

The kitchen and breakfast room forms the everyday heart of the house. Spacious and well equipped, it has an Aga, central island and plenty of room for informal dining, with an adjoining snug providing a more relaxed sitting space. Here, an oak-beamed fireplace lends warmth and character. Further ground-floor accommodation includes a study, thought to have been the rector’s office, a utility room, cloakroom with shower and orangery, which provides an appealing connection between the house and garden.

The first floor is arranged around a generous principal bedroom suite, with views across the gardens and a magnificent adjoining bathroom with a freestanding roll-top bath, glass-walled shower enclosure and a twin vanity with marble top. Six further bedrooms and two additional bathrooms provide flexible accommodation for family and guests. The cellar adds a useful further dimension, with space arranged as a games room, wine store and workshop.

The gardens and grounds extend to approximately 1.67 acres and are a notable feature of the property, offering a wealth of space and the feeling of a private estate rarely seen in such a convenient and central position. Enjoying a south-westerly aspect, the gardens include manicured formal lawns and a croquet lawn, with attractive views towards the neighbouring Grade II*-listed Church of St Peter. The grounds have been arranged to offer areas for both outdoor entertaining and quieter places in which to enjoy the setting: of particular note, a long, wide terrace runs alongside the south-west elevations, leading down to the lawn via a set of stone steps. Soaring windows and an impressive, vibrant wisteria provide a stunning backdrop.

A further highlight is the leisure offering, also a rare benefit to a town centre home. The hard-standing tennis court is enclosed by clipped hedging with an internal boundary of chain-link fencing. The swimming pool is set with its own garden ‘room’ partitioned by hedging, and, together with its pavilion, provide excellent facilities for recreation. Outside the more formal planting, the rest of the grounds extend to an orchard and a woodland walk through a stand of mature, native trees.

The approach is particularly appealing, with timber gates opening onto a sweeping gravel drive which provides ample parking beside the house and garaging. The house is complemented by a range of outbuildings, including a three-bay car port, garden shed and summer house, with the useful ancillary space offering scope for a variety of uses, subject to any necessary consents.

The Old Rectory occupies a particularly appealing position beside St Andrew’s Church in Bishop’s Waltham, a historic and thriving market town at the southern end of the Meon Valley. The town centre is within walking distance and offers a good range of independent shops, cafés, restaurants and pubs, together with everyday amenities including a post office and doctor’s surgery.

The surrounding countryside is known for its beautifully rolling chalk downs landscapes, with the South Downs National Park close by offering a wealth of opportunities for walking, riding and other outdoor pursuits. Golf clubs and other sporting facilities are available in the wider area, while racing can be enjoyed at Salisbury, Goodwood and Newbury. The cathedral city of Winchester, as well as Southampton and Portsmouth, provides a broader range of shopping, dining and cultural attractions.

Road and rail communications are excellent, with Winchester offering regular rail services to London Waterloo with journey times from approximately 60 minutes. Botley station, around four miles away, provides an alternative rail connection, and Southampton International Airport is conveniently accessible for domestic and international flights.

The area is also well served by a selection of highly regarded schools, including Winchester College, St Swithun’s, Prince’s Mead, The Pilgrims’ School, Twyford School, Bedales, Churcher’s College and The Portsmouth Grammar School.