Mileage
Daventry 8 miles, Banbury 11 miles (London Marylebone about 70 mins) M40 (J11) 10 miles
Situation
Byfield is a thriving village on the borders of south Northamptonshire, north Oxfordshire and south Warwickshire.
The village has good local facilities including a village shop/post office, garage, medical centre, primary school, public house, village hall and parish church.
Nearby market towns of Daventry (Waitrose) and Banbury (Sainsburys and Tescos) provide more extensive facilities.
Communication is good with the M40 motorway (J11) at Banbury about 10 miles and M1 (J 16) Upper Heyford about 12 miles and intercity rail from Banbury to London/Marylebone peak time about 70 minutes.
Independent schools in the area include prep:- Winchester House, (Brackley), Beachborough, (Westbury), The Carrdus, (Overthorpe) and Bilton Grange (Dunchurch); Public schools are Bloxham and Tudor Hall, (Bloxham), Stowe and Rugby.
Sporting facilities in the area include golf at Hellidon, Tadmarton and Middleton Cheney; horse racing at Towcester; Stratford-upon-Avon and Warwick; motor racing at Silverstone and a full indoor sports complex at Banbury and Daventry.
Oxford and Stratford-upon-Avon are both within reach for excellent cultural facilities.
Description
Church End House, as its name may suggest was The Rectory until 1981 when it was bought by the current owners.
Grade II listed the property is constructed from stone below a tiled roof.
With 17th century origins, the main front part of the property was built in the 18th century and has later Victorian additions.
Period features include original Victorian open well staircase with carved tread ends and mahogany hand rail, several fire places, ceiling mouldings, deep skirting boards, sash windows and shutters.
Well proportioned accommodation lends itself perfectly to entertaining and family living.
Entrance porch with original Victorian mosaic tiles leads to reception hall with attractive, original staircase.
Drawing room is dual aspect, with large south facing bay, sash windows, attractive carved wooden fireplace with working ‘Jet master’ fire.
Dining room with sash windows and shutters, working open fire place.
Snug with cast iron working fire place also dual aspect, south facing bay with shutters and door to rear gardens.
Kitchen/breakfast room overlooks rear garden, with 2 oven gas Aga and impressive former range mantle providing decorative feature.
Garden room to the rear of the property was converted from the scullery and the old range, copper wash and bread oven have been preserved. Currently used as a family room, situated just off the kitchen would make ideal play room or home office.
Laundry room with Belfast sink and fitted cupboard, plumbing for washing machine, tumble dryer.
Cellar with 4 separate areas including wine cellar.
Principal bedroom with fireplace is dual aspect, sash window with window seat over looking lawns and has large en suite bathroom/dressing room.
2 further bedrooms also with period features and family bathroom on the first floor.
Second floor with 2 additional bedrooms and bathroom.
Attic room/bedroom 6 with access to additional attic storage.
GROUNDS & GARDENS
Divine gardens and grounds are arranged in sections lending themselves perfectly to different uses.
Approached along private drive to gravelled parking area at the front of the property and through further gate to garage area.
Privacy is provided by a high wall as well as wooded area.
In this area there is a fascinating Victorian ice house as well as a log store.
Beautiful formal lawns with specimen copper beech, an ancient mulberry tree, both believed to be about 350 years old, and established wellingtonia trees. Bordered by a ha-ha, overlooking glebe land beyond, the whole area gives the property real substance, so befitting a house of this nature.
Walled garden with meadow area planted with flowering cherries, plums and crab apples, cowslips, ox-eye daisies and foxgloves.
Still within the walled gardens is a more formal area with a ‘folly’ ideal shade for lunch or tea on a summer day.
Hard tennis court, with rose and wisteria clad pergola.
To the rear of the house is another smaller walled garden, with climbing roses and easy access to kitchen, could also be made secure for young children.
Separate garden area with apple and plum trees is where the swimming pool is located. Pool pumps and filters in working order although the pool’s retractable cover and heating are in need of repair.
Store room and pool pump room are located at the end of the garden room.
Spacious garage with double doors could house a number of cars. There is lapsed planning to build on top of the garage to create office from home/games room.
Gate to paddock grazing from walled garden. There is another path from front lawn and informal agreement with neighbour for vehicle access over glebe land.
Currently arranged as 3 separate paddocks with post and rail and water. About 2.5 acres.
Timber stable block with 3 stalls, tack room, and hay barn, water and electricity.
In all about 5.1 acres
Directions
From Banbury take the A361 Daventry Road and continue through the villages of Wardington and Chipping Warden. Continue into the village of Byfield. At the double roundabout take the right turn in to Church Street. Proceed until you see a high stone wall on your left. The turning into Church End House is in the stone wall. If you reach the church a little further along on the right, you have gone too far.
