Even in areas of high demand such as the Cotswolds, there’s nothing more dispiriting than sales that fall through at the last minute—even if the reasons are genuinely unavoidable. Such is the case of Little Ham at Burford, 10 miles from Stow-on-the-Wold and 20 miles from Oxford, which returns to the market with the local office of Jackson-Stops at a revised guide price of £2.14m, following the withdrawal of the prospective purchaser due to ill health, as selling agent Kathryn Anderson reveals.
Manicured gardens complete with gurgling fountain and alfresco dining area welcome visitors to the five-bedroom house—which is listed Grade II and dates from the late 18th century, albeit with later additions — which are equally as elegant, thanks to a careful renovation programme that blended contemporary finishes with period details.
Little Ham was acquired three years ago by the present vendor, an interior designer who has painstakingly refurbished the house. It is now finished in a mix of old and new, with white the predominant colour.
Among the highlights of the 3,319sq ft interior are the panelled dining room with mullion windows and stone fireplace, the panelled sitting room with panoramic garden views and the bespoke kitchen with handmade cabinets. There’s also a ground-floor annexe and a striking stone summerhouse at the northern end of the garden.
Four of the bedrooms can be found across the first floor, with the fifth in the aforementioned annexe.
The garden and grounds are especially breathtaking as the house is approached through solid wooden gates and up a winding paved driveway. The garden is surrounded by a privet hedge and Cotswold stone boundary which offers the utmost privacy, whilst a lawn surrounded by beautiful flower beds and a striking water feature create an altogether impressive vista.
Little Ham is currently on the market via Jackson-Stops with a guide price of £2.14 million — see more pictures, or enquire with the agent for further details.
Burford: What you need to know
Location: Tucked away in the Windrush Valley in West Oxfordshire. The A40 and M40 offers great links into London and trains run from Charlbury to London Paddington.
Atmosphere: The old Cotswold market town is known as 'The Gateway to the Cotswolds,' and is home to a number of shops, pubs, a village school and church.
Things to do: From here, explore the beautiful surrounding countryside, or visit Oxford and Cheltenham for a dose of culture.
Schools: Burford Primary School and Burford School are both local to the village, but there are many more options in the wider area.
See more property for sale 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
-
Dawn Chorus: A Blue Plaque for Marc Bolan, holidaying in the Caribbean with Francis Ford Coppola and a history of the National Gallery in 25 picturesPlus the best of the property pages, and how the railways will save the countryside.
-
Game, set, match: 12 of the world’s most beautiful tennis courtsFrom Italy to Indonesia, when it comes to hotel amenities, a picturesque tennis court will always trump a 24-hour gym. So, before you book your next holiday, take a look at our pick of the 12 best.
-
Five palatial mansions for sale, including one with its own private swimming lake, as seen in Country LifeSometimes bigger really is better.
-
Gaze over Cap Ferrat in this four-bedroom French villaIgnore the wind and the rain. Imagine yourself in this hillside home with some of the best views the Mediterranean can offer.
-
Classical style meets fun and flair in a seven-bedroom manor in CornwallAt Polstrong Manor, the current owners have combined period charm and elegant modern interiors to create a flamboyant country home 10-minutes from the beach.
-
Two halves make a sublime four-bedroom home in Kent's North DownsA contemporary extension to a traditional clapboard house brings light and life to Lavington House.
-
The week in property statistics: Service charges reach record highPlus, how first-time buyers prop up the mortgage market, why you need to move north if you want to live by yourself, and house-price growth slows
-
A seven-bedroom oast house for sale in East Sussex, where your dreams can run riotUnlisted, yet full of character, this property in the High Weald National Landscape is an eccentrically furnished family home that screams fun.
-
Character, history and comfort combine in a four-bedroom farmhouse in NorfolkWillow Farm near Southburgh is that rarest of things — a perfect combination of period charm and modern elegance in some of England's best countryside.
-
A Grade I-listed Georgian townhouse that's part of the fabric of Bath's historyWith 5,500sq ft set over six floors in the centre of Britain's most architecturally rich city, there is much to love here.
