Aston Hill, Aston Rowant, Oxfordshire, OX49

About the House (contd)

The approximately 2.25 acres of grounds and gardens include paddock and woodland also with separate gated access, and the property is situated in close proximity to the Ridgeway National Trail with walks across the Chilterns.

History and Specification

The cottage is brick and flint under a slate roof. It was built in c1824 and was originally a public house. The current vendors have extended the property combining modern amenities with retained period features including fireplaces, quarry tiled floors, exposed ceiling beams, and legde and brace doors. This included a bespoke, handmade kitchen and details such as handmade gothic arch windows throughout the house.

Ground Floor

The entrance hall, with its original quarry tiled floor and exposed beams, accesses all five reception rooms and leads to the rear, opening into the kitchen/breakfast room on one side and the garden/dining room with its far reaching views over the garden on the other. There is also a utility room, a downstairs cloakroom and a cellar to the rear of the house, and stairs leading to the first floor.

Reception Rooms

The dual aspect sitting room has a quarry tiled floor, an exposed brick chimney breast with an open fireplace, a ceiling beam, a built in cupboard and original glazed double doors to the hall. The family room has a wood burner, exposed beams, a built-in cupboard and the original back door opening to the kitchen/breakfast room. The study has a brick fireplace with an inset log burner, built-in storage to either side, exposed beams and oak flooring. The garden/dining room has a large lantern ceiling, full height windows and French doors to a terrace. This room opens into the original drawing room which has an exposed brick chimney breast with an inset log burner and built-in storage. Oak flooring runs across these two rooms with underfloor heating.

Kitchen/Breakfast Room

The bespoke, kitchen/breakfast room is dual aspect with windows overlooking the garden. It has a range of handmade fitted floor and wall mounted units with oak worksurfaces and an inset double butler sink, and a matching island. There is a two oven oil AGA and integrated appliances include an electric oven, a hob and a dishwasher. A Fisher & Paykel fridge/freezer is available by separate negotiation. The room has a York flagstone floor and space for a table seating six. The adjoining utility room has fitted units with an inset sink and there is a door to the garden. There is also space and plumbing for a washing machine and tumble dryer.

First Floor

The landing has exposed beams and ledge and brace doors. It accesses all five bedrooms and bathrooms and a walk-in airing cupboard. The principal bedroom has a dual aspect with views over surrounding countryside. The en suite has travertine floor and wall tiles, a bespoke vanity unit with twin wash basins, a walk-in shower, a traditional towel radiator and a WC. There are recessed spotlights throughout. The four further bedrooms have views over countryside. Two of the bedrooms have a dual aspect and exposed beams and two have built-in wardrobes. The family bathroom includes a panelled bath with a shower attachment, a pedestal wash basin, and a heated towel rail. There is a wood floor and wood panelling to the walls. The family shower room has a three piece suite with travertine flooring and wall tiles.

Gardens and Grounds

The private, landscaped formal gardens extend to 1 acre. They are laid to lawn and interspersed and bordered by flower beds, mature trees and shrubs. There is an upper terrace which extends around the property and overlooks the gardens, and steps lead down to a lower terrace within the gardens. There is a further 1.25 acres of paddock and woodlands. Outbuildings include the tandem garage, a greenhouse, a summerhouse and a paddock shelter.

Aston Rowant

Aston Rowant is a village at the foot of the Chiltern Hills. There is a church, a cricket club, and a primary school (Ofsted rated Good). There is a farm shop in the neighbouring village of Kingston Blount. Watlington and Chinnor nearby offer butcher's, bakery, Post Office, village cafe and local supermarket and Thame market town is 15 minutes drive providing wider facilities. The Oxford Tube stop is under a mile away with regular coach services between Oxford and London running 24 hours a day, coaches to the South Oxfordshire independent schools and buses to Heathrow and Gatwick airports. The property is in catchment for Lord William's Secondary School and the Bucks grammar schools in High Wycome and is within easy reach of Oxford's independent schools.