An utterly irresistible thatched property near Winchester with some of the prettiest gardens you could imagine
Certainly competing for title as one of the most picturesque houses, Compton End, with its Grade II listed architecture and magnificent Arts-and-Crafts gardens, is a sight to behold.

Originally built in the 17th century, Compton End in the village of Compton caught the eye of the architect George Herbert Kitchin, who extended the house in the late 19th century and created the magnificent Arts-and-Crafts garden. He lived at the property until his death in 1951.
Now, both house and gardens are Grade II* listed and it’s not difficult to see why. The property itself is a delight — currently on the market via Knight Frank with a guide price of £2.1 million — with four bedrooms under its sloped thatched roof and lashings of period features throughout.
The gardens are astounding and are marked by a combination of formality and informality. Clipped yew hedges and topiary contrast nicely with abundant naturalistic planting, as vistas lead through rectangular areas and lead on to a pond, croquet lawn, fields and woods beyond.
Wildflower meadows and fruit trees add to the naturalistic side of things and the whole ensemble is perfectly finished by the pink-rendered-brick summerhouse.
Surrounded by neighbouring farmland, Compton End can be found just three miles from the Cathedral city of Winchester, in the village of Compton.
It falls into the catchment area for Compton All Saints CE Primary School and Kings’ Secondary School, but there are also a number of regarded independent schools in the area, including Winchester College, St Swithun’s and Peter Symonds Sixth Form College.
Compton End is currently on the market via Knight Frank with a guide price of £2.1 million — see more pictures or enquire with the agent for further details.
Sign up for the Country Life Newsletter
Exquisite houses, the beauty of Nature, and how to get the most from your life, straight to your inbox.
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
James Fisher is the Deputy Digital Editor of Country Life. He writes about property, travel, motoring and things that upset him. He lives in London.
-
A sublime Huf Haus in West Sussex with some of the finest gardens in the county
Whitehanger in the Marley Heights was built in 2011 and is ' functional, affordable and easy to maintain'.
By Penny Churchill Published
-
World-famous Junction Beat on the River Tweed is up for sale for the first time in 50 years
Break out the rod, tackle and chequebook, as one of the world's most celebrated stretches of salmon angling hits the market.
By James Fisher Published
-
A sublime Huf Haus in West Sussex with some of the finest gardens in the county
Whitehanger in the Marley Heights was built in 2011 and is ' functional, affordable and easy to maintain'.
By Penny Churchill Published
-
World-famous Junction Beat on the River Tweed is up for sale for the first time in 50 years
Break out the rod, tackle and chequebook, as one of the world's most celebrated stretches of salmon angling hits the market.
By James Fisher Published
-
A $26 million Hollywood mansion that might be Beverly Hills' prettiest
The former home of supermodel Christina Estrada is a tremendous Italian-style home just off Sunset Boulevard.
By James Fisher Last updated
-
A five-bedroom family home that would host the perfect Henley party
Church Field in Fawley is spacious and magnificently well appointed, both inside and out.
By James Fisher Published
-
Five classic country houses for sale, from an equestrian home to a manor with a wisteria-draped pool, as seen in Country Life
Our pick of some of the best houses to come to the market via Country Life this week includes a house with a beautiful outdoor pool,
By Toby Keel Published
-
A £15m Kensington penthouse with a Mediterranean-style ‘garden in the sky’
Arranged over the fifth and sixth floors of a Victorian mansion block, the immaculate apartment has views that stretch as far as Battersea Power Station.
By Annabel Dixon Published
-
A magnificent, sprawling farmhouse that blends the 16th, 20th and 21st centuries, with double-height music room, a superb pool and a 'Spitfire barn'.
Willards Farm is an incredible home on the Surrey/West Sussex border that offers a 21st take on the ideals of Sir Edwin Lutyens. Penny Churchill reports.
By Penny Churchill Published
-
'We’re still using the garden gates from Far from the Madding Crowd': How homes of all shapes and sizes can become stars of the screen
Renting your house out for filming can be fun, occasionally alarming, a good revenue stream and might even increase its value.
By Annabel Dixon Published