Property description
A delightful four bedroom cottage of immense charm with an extensive garden, situated at the end of a quiet lane which is a short distance from the main church square and other properties featured in the Downton Abbey television series.
After a long career as an architect in London, trained as a Modernist, the vendors original aim was for he and his wife to retire and purchase a broken down cottage which he could then rescue. Any additions he made would be in keeping with the best of what was already there. His purpose was to make an interesting progression from the front door through the house to the conservatory, the initial hinge being the staircase followed by the kitchen, providing something to interest you wherever you are, to captivate and to entertain you as you go. Having an acute eye for detail, a passion for gothic revival and a legendary determination to rescue wonderful pieces from floor tiles to stained glass windows, wherever they may have been discarded, the house records the charm and delightful humour of the man (and the family) that designed it and built it. Formerly owned by Jack Bartlett, racing driver and purveyor of beautiful cars, the cottage, untouched since the 1930s, was purchased along with an additional plot.
4 bedrooms (1 en suite), 2 bathrooms, drawing room, sitting room, dining room, family room/study, kitchen/breakfast room, utility room, cloak room/shower room, boot room, store room, conservatory, summerhouse, metal storage shed, double garage, parking, gardens.SITUATION Bampton is the home of the fictitious Downton of Downton Abbey fame and Hugh de Singleton, Mel Starr's medieval surgeon. It sits close to the edge of the Cotswolds and is one of the oldest and prettiest villages in the area. And while it retains much of the character of the traditional Cotswold village it is also a hive of activity with a multitude of events taking place throughout the year including Morris Dancing, May Garlands and Bampton Classical Opera. Bampton has an excellent array of amenities for a village of its size. It has a post office, bank, library, five function facilities, a sports ground and pavilion, an art gallery, two churches, a primary school and of course a market square. It also has a wide array of shops, public houses and service providers, both within the village and closeby. Burford golf club is also within easy reach. Oxford with its cultural, educational and medical benefits lies nineteen miles to the east. In addition, Bampton is situated within easy reach of the main arterial routes of the M4 giving access to London and the West Country and the A40 with access to the M40 for both London and the Midlands. Mainline stations can be found at Swindon, Didcot and Oxford.
PROPERTY DESCRIPTION Steps down to panelled front door with canopy over.
ENTRANCE LOBBY Matwell, reclaimed French terracotta floor tiles, cast iron radiator, downlighters.
COAT/BOOT ROOM Continuation of the reclaimed French terracotta floor tiles, coat racks, shelf, arched window to courtyard.
CLOAKROOM/SHOWER ROOM Linoleum tiled floor, WC with concealed cistern, wash basin, tiled splashback, shelf above, fully tiled walk-in shower with curtain, raised porcelain shower tray with deep sides, Mira 88 shower, panelled partition wall with coat hooks, extractor fan, radiator, arched window to courtyard.
OFFICE/STUDY 17'1\" x 8'5\" (5.2m x 2.57m). Triple aspect windows, cornicing, cast iron radiator.
INNER HALLWAY 12'9\" x 12'9\" (3.89m x 3.89m). The owner's design was to keep the lower part simple with clean lines and decoration, but gradually as it rose it would be grander thereby infusing a sense of well being. A pair of gothic arched church doors (from Combe St. Nicholas, Somerset) leading to octagonal full height staircase/hallway, continuation of reclaimed French terracotta tiles with a central portion in black and white marble tiles (reclaimed from a house in Chester Square), cantilevered smooth faced pre-cast staircase with pretty painted balustrade and mahogany handrail, cast iron radiator, arched doorway to drawing room, arched opening to corridor.
DRAWING ROOM 16'3\" x 16'3\" (4.95m x 4.95m). Continuation of reclaimed French terracotta tiles, step down to floor of reclaimed pine panels (the bases of plan chest drawers from the Natural History Museum), barrel vaulted ceiling, open fireplace with oak surround and mantelpiece, slate hearth, two cast iron radiators, floor to ceiling double windows (from a house in Belgrave Square) with low window seats, cornicing, door to garden with arched light over.
CORRIDOR Arched opening, tongue and groove panelling within arch, drinks cupboard, glasses cupboard, further tongue and groove panelling to dado level, serving hatch to sitting room, light well above.
SITTING ROOM 15'10\" x 11'1\" (4.83m x 3.38m). Fine Victorian cast iron fireplace with painted surround and mantelpiece, stone hearth, wood burning stove, bookshelves in alcoves to either side, cast iron radiator, cornicing, picture rail, pretty nine light window overlooking garden, half glazed door to garden.
KITCHEN/BREAKFAST ROOM 16'10\" x 12'3\" (5.13m x 3.73m). The room is divided by a single step up from the kitchen to the dining area. Range of wall and floor mounted units, tiled work surfaces, double bowl stainless steel sink with mixer tap, space for gas cooker, space and plumbing for dishwasher, china cupboard with shelves, additional fitted shelves, fitted painted dresser, additional storage cupboard and bookshelves, spotlights, cast iron radiator, double French windows with shutters opening to the garden and verandah.
DINING ROOM 12'9\" x 11'2\" (3.89m x 3.4m). Painted tongue and groove panelled ceiling, radiator, Compactum larder, two casement windows with marble ledges overlooking the main courtyard.
UTILITY ROOM 12'5\" x 11'3\" (3.78m x 3.43m). Part stone flagged floor, painted tongue and groove panelled ceiling, stainless steel single bowl sink on floor mounted unit, fitted shelves above sink, space and plumbing for washing machine, space for fridge and freezer, fitted shelves, Glowworm Flexicom 30SX central heating boiler, fitted pantry/jam cupboard, additional fitted shelves, door to workshop.
WORKSHOP 13'7\" x 9'7\" (4.14m x 2.92m). Concrete floor, work benches, tool racks, shelves, ledge and brace door to main courtyard, pretty six light window overlooking the lane.
FIRST FLOOR
LANDING At the top of the stairs, step up and door to partly shelved storage attic, fitted storage shelves, roof light, cold water storage tank.
On landing, corridor to bedrooms and further round, a step up and door to small hallway between Bedroom 3 and en suite bathroom, fitted cupboard with drawers below.
BEDROOM 3 12'6\" x 12'1\" (3.8m x 3.68m). Triple aspect, stone quatrefoil window (from a church in Marlborough Place, St. John's Wood), double fitted cupboard, radiator.
EN SUITE BATHROOM Fitted panelled bath, tiled splashback, pedestal wash basin with light and shaver point above, WC, electric heated towel rail, fitted shelves with medicine cupboard, additional fitted cupboard above bath, cast iron radiator, towel rail on panelled dividing wall, extractor fan.
MAIN CORRIDOR Balustraded light well with skylight above, fitted bookshelves, floor mounted bookshelves, loft access.
BEDROOM 2 14'8\" x 9'11\" (4.47m x 3.02m). Cast iron radiator, wash basin with mirror, light and shaving point above, cornicing, picture rail, Victorian pine wardrobe.
BATHROOM Beamed ceiling, fitted panelled bath with mixer tap and shower attachment, tiled splashback, wall hung wash basin with light and shaver point above, WC, fitted linen cupboard, large panelled storage area with fitted shelving.
BEDROOM 3 14'8\" x 9'11\" (4.47m x 3.02m). Double aspect with views over garden and across Sandford Field, fitted cupboards with hanging space and shelf, central section with pedestal wash basin, light and shaver point above, radiator.
BEDROOM 4 15'7\" x 11'2\" (4.75m x 3.4m). Double aspect, beamed ceiling, radiator, loft access.
CONSERVATORY Double French doors with arched light over, beautiful triple arched Victorian stained glass window.
GARAGE Double garage in the Italianate style on a granite block plinth. The owner's original intention was to design a building that could easily form the basis of a second building, studio or annexe, indeed there is considerable potential to take advantage of the large plot, perhaps subdividing it, and potential for a second access from the lane (subject to the usual planning consents).
SUMMERHOUSE Octagonal timber summerhouse with patterned brick floor.
METAL STORAGE SHED A temporary, but very useful metal shed on a stone built base which when removed will form a terrace above the formal part of the garden.
OUTSIDE The property sits in the most delightful walled garden. The entrance to the house is on the left side at the bottom of the lane leading to Sandford Field. A pair of double wooden gates open into the delightful courtyard with pretty geometrical design and a low retaining wall around the house and steps down to the front door, the garage being on the left side of the courtyard with a mature monkey puzzle tree to the left. The garden, like the house, is utterly charming. Now no longer in it's prime, the potential of the garden is clear to see. It is surprisingly large, with a good degree of privacy and has plenty of mature trees and shrubs. It wraps around the house and it is a gardener's delight. On the south side, there is a very pretty area of formal garden with a terrace (beneath the metal storage shed) and a side gate to Sandford Field.
DIRECTIONS From Oxford take the A40 heading toward Cheltenham take the second exit onto the A4095 south towards Bampton. On entering the village pass Landells and Church View on the right hand side and turn down Church Street. At the end turn left and then immediately riht into church view passing the Bampton library on the right hand side. Follow the little lane right to the end and Field Cottage is on the left hand side, the last house on the lane before Sandford Field. Postcode OX18 2ND.
Property Info: