East Hanney, Wantage, OX12

Welcome to Darden House, a warm and inviting five-bedroom family home brimming with potential. This charming detached period farmhouse embraces a bright and spacious free-flow layout and a sought-after location in East Hanney, one of Oxfordshire’s most popular villages.

Parts of Darden House date back to the 17th century and have been meticulously preserved in tandem with contemporary 21st-century accoutrements. On offer is 3,840 sq ft of super-flexible space which includes an attached brick and timber barn/garage that’s ripe (subject to planning permission) for conversion – perhaps as extra living space, a home office, gym or music studio.

A fabulous 40ft open-plan kitchen/breakfast room and family room is at the heart of everyday life along with two further reception rooms, boot/utility room, cloakroom/WC and a games room overlooking lawned gardens, with fields beyond.

The feeling of space in this gas centrally-heated home extends to the first floor where all five bedrooms are generous doubles – meaning no fights between children about who has the biggest! The principal bedroom is en-suite and there’s a lovely new family bathroom too.

As well as all this, Darden House occupies a prime position in East Hanney, tucked away in charmingly named Snuggs Lane. It’s a no through road, so it’s peaceful and private while being close to the shop/post office, primary school and village hall with its jam-packed weekly agenda of clubs and activities for all ages. It’s a mile on foot to the friendly award-winning pub, The Plough, in the adjoining village of West Hanney.

Surrounded by the verdant Vale of White Horse countryside, this is a great place to live with good road and rail links and regular bus services to the nearby towns of Abingdon and Wantage, and into Oxford. Let’s tell you more about fabulous Darden House . . .

The perfect family home

Sitting back from the lane behind hedges and a Cotswold stone wall, a five-bar timber gate swings open onto the gravelled parking area in front of the barn and garage. All the windows to the front of the house have recently been refitted with double-glazed wood units by local craftsmen, Jack Brunsdon & Son.

A pavement leads to the front door via a second gate, passing a lawn dotted with ornamental trees.

You’ll experience the feelgood vibes and relaxed ambience as soon as you step into the entrance hall of this enticing residence. The heritage tiled floor, wall panelling and stripped pine staircase demonstrate the period allure and style that’s replicated throughout.

A couple of steps down take you into the 16x14ft double-aspect sitting room, a lovely snug spot for curling up with a book in front of the woodburner in the winter months, or for relaxing at any time. There’s cupboard and shelf storage along one wall.

The super-spacious kitchen/breakfast room/family room lies to the rear of the house, and it’s a light and airy showstopper! Everything a busy, energetic family could desire is here - from breakfast to supper this is the place to be. The kitchen was refitted six years ago with bespoke dark blue cabinetry under a combination of cherrywood and granite worktops with chevron hardwood underfoot - the focal point is the cream four-oven AGA which doubles up for both cooking and heating.

With 40ft of floor space to play with, you can create your perfect family hub. Basking in the light from two large sash windows, the family room is the place for lots of comfy seating in front of a big wall-mounted TV, while the kitchen/breakfast room can happily accommodate a nice big scrubbed pine table and chairs for breakfasts, family suppers and for the children to do their homework while dinner is cooking. French doors open onto the garden terrace, creating that desirable indoors-to-outdoors link in the summer. There’s also a walk-in pantry for storing all the groceries – this vintage feature is very much in vogue again.

Next to this is the games room, a beautifully light and airy vaulted room with floor-to-ceiling windows and French doors onto the terrace. It’s the perfect spot for a pool table and board games, but you may prefer to add large potted plants and comfy chairs to create a sunny haven for relaxation or entertaining.

With an elegant (14x21ft) dining room, Darden House is beautifully set up for those who throw dinner parties or love to get the family together for Sunday lunch. There’s a pair of windows and a decorative fireplace for generating cosy warmth in the depths of winter.

Adjacent to this is a well-equipped utility/boot room, recently modernised, with a second staircase to the first floor and a cloakroom with built-in coat and shoe storage and WC/washbasin.

Beautiful bedrooms

All five of the bedrooms are of generous proportions and beautifully presented - you can be assured of a good night’s sleep at Darden House. The period heritage shines through in the high ceilings, sash windows, latched doors, stripped hardwood floors and picture rails as well as an original fireplace in one bedroom.

Measuring 16x15ft, the principal bedroom is a real haven for restful sleep complete with a bank of built-in wardrobes and an en-suite shower room.

The remaining bedrooms share the family bathroom, updated less than a year ago and featuring chic white fittings, tongue-and-groove panelling and dove grey tiles on the walls.

Into the garden

Darden House is blessed with an attractive garden that extends to approaching a third-of-an-acre, securely hedged and fenced and overlooking a pony paddock.

The majority of the garden is laid to lawn, on one side dotted with several fruit trees and an imposing walnut tree, on the other, with tall cypress trees and box topiary hedging surrounding an ornamental pond. There’s plenty of scope here for planting flower borders or a vegetable patch if desired, and it’s perfect for youngsters who have lots of space to play.

A chic paved patio behind the kitchen is the place for relaxing, al fresco family meals and entertaining guests.

There’s no shortage of garden storage in the 20x21ft barn with a set of double doors both front and back plus a mezzanine level. The current owners have levelled the floor and installed electricity. Adjoining this is a single garage with a log store to the rear.

Round and about

This is no sleepy village – East Hanney has loads going on all-year-round so you can dip in and out of the social whirl as you wish.

There’s an extensive range of activities at the village hall – everything from the WI, senior citizens’ group and history society to a drama club, book club and wine circle. If you’d like to exercise while you socialise, choose from Hanney tennis, cricket and bowls clubs. The monthly ‘Hanney News’ keeps residents in the loop.

The community-run shop/post office is attached to the village hall and you can pick up fresh bread, milk and vegetables here Monday-to-Saturday.

East and West Hanney are known collectively as ‘The Hanneys’ and are separated by just one field – it’s a 20-minute walk to the local pub, The Plough in West Hanney, where the innovative food and well-kept ales really hit the spot.

For those with children, it’s a short walk to St James CE Primary School, Ofsted-rated ‘good’, and the pre-school caters for the little ones. Some of the country’s best independent schools are nearby – Abingdon School, Radley College and St Helen & St Katharine’s number among them.

La Fontana Italian restaurant is a bit of legend in the Hanneys and the local take-away, Hanney Spice, is also highly rated. Travel a little further, and you’ll find two AA rosette menus at the fabulous White Hart in Fyfield and the highly-rated Greyhound at Letcombe Regis.

The nearby market towns of Wantage and Abingdon have all the enhanced shopping and leisure amenities you could desire including Waitrose, Sainsbury’s and Tesco supermarkets.

Commuting is easy – road, rail and bus services are excellent in this part of Oxfordshire. You’ve hit the jackpot! Didcot Parkway is 7 mile / 15 min drive, you can then reach London in under 40 minutes. The M4 corridor is easily accessible via the A34 as is the M40.