7 bed detached house for sale

Springhill Road, Begbroke, Kidlington OX5

Welcome to Springhill House, just a few miles to the North of Oxford.

Let's start by talking about where it is first as this is quite important. Whilst you really are in the middle of nowhere – admittedly very beautiful nowhere – you’re surprisingly close to pretty much everywhere. Driving, you’re about fifteen minutes from the centre of Oxford, ten minutes from Hanborough station and then an hour by train into London, Paddington. Private plane? Minutes from Oxford airport.

Next, the approach to Springhill House is also worth a mention as it was at that point, on my first visit that I started to get that ‘oh, this is nice’ feeling.. You know the one?

So up Springhill Road and now you’ll want to switch off the day you’ve just had, feel yourself unwind and follow the narrow winding road lined with attractive Cotswold stone houses and neat grass verges which eventually, after half a mile or so, brings you to a cattle grid….. And in front of you, fields, lots of fields! Proper Oxfordshire countryside in fact. And from here, a single lane rough track through those same fields for half a mile or so. That final two or three minutes before you arrive home. At last.

As you get out from the car and look around you, i’ll start by saying that the current owners, absolutely love it here having moved in twenty years ago and in that time have raised a family, run a business and even found time to build a separate property to run as a holiday home.

So briefly, what’s on offer? Well, we have;

· a main house that has four reception rooms, four bedrooms and four bathrooms, a kitchen/breakfast room and a utility room – 2763sqft

· a separate annexe – let’s call it a cottage – which actually, is a rather lovely two bedroom/two bathroom detached home that is currently used as both an income earning holiday home (figures available) and extra family overflow for Christmases and family occasions – 1013sqft

· Then attached to the cottage is an additional space that has been used as a self-contained office from which ran the family business and has a mezzanine floor, loo, kitchenette and storage cupboard. It could be used as further accommodation, a media room, party room and there was talk some time ago of converting it to a small indoor pool - 669sqft.

As always the photos speak for themselves so flowery superlatives (many options) not required but I will say that the whole really has been beautifully presented and meticulously maintained, mainly I am told, by one very able and talented craftsman who knows the house from top to bottom – details available upon request. The feel of the house is very much solid stone, Grade II listed farmhouse with a surprise round every (and there are many) corner.

Wow factor? For me, this is very much the stunning bedroom on the second floor (see plan) with its vaulted wood beamed ceilings. There is also a small bedroom off this large room absolutely ideal for use as either a nursery or perhaps a dressing room.

Ooh factor? This has to be the idyllic outlook from just about every window - the photographer wasn’t short of ‘lifestyle’ shots.

And now we need to talk about outside – there’s lots to talk about!

For starters. One and three quarter acres of land. It’s a triangular shape with the lane border, a field border and a woodland border.

We have;

· Immediately behind the house, a sheltered patio area with easy access to the kitchen and so, well suited for al-fresco breakfast, morning coffee, lunch, sun-downers, suppers, dinner parties and full blown party celebrations!

· Giles’ ‘mound’. The little man made hill upon which one can sit, paint (the view), think or roll down (thinking children here).

· The orchard – well, certainly quite enough fruit bearing trees to make a few pots of jam!

· The hen house, hens not included.

· Nikki’s birthday gate (ask the owners)

· The ancient wall (ask the owners).

· The well

· Plenty of parking

· The views…. From every angle!

The practicalities.

Please take a look at the Sprift Key ‘Facts for Buyers’ report which can be found in Rightmove/Zoopla/On The Market in the photos section under ‘virtual tour’. Here you can see information regarding schools, historic and current planning decisions/proposals, travel information etc. If you can’t find the report and would like one, please get in touch and I will send it to you.

As mentioned, Springhill House is Grade II listed but rest assured, the owners know the house inside and out in every way and if it helps, we can point you to a conveyancing solicitor who specialises in listed buildings who can guide you through the process and answer queries.

It’s also worth a mention that the airfield is a couple of miles away and you will hear the occasional buzz from light – mostly recreational – aircraft.

The historic and quite frankly lovely town of Woodstock is 10 minutes drive away. Crammed with lovely shops, great restaurants, coffee shops and plenty of superb pubs, Woodstock is worth a visit any day of the week. Blenheim Palace, being right on the doorstep, will come in extremely handy when you're getting to the point where you need somewhere to entertain the guests. If you're that way inclined, Soho Farmhouse is just half an hour away with Daylesford Organic a 40 minute Drive. And whilst we're on the subject of the fun stuff, I might as well throw in a mention to Jeremy Clarkson's Farmers Dog pub, just a 23 minute drive.

This is really a summary of what is on offer at Springhill House but I cannot emphasise enough that this house really does need to be seen. It is a house that delights and welcomes as soon as you walk through the door and I for one make new discoveries each time I visit.

So pick up that phone and give me a call!