Property description

A delightful Grade II listed farmhouse in 100 acres of grassland and lakes within a ring fence with equestrian and commercial potential.

For sale as a whole.


Lying in open countryside in a secluded location, Merton Grounds Farm is adjacent to Bicester (5 miles) and Oxford (14.5 miles) and to the east of the village of Wendlebury. Close to J9 of the M40 (3 miles), there are railway services to London Marylebone at Bicester (50 minutes) and Oxford Parkway (59 minutes).

THE FARMHOUSE    Extended over the past few years Merton Grounds Farmhouse now presents an attractive Grade II Listed property built of limestone under a pantile roof with brick extensions under a slate roof. Approached via a mile long private driveway through a poplar lined avenue the accommodation comprises

GROUND FLOOR    Entrance from the courtyard into an impressive sun room/dining room with double doors to the terrace and garden. A step down leads to the kitchen/breakfast room with flagstone floor, exposed beams, four oven Aga, Belfast sink and wooden drainer, fitted floor units, plumbing for dishwasher and stairs to the first floor. From the kitchen/breakfast room, doors lead off to the TV room with open fireplace, WC, study and the drawing room with oil burning stove which could be converted to an open fireplace.

FIRST FLOOR    Stairs from the kitchen/breakfast room to landing with door to bedroom with ensuite shower room and door to storage cupboard. Further doors from the landing give access to a further two bedrooms and a family bathroom with bath, wc and wash hand basin.

SECOND FLOOR    From the landing stairs lead up to a bedroom with en-suite bathroom and walk-in wardrobe.

NORTH WING    Accessed from the courtyard to an entrance hall with a door off to a bedroom with stairs up to an en-suite bathroom. From the entrance hall a corridor gives access to the sauna room and changing room with WC and shower, and an impressive heated swimming pool (12.59m x 6.39m) with bifolding doors leading out to the terrace and garden. Returning to the entrance hall, interconnecting doors lead into the main farmhouse.

SOUTH WING

GROUND FLOOR    Entrance from the courtyard garden leads into an entrance hall with doors off to two bedrooms both with en-suite bathrooms and door to utility room and laundry room with floor units and plumbing for washing/drying machines. A further door from the courtyard garden leads to a self-contained bedroom and en-suite bathroom.

FIRST FLOOR    From the entrance hall, stairs lead up to a bedroom with en-suite bathroom.

OUTSIDE    The formal garden lies to the east of the farmhouse and is predominantly laid to lawn with herbaceous borders and terrace outside the dining room and swimming pool all enclosed by a brick wall. To the south is a large and productive vegetable garden with a brick and timber greenhouse together with six large raised beds and two fruit cages.

THE BUILDINGS    Behind the farmhouse and separately accessed is a commercial yard comprising

BUILDING 1    Crendon concrete, fully enclosed general purpose building with 9 stables, tack room and storage space above. The building extends to 3,687ft2.
There is a sand and rubber ménage (60m x 20m) enclosed with post and rail fencing behind.

BUILDING 2    Part concrete block walling, part corrugated fibre cement under a compressed fibre cement roof with full height roller shutter door and lean-to. The building extends to approximately 6,246ft2.

BUILDING 3    Part concrete block walling, part corrugated under a compressed fibre cement roof with two full height roller shutter doors. The building extends to approximately 7,450ft2.

TRACTOR SHED    Open fronted, mono pitch lean-to of concrete block construction under a compressed fibre cement roof. This extends to approximately 689ft2.

GENERAL STORE    Brick and slate general store extending to approximately 616ft2.

GARDEN STORE    Timber framed, mono-pitched building enclosed on three sides currently used to house garden equipment with a fully enclosed lock-up store to one end. This building extends to approximately 914ft2.

THE LAND    All in a ring fence surrounding the farmstead the land comprises approximately 38.77 hectares (95.81 acres) of predominantly grassland suitable for grazing together with two lakes and areas of amenity woodland. The land is all fenced to a stock proof standard and water is laid on throughout. The smaller of the two lakes in front of the house was designed as part of an eco-park and is well stocked with Koi carp. The reservoir (4.5 acres) lies to the north of the farmhouse and is rich in wildlife habitats and nesting birds in particular geese, duck and swans.