Key Details

Property Description

Sitting in a slightly elevated position, encircled by nearly two acres of gardens and with splendid views of the surrounding countryside, the period features of this genteel Victorian five-bedroom country home have been lovingly preserved and are showcased alongside all the comforts and necessities of modern-day life. Additionally, in the grounds there is a stable block with mezzanine floor, currently used as an arts and crafts studio but with potential as a self-contained annexe or home office, subject to relevant planning consents.

The impeccable heritage of this charming red-brick former vicarage, dating back to 1888, shines through – and it’s particularly highlighted within the series of elegant, generously proportioned reception rooms with their high ceilings, sash windows with shutters, decorative coving and deep skirting, all scintillating in natural light and exuding a warm and welcoming ambience.

A particular knock-out is the oak staircase, rising in several wide flights from the elegant entrance hall which has an exquisite period Minton tiled floor. Another relic of The Old Vicarage’s antiquity is the charming butler’s pantry – the butler would have prepared and cleared away the vicar’s meals from this little servery, adjoining the grand dining room.

The five bedrooms and two bathrooms are on the first and second floors and there’s an additional room, currently used as a games room but equally useful as a sixth bedroom, office or teenager’s den, accessed via its own staircase from the utility room.

All this is backed up by The Old Vicarage’s enviable position on the edge of the village of Gaydon with its community shop, pub, village hall and church plus proximity to the M40, just one mile away, whizzing commuters south to Oxford and London and north to Birmingham. Plus, it takes less than 20 minutes to reach the towns of Warwick, Leamington Spa, Banbury and Stratford-upon-Avon for an excellent choice of high street shopping, eating out and leisure options.

Simply splendid, both inside and out

A sweeping gravel drive lined with majestic Wellingtonia trees leads up to the house sitting in solitary elevated splendour surrounded by lawns dotted with mature trees and shrubs. There’s no shortage of parking with space for eight or more cars, and there’s also a double garage.

An impressive studded front door opens into the entrance hall, resplendent in period features and bathed in natural light from windows on the magnificent oak staircase. Of particular note is the heritage flooring of terracotta and blue Minton tiles which add a bright splash alongside the antique oak panelling.

The lofty rooms and original shuttered sash windows with period glass add a genteel grandeur and peaceful ambience to the 4,166 sq ft of beautifully presented living space, and that’s particularly evident in the 19x14ft sitting room with original oak floorboards and a bay of three deep sash windows overlooking the gardens. This is a delightful place for the family to spend cosy evenings in front of the marble fireplace with its woodburner, or to enjoy drinks with friends before a candlelit dinner in the dining room - an atmospheric room with a decoratively coved ceiling, oak floorboards, sash window and French doors leading to the garden terrace. Measuring 17x14ft, there’s space for a big dining table seating as many as you like - the current owners had 17 for Christmas dinner last year!

Sandwiched between the dining room and the kitchen and evoking the antiquity of this property is the former butler’s pantry fitted with sink and cupboards and dishwasher. Its position makes it perfect for storing the overflow of kitchen paraphernalia or as an additional walk-in pantry – the current ‘must have’ on every buyer’s wishlist!

A large laundry room also houses the boiler and gives plenty of space for washing machine and dryer.  It’s accessed via a lobby with a door to the garden, making the adjoining utility room with Belfast sink the ideal spot to towel down grubby dogs and deposit post-hike footwear and coats. Another relic from the past, a timber staircase rises to what is currently the games room – possibly the servant’s sleeping quarters in its previous life?

Every inch the homespun, pared-back kitchen, this 15x14ft space exudes an enveloping warmth, a vibe that makes it the hub of family life and enhanced by loads of natural light via the big sash windows. With slate tiles underfoot and fitted with Fired Earth cupboard/drawer units with solid wood worktops, a double Belfast sink and welcoming traditional Aga stove. There’s also that item of particular envy - a big, walk-in pantry with a window. Also, wine enthusiasts will love the cellar, the place to store their vintage wine collection at the perfect temperature.

Completing the ground floor line-up is a nice, sunny 12x12ft study providing the perfect spot for homeworking whilst looking out over the garden. On the half-landing of the staircase is a cloakroom with WC.

The bedtime story

The Old Vicarage boasts four generously proportioned bedrooms on the first floor and another 20x11ft bedroom under the eaves on the second floor.

The principal 18x14ft bedroom is a luxurious, ultra-relaxing haven with a big bay window, identical to the sitting room below it, and fitted wardrobes. It’s next to the equally dazzling bathroom with its glamorous freestanding copper bathtub next to a window for enjoying the views while you bathe.

Bedrooms two and three are both generously large and flank an airy, modern shower room while the remaining two bedrooms - 18x14ft and 12x11ft – make super children’s bedrooms, boasting loads of space for storing youngsters’ toys and belongings.

Into the garden

With 1.95 acres of peaceful and private gardens and grounds, The Old Vicarage is encircled by sweeping expanses of lawn with shady spots created by the majestic mature trees and well-established shrubs, all safely enclosed by hedging and fencing.

Adding extra interest is a low ha-ha wall with steps behind the paved garden terrace – this is accessed from the French doors in the dining room, making it the perfect spot for summertime al fresco meals and barbecues or pre-dinner aperitifs with guests.

The garden also has a small woodland copse and fruit orchard and there’s an adjoining field which would be perfect as a paddock for a pony or two.

For the keen gardener, this expansive outdoor haven is a blank canvas for cultivation if desired with endless space for flower borders, vegetable garden, greenhouse and so on. There are already two sheds. It’s also perfect for children to run, play and kick a ball around as they please.

Round and about

The village of Gaydon has all that’s needed for a comfortable life right on the doorstep with the community-run village store selling all the necessities such as milk, bread and newspapers, a petrol station with Greggs bakery, Spar shop and Starbucks coffee, a traditional local pub – The Malt Shovel Inn – open all day, every day, serving hearty pub grub including a home-made pie of the day, and  a delightful village hall, built in 1883 in the Arts & Crafts style, with a busy programme of weekly classes and meetings. For delicious artisan sourdough breads, home-baked croissants and fresh coffee pop into the Corner Cottage bakery in Kineton – a five-minute drive away.

The village church of St Giles is at the hub of worship and the community with regular coffee mornings, a summer barbecue and Christmas market.

There’s an array of good ‘foodie’ pubs in this part of Warwickshire including the fabulous Michelin-starred Royal Oak at Whatcote, The Baraset Barn at Alveston and The Antelope at Lighthorne with its artisan stone-baked pizzas and cracking Sunday roasts.

Nestled in the rural loveliness of Warwickshire, outdoor pursuits are on the doorstep of The Old Vicarage. Walking, cycling or riding a horse around the lanes and countryside is a pleasure and the Avon Dassett country park is just up the road too. You can walk to the British Motor Museum where there’s a fascinating array of events throughout the year, or visit the 18th-century mansion, art gallery and 120-acre park at Compton Verney, a ten-minute drive – it also has a wild swimming lake for a bracing dip!

Good schooling is a priority for families, and The Old Vicarage has the considerable kudos of being in the catchment area of two top-scoring state secondary schools in nearby Stratford-upon-Avon – Stratford Girls Grammar School and King Edward VI School for boys, with a co-educational sixth form, which was named state secondary school of the decade by The Sunday Times in 2020. Both are Ofsted-rated ‘outstanding’. The nearest state primary schools are a mile away – Lighthorne Heath and Temple Herdewyke primary schools are both Ofsted-rated ‘good’.  There is also Kineton CofE primary school which is rated ‘good’ with ‘outstanding leadership and management’. There’s also a good choice of private schools including King’s High School, Warwick; Warwick School & Warwick Prep; Kingsley School and Arnold Lodge in Leamington Spa; Princethorpe School; Bloxham School and the Croft.

Gaydon has enviable road connectivity, being within a mile of the M40, and mainline rail services to London run from Banbury (13 miles) and take an hour.

THE FINER DETAILS

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Distances:                  Leamington Spa 10 miles
                                    Banbury 11 miles
                                    Stratford upon Avon 13 miles
                                    Oxford 41 miles
                                    London 87 miles

Trains:                          Banbury to London Paddington via Chiltern Railways every 30 minutes (journey time from 56 minutes)

Square Footage:           Main house:  3357 sq ft / 311.9 sq mtr
Outbuildings: (including garage) 809 sq ft / 75.2 sq mtr
Total:  4166 sq ft / 387.1 sq mtr

EPC:                             F

Local Authority:          Stratford upon Avon District Council | www.stratford.gov.uk

Council Tax Band:       G

Heating:                       Oil-fired central heating

Tenure:                         Freehold with vacant possession

Important Notice:
Stowhill Estates Ltd wishes to inform prospective purchasers that we have prepared these sales particulars as a general guide.  We have not carried out a detailed survey, nor tested the services, appliances and specific fittings.  Rooms sizes are approximate and rounded: they are taken between internal wall surfaces and therefore include cupboards/shelves etc.  Accordingly, they should not be relied upon for carpets and furnishings.  Formal notice is also given that all fixtures and fittings, carpeting, curtains/blinds and kitchen equipment, garden ornaments and statuary, whether fitted or not, are deemed removable by the seller unless specifically itemised within these particulars.

• Location
• Floorplan