Church Lane, Wendlebury, OX25

An imposing and historically significant Grade 2 listed 18th century house of c.3,000 sq ft, mentioned in Pevsner's guide to the country's most important buildings.
Wonderful character including a 28 x 20 ft living room including original fireplace, lengthy walled garden, generous parking, and double garage.

Wendlebury is a quiet and established village featuring a 13th century church and 17th century public house. While the village is tucked away it offers exceptional access to many places via both road and rail, especially Bicester and Oxford. The community is vibrant and diverse with a wide mix of residents including local families and commuters. The strength of this community is amply demonstrated by the variety of events and activities available - go to www.wendlebury.org.uk for more information. The property is a few yards away from a village hall with fenced off childrens' play area.

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Wendlebury Lodge is part of the original Wendlebury House. According to the listing with English Heritage it dates back to the early eighteenth century, But it probably has somewhat earlier origins. Walking in off the lane, the first view is of an immensely interesting and very attractive house. The large sash windows to the front are what one might expect from a Georgian house of importance, set into a honey stone facade of a size that dominates all around it. The various historic changes around the house, from the jettied window on the right side to the castellations to the rear, all tell the story of of the house. However there is support, from conversations we have had with a Conservation officer, for remodelling internally and externally more in keeping with the original if desired.

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The front door leads into a long hall with a terracotta tiled floor. Doors either side lead off to various rooms, the first of which is a smaller reception currently used as a study but equally could be a playroom, snug etc. To the left of the hall the dining room has large windows to both ends. This is a large room, a perfect entertaining space with a woodburner set in a stone fireplace, and worthy of note is the rather delightful staircase. To the rear the door leads into the kitchen which is all-but square hence offers plenty of space for family breakfasts. Adjacent to it is a wood-built conservatory of some size with a terracotta tiled floor, this connects to a side lobby off which is the large cloak room and also a pantry. Further round the corner the study is another lengthy room with a tall ceiling, this is also double aspect hence very light.

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On the first floor there is a large and light bedroom that feels all the larger because of the high ceiling, and it includes a rather charming fireplace. Serving this room is a similarly sized bathroom with plenty of natural light. The hall then leads into the music room, definitely the signature space in the house. It is rare to find such a space, and it has amply housed our clients' two grand pianos with ample space for many other furnishings. Triple aspect, the room has a rather unusual jettied window to the side which is a rarely seen feature today. This as well as windows to either end ensure it is delightfully light - an ideal artist's room - and it also features an eighteenth century fireplace.

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The second floor is rather a contrast. Built into the eaves it is more cozy however there is character in abundance with roof timbers aplenty. The main bedroom is delightful with a vaulted ceiling showing every main timber, however unlike some of these types of rooms it is light due to being double aspect - the rear window looks over the castellation to the rear and the garden beyond. There are two further bedrooms, one of which is more compact but the other is a good double. Serving these is a shower room which is mostly tiled.

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Outside is an interesting space. At the front a high stone wall surrounds a front garden with a mix of paving, planters and a number of shrubs and trees. The driveway to the right leads to a double garage, in front of which there is generous parking space. Round to the rear of the house, on the left is a terrace adjacent to the conservatory, and from here the view down the garden is lovely. Extending to well over 100 ft the garden is walled with roughly 2/3 laid mainly to lawn and a vegetable patch and general growing area beyond. It is a substantial space, absolutely ideal for family and pets alike.