Will the new Chancellor rethink current Stamp Duty rates? For now, Arabella Youens selects the finest country houses on the market priced below £2 million.
Devon, £1.8 million
Longcause House, Dartington
5 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, 3 reception rooms, 2 acres
Lying within minutes of Totnes, this Grade II-listed late-Georgian house is in the thriving village of Dartington, which has close links with Dartington Hall and its college, known for its year-round programme of courses and events. The rooms are large and bright and many enjoy full-length windows to take in views of the surrounding gardens.
Marchand Petit (01803 847 979)
West Sussex, £899,950
Galleon Cottage, Sidlesham
3 bedrooms, stables, outbuildings, dressage arena
Dating from the 17th century and listed Grade II, this cottage comes with excellent riding facilities, including recently updated stables, an outdoor dressage arena and storage. The house stands in two acres on a no-through road between the coast and Chichester. The village has a petrol station with
a shop and two pubs.
Henry Adams (01243 533 377)
Somerset, £1.15 million
Harpford House, Langford Budville
6 bedrooms, oak-framed garage, river frontage, 12½ acres
Once a range of farm buildings, this Grade II-listed house has a striking reception hall off which are a drawing room and a dining room. At one end are two bedrooms plus a bathroom, which could be made into an annexe. The grounds include fenced paddocks.
Jackson-Stops & Staff (01823 325 144)
East Sussex, £1.15 million
Sweethaws Lodge, Sheep Plain
4 bedrooms, 3 reception rooms, pool, 1¾ acres
This Arts-and-Crafts house has exposed beams and open fireplaces, with the double-aspect drawing room offering views to the south-facing garden. The interiors might require a little reconfiguring and updating, but there’s plenty of scope to extend, subject to the usual permissions.
Freeman Forman (01892 615 757)
Cornwall, £1.75 million
Pentreath, Helford
5 bedrooms, quay and waterfrontage, half an acre
Enjoying views over the River Helford, this contemporary house comes with a quay and direct water frontage. It’s set in landscaped gardens and has a smart, newly fitted kitchen, which leads into a large, light-filled sitting room. Of the five bedrooms, four are ensuite and outside is a spacious entertaining terrace.
Lillicrap Chilcott (01872 273 473)
Gloucestershire, £1.95 million
Wells Head, Temple Guiting
5 bedrooms, guest annexe, gym, office, tennis court, 9 acres
Set at the edge of this attractive Cotswold village, and positioned down a long drive, is this extensive barn conversion. Built of local Cotswold stone, one of the standout rooms is the dining room, with its vaulted ceilings, stone floors and double aspect, which lets in enormous amounts of light. The kitchen has an electric Aga and doors that open onto an outside entertaining space. Outside is a useful staff or guest annexe with a gym or second bedroom.
Knight Frank (01242 246 959)
Buckinghamshire, £1.75 million
Hollands Farm, Holmer Green
5 bedrooms, studio/office, 2 acres
This brick-and-flint house is Grade II listed and combines formal entertaining spaces with casual living areas, including a family room and a kitchen/breakfast room with an Aga. There are landscaped gardens as well as an orchard and a paddock.
Savills (01494 725 636)
Gloucestershire, £1.2 million
Elm House, Blockley
5 bedrooms, 3 reception rooms, walled garden
This pretty house is listed Grade II and is regarded as one of the gems in this desirable Cotswold village. It has lovely views across the garden, the church and to the countryside beyond and comes with a coach house, a double garage, a cellar and off-street parking. The gardens are secluded and take in a loggia, which is perfectly positioned to catch the evening sun.
Strutt & Parker (01608 653 307)
Surrey, £1.85 million
Madgehole, Shamley Green
4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, pool, 11 acres
This 1930s house has been extended and refurbished to create a good family home. The ground floor offers four spacious reception rooms and a generous kitchen/breakfast room. The house is surrounded by landscaped gardens, in which there is a heated swimming pool with pretty views.
Grantley (01483 407 640)
