Gloucester Road, Malmesbury, Wiltshire

Set in the historic core of ancient Malmesbury, this charming house has been reappointed to create a stylish, spacious home in the heart of the South Cotswolds. Stretching to 1,084 sq ft across three storeys, it encompasses three characterful bedrooms and a plant-filled terraced rear garden overlooking the river Avon. The house has a private parking space a short walk away and is brilliantly placed for town centre living.

Setting the Scene

Malmesbury has the distinction of being the oldest borough in England, with a charter granted in 880 AD by Alfred the Great. The town, built around the abbey that still crowns the top of the hill, was regarded as highly defensible in its tumultuous medieval past. Today, its elevated position is of similarly high esteem, although now more so for its gentle views over stone-tiled roofs and countryside.

The house sits on Gloucester Road, a street that curves through the north side of the town with pretty Cotswold stone and Victorian frontages aplenty. Its red-brick, sash-windowed façade is of 19th-century origins, although its core and foundations are likely centuries older.

The Grand Tour

Entry is through a dark green, half-glazed timber door set with brass furniture to a small porch-come-boot room. With space for coats, shoes and the requisite pair of wellies for countryside living, it is a brilliant spot for storing day-to-day accoutrements.

The sitting room, painted in Studio Green by Farrow and Ball up to the picture rail, is centred around the chimney breast with an inset wood burner. Built-in bench seating along one wall cleverly conceals sound and entertainment systems. Two sash windows brighten the space, while a pretty stained-glass window borrows light from the porch. Beautiful parquet flooring arranged in a herringbone pattern runs underfoot.

An airy open-plan kitchen/dining room lies to the rear of the plan, with French doors leading directly out into the garden. Creamy-hued walls are offset by striking golden yellow-painted joinery, in India Yellow by Farrow and Ball. Banquette seating provides additional kitchen storage and can accommodate a large farmhouse table, creating a spot ideal for entertaining. A vaulted lightwell overhead runs almost the entire length of the room, flooding the space with natural light.

The kitchen is formed of dark green cabinetry, solid oak worksurfaces and cleverly concealed appliances. Opposite is space for a more relaxed seating nook. A downstairs WC papered in Garden of Eden by Scion is neatly tucked beneath the stairs.

Wallpaper lines the stairwell to the first floor, with curving bannisters painted in the contrasting ochre tones of of India Yellow and Railings, both by Farrow and Ball. Two bedrooms and a large family bathroom are arranged around a central landing. The principal bedroom is to the front, decorated with earthy pinkish tones that foster a peaceful atmosphere. An original one-over-one sash window of fantastic proportions is flanked by period shutters, and built-in floor-to-ceiling cabinetry lines one wall.

The second bedroom is to the rear and takes in views over the gardens below, down to the river Avon. The generous family bathroom sits adjacent and has a walk-in shower, a bath and elegant butt-and-bead panelling. A striking hand-painted chinoiserie basin and chequered marble floors add a further accent.

On the third floor, a space on the landing has been equipped with a small built-in desk nook, perfect for additional workspace. The third bedroom is also found here; used by the current owners as an office, it takes in some of the house’s best views – including over the ruins of Malmesbury Abbey and Abbey House Manor.

The Great Outdoors

A well-planted courtyard garden extends behind the house. Raised beds are planted with herbaceous perennials, acers, and flowering shrubs like lilac and hydrangea. A pergola crowns an outside seating area and is wreathed in purple flowering wisteria in warmer months. The mock orange and jasmine trees add a sweet fragrance to air, and a mature rose bush weaves it’s way through the hedge along the garden’s border. The terraced garden takes in stunning views of neighbouring gardens below. Gated access to the rear of the garden leads directly to river walks, a scenic stroll into the town centre, or nearby parking.

Out and About

Malmesbury is well served by a fantastic array of independent shops, cafés, restaurants and pubs as well as more mainstream options, such as Waitrose. The jewel of the town is the Old Bell Hotel, the oldest hotel in England, and perfectly situated to take in striking views of the abbey and town centre while you enjoy dinner or a drink on the terrace. It has a wonderfully active local community. The house is in the catchment area for a good selection of both private and state, primary and secondary schools, including Malmesbury School which is rated Outstanding my Ofsted, and the nearby Westonbirt School.

The town is perfectly positioned for easy access to the surrounding Wiltshire, Gloucestershire and Somerset countryside. Dyrham Park, the National Arboretum at Westonbirt, and Highgrove House and Garden are on the doorstep, along with the Peto Gardens at Iford Manor. Ever-popular Stroud is a 25-minute journey by car offering an even greater array of amenities as well as an award-winning farmers market. The Stroud music scene is vibrant in this artistic town with venues across the town supporting a variety of performances year-round. The popular Cotswold village of Tetbury with Calcot Manor Spa, is renowned for its antique shopping. Beautiful Castle Combe is only 25 minutes away and was recently voted the prettiest place in Great Britain.

Further afield, Bath, Bristol and Cheltenham are all less than an hour away. Kemble Station is a short drive offering regular, direct connections with London, Reading, and Cheltenham. Additionally, nearby Chippenham station offers services to London, Reading, Bath, and Bristol.

Council Tax Band: C