There is a certain something to a wisteria-clad stone home — something so enviably English. Shellingford House, in the Oxfordshire village of Shellingford, is a prime example, with the gentle purple hues of this famed climbing plant working in concert with the property’s stone façade and pitched slate roof.
It’s believed that the property dates back to the 1630s, but has seen some improvement since then, most notably in the 18th and 19th centuries. For sale at £3.45 million with Knight Frank, it’s now a very thoughtfully laid-out family home, offering up to seven bedrooms, five reception rooms and four bathrooms.
Particular highlights include the modern kitchen/dining area, which leads directly onto the south-east facing terrace.
There's also an elegant 17th century central staircase, which winds its way through all three floors of the house and features moulded balusters and Doric columns.
The house also boasts some creative flair, with an art studio situated above the ground-floor library and a party barn attached to the house.
The only thing that can rival the property is its setting. Surrounded by some eight acres of gardens, grounds and a field, the property offers the best of both worlds — a village setting but plenty of space.
The gardens are both formal and informal, and lead down to a small stream and feature a wild courtyard area, a more formal lawned area, an orchard and an outdoor swimming pool (with adjoining pool pavilion).
The grounds also contain a hard tennis court and a large paddock, perfect for holding a horse or two or just leaving to Nature. Two single-bedroom cottages also offer even more space for guests, staff or annoying relatives.
Shellingford village itself offers amenities in the form of a local primary school, while nearby Stanford in the Vale boasts pubs, restaurants and shops.
Yet for all the joys of life on the doorstep, for those needing to commute it's a house which is eminently practical: London is about an hour away, either via train from Swindon or via the M40.
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
The Uffington White Horse, Oxfordshire
Thousands of years ago, ancient Britons created a vast and spectacular stylised portrayal of a horse in the hills of
Spectacular Scottish castles and estates for sale
A look at the finest castles, country houses and estates for sale in Scotland today.
The Country Life Podcast
Listen to all the episodes of the Country Life Podcast.
-
An idyllic home in Hampshire that's perfect for the musical mindLyewood House sits in 3.5 acres and comes with a purpose built recording studio and an outdoor heated pool.
-
You've gotta catch them all: Everything you need to know about London's giant Easter egg huntFortnum & Mason, Anya Hindmarch and Chopard are among the companies that have lent a creative hand.
-
An idyllic home in Hampshire that's perfect for the musical mindLyewood House sits in 3.5 acres and comes with a purpose built recording studio and an outdoor heated pool.
-
A well-connected rural playground with 23 acres on the edge of the South Downs National ParkOld House Farm is an impressive family home with a wealth of amenities that would inspire any rural passion.
-
18 magnificent homes for sale from £550k to £20 million, as seen in Country LifeFrom a charming thatched cottage to a 300-acre estate with its own vineyard, here's our pick of places to come to the market via Country Life of late.
-
If heaven is on earth, it might be in this home with a converted chapel that is now a swimming pool5 Wood Barton Town House is part of an exclusive 80-acre development in Devon that also comes with fishing rights on the River Avon and four bedrooms.
-
The sounds of spring and stained glass in an Arts-and-Crafts masterpiece in DorsetWith 35 acres, more than 10 bedrooms, a swimming pool and tennis court, Winterfield has it all.
-
An eight-bedroom wonder in East Sussex where the outdoors are an adventureThe interiors of Old Middleton are pretty good too.
-
A lakeside farmhouse on the market in the beautiful heart of PembrokeshireA lake, streams, 15 acres and five bedrooms. Rogershook might have it all.
-
An idyllic countryside home that's light, spacious and comes with a Grade II-listed follyHagg House is a gorgeous family home that just happens to have a miniature castle in the gardens. Annabel Dixon explains more.
