Donnington, Moreton-in-Marsh, Gloucestershire, GL56

A quintessential Cotswolds country estate complete with manorial house, formal gardens and magnificent lake. All set in a manageable 25 acres of beautiful parkland.

Description

DESCRIPTION
The historic site of Little Barrow dates back to 1066 and was listed in the Domesday book. Its centrepiece, is a fine, late Arts and Crafts house, originally built in 1734 using local Cotswold limestone. Further additions and renovations were made in the late 19th century and early 20th century in the Cotswolds manorial style by the distinguished architect Walter Godfrey. Fully refurbished by the present owners, the house offers the perfect combination of comfortable modern living in grandiose style with the rare benefit of not being listed. Everything has been thoughtfully and luxuriously remodelled using immaculate bespoke joinery and craftsmanship, beautiful imported stone floors and stately fireplaces. The stone mullioned windows and leaded lights are larger than average allowing light to fill the house. Its south facing rear facade is gloriously festooned in purple Wisteria, best enjoyed from the spectacular stone terrace overlooking the landscape architect designed formal gardens with stunning topiary, fountains and sunken croquet lawn.

The main house is approached from the west through impressive electric wrought iron gates flanked by a Cotswold stone wall with pillars topped with finials. The gates open on to a lime tree-lined, light gravel driveway which offers seclusion and privacy with cleverly designed separate parking areas. Double solid oak doors welcome guests through a porch and into a generous reception hall, from where all the reception rooms are accessed. The house has an easy flow and every room has superb views to the terrace and parkland beyond. Light floods in from the huge windows, bouncing off the polished pale stone flags with underfloor heating. Cloakrooms are conveniently located at each end of the hallway. Double doors lead straight ahead to a stunning oak panelled library/ study with a large bay window revealing the vista beyond. The exquisite panelling incorporates a wood carved fireplace with an open fire. It’s easy to imagine entertaining guests in the impressive drawing room with its statement fireplace, painted wood panelling, oak flooring and once again, magnificent views to the gardens and parkland including direct access to the terrace. Peacefully located at the westerly end of the house, the impressive drawing room is light filled and tranquil with a window seat under the large bay facing the garden.

SITUATION
Little Barrow is perfectly positioned just off the Fosseway, near the hamlet of Donnington, between the thriving Cotswold towns of Moreton-in-Marsh and Stow-on-the-Wold with easy access to motorways for London and Birmingham.
The house, which has links with royalty, is conveniently set at the end of a tree-lined gravel drive with panoramic views to the lake and surrounding parkland.

An Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the Cotswolds are well known for their gentle rolling hillsides, river valleys, beech woods, sleepy ancient limestone villages, and historic market towns. The area offers something for everyone and is the perfect mix of country pursuits and stylish living with racing at Cheltenham, trail hunting with the Heythrop, quality golf at Burford and Wychwood and local shoots as well fine dining at The Old Butchers in Stow-on-the-Wold and Soho Farmhouse at Chipping Norton. Every day shopping is well catered for in nearby Stow-on-the- Wold and Moreton-in-Marsh with supermarkets, independent deli’s, cafes and weekly markets. While the renowned Daylesford Farm Shop is minutes away.

SCHOOLING
There is a wide choice of highly acclaimed schools in the area, both state and private, including the nearby Kitebrook
Preparatory and Kingham Hill day and boarding school for 11-18 year olds. Cheltenham College and Cheltenham Ladies are also accessible.

Back along the hallway, The majestic formal dining room features historic wood panelling, oak flooring and a stone fireplace. There are three doors into this atmospheric dining room, including direct access from the kitchen. The immaculate dual aspect kitchen is warm and light, overlooking the terrace to the west and the stables to the east. It is a classic design, made with bespoke painted wood joinery and built in appliances featuring granite worktops, a spacious island with seating and a triple gas Aga. The kitchen immediately leads into a sizeable and inviting breakfast room and separate pantry with another generous window with built in seat, framing the inviting terrace and garden views beyond.
The breakfast room leads to a delightful coffee room, with glass double doors onto the terrace. A well hidden utility and laundry room lies behind the kitchen with a cloakroom and rear access to the stables and staff accommodation. There is also a gun room and side access on the western side of the ground floor. The beautiful bespoke joinery extends throughout the house including the fine oak staircases with balustrades, situated at either end of the property to access the first floor.

FIRST FLOOR
The first floor mirrors the calm and easy flow of the ground floor, with a wide pale carpeted landing leading to the principal bedroom and two generous ensuite bedrooms, each enjoying the spectacular park land views. There is also a nanny’s bedroom with ensuite and a security office. As one would expect, the principal bedroom at Little Barrow has the very best views and is filled with light from the dual aspect windows and large bay. Its centrepiece is a stunning stone fireplace complementing the serene and opulent look. There is a huge connecting bathroom and a carefully designed dressing room with bespoke oak joinery.

SECOND FLOOR
The second floor, which is accessed by fine oak staircases at either end, has a further spacious guest suite and two bedrooms sharing a ‘jack and jill’ bathroom. There is also a cleverly designed laundry room and another double bedroom. In addition there is a cinema room, with 6 purpose made comfortable leather chairs and a full sized screen for the true movie experience.

COTTAGES AND OUTBUILDINGS
Little Barrow comes with two further separate residences; the Lodge and the Gardener’s Cottage, which has an attached, self contained one bedroom flat. There are several spacious outbuildings including a stone coach house which could be used for classic car storage and there is a superb stable block with 8 internal stables, tack room and feed store.

GARDENS, LAND AND LAKE
Little Barrow is is hidden from the outside world by an array of mature trees and shrubs. But once inside the gates, the gardens and park land open up to spectacular views. Set in around 25 acres, the gardens and land have been meticulously designed by a renowned landscape architect to maximise the vista towards the lake. The fabulous south facing entertaining terrace looks onto the sunken croquet lawn bordered with a yew hedge and an extraordinary display of hornbeam sentinels and box topiary. Beyond the formal gardens and fountains, there are magical paths meandering through a variety of glades and secret spaces including a purpose built hot tub or pool terrace with bath house. The kitchen garden is well laid out with immaculate raised beds ready for a summer’s supply of fresh strawberries and behind that, a mature orchard offers a variety of fruit trees As the land gently slopes towards the lake, wildfowl splash in and out of the reeds and woodland borders the far side where a purpose built running path has been laid with lights around the entire perimeter of the lake.