Buyers looking for a property with a difference should look at Chapel House, in Winslow, Buckinghamshire: this five-bedroom house, which is on the market with Knight Frank at an asking price of £1.5 million, was originally a chapel.
Converting a chapel is a tricky job: how much do you keep the original feel? How much fo you make the new place feel like a home? In this case, they've veered towards the latter, and we have to say this conversion is one of the cosiest converted churches we've ever seen — yet they have still kept intact many original features, including the former belfry.
The 4,400sq ft interiors are arranged across three floors. The main rooms are all on the ground floor, which harbours a magnificent open-plan kitchen, dining and living area.
There is also a separate sitting room and five bedrooms, including the large master suite with its dressing room and fine bathroom — not to mention leaded, stone-mullioned windows highlighted with stained glass elements.
The first floor is entirely taken up by a striking family room, while the top floor houses a study and enjoys long views across the surrounding countryside from all four sides.
The gardens — very private, which is unusual for a property set in the middle of a market town — are arranged into two courtyard areas, with paved terraces and a small lawn.
Chapel House is for sale at £1.5 million via Knight Frank — see more pictures or enquire with the agent for further details.
Winslow: What you need to know
- Location: Winslow is situated 6.4 miles from Buckingham, 11.1 from Aylesbury and 28.5 from Oxford
- Atmosphere: A market town, Winslow combines period thatched houses, the market square (there's still a weekly market) and cattle markets with a good selection of shops, restaurants and pubs.
- Things to do: Walking, cycling and riding routes abound in the glorious countryside that surrounds Winslow, while Buckingham and, a little farther, oxford, provide a huge range of culture and entertainment opportunities.
- Schools: There is plenty of choice, both locally and a little further afield, with the Royal Latin School in Buckingham, Aylesbury High for Girls, Aylesbury Grammar School for Boys and The Sir Henry Floyd Grammar School in Aylesbury, plus Akeley Wood and Stowe and, in Oxford, Lynehams, The Dragon School, Oxford High School, Ashfold Preparatory School and St Edward’s. Find more properties in the area.
Credit: Strutt and Parker
Best country houses for sale this week
An irresistible West Country cottage and a magnificent Cumbrian country house make our pick of the finest country houses for
-
Six rural properties with space, charm and endless views, as seen in Country LifeWe take a look at some of the best houses to come to the market via Country Life in the past week.
-
Exploring the countryside is essential for our wellbeing, but Right to Roam is going backwardsCampaigners in England often point to Scotland as an example of how brilliantly Right to Roam works, but it's not all it's cracked up to be, says Patrick Galbraith.
-
Six rural properties with space, charm and endless views, as seen in Country Life
We take a look at some of the best houses to come to the market via Country Life in the past week.
-
380 acres and 90 bedrooms on the £25m private island being sold by one of Britain's top music producersStormzy, Rihanna and the Rolling Stones are just a part of the story at Osea Island, a dot on the map in the seas off Essex.
-
A home cinema, tasteful interiors and 65 acres of private parkland hidden in an unassuming lodge in KentNorth Lodge near Tonbridge may seem relatively simple, but there is a lot more than what meets the eye.
-
A rare opportunity to own a family home on Vanbrugh Terrace, one of London's finest streetsThis six-bedroom Victorian home sits right on the start line of the London Marathon, with easy access to Blackheath and Greenwich Park.
-
A tale of everyday life as lived on Britain's most expensive streetWinnington Road in Hampstead has an average house price of £11.9 million. But what's it really like? Lotte Brundle went to find out.
-
Damon Hill's former home in Marbella is the perfect place to slow downThe glorious Andalusian-style villa is found within the Lomas de Marbella Club and just a short walk from the beach.
-
A 327-acre estate in the heart of 'England’s Côte d’Or', with a 26,000sq ft Georgian style home at its heartStokes Hall in the Crouch Valley is an inspiring property looking for a new owner.
-
Schreiber House, 'the most significant London townhouse of the second half of the 20th century', is up for saleThe five-bedroom Modernist masterpiece sits on the edge of Hampstead Heath.
