About this property

An attractive, modernised country house with expansive views over the Chiltern Hills, in a wonderful rural setting

Built in around 1900, Swainswood is a charming family house set high in the Chiltern Hills in a pleasant rural hamlet, surrounded by wonderful countryside. The house enjoys a private position within a generous plot, enveloped by mature, wraparound gardens. There are lovely views over the surrounding countryside from the upper floor, particularly the principal bedroom. The house has a versatile layout which offers the option of a self-contained annexe on the ground floor, which would be ideally suited to grandparents, older children or an au pair. The interiors are attractively presented, having been subject to a number of improvements including extensions in the late 90s and 2010, and the neutral colour palette provides a fantastic blank canvas for personalisation by the new owner. Swainswood is a substantial home with generously proportioned accommodation: the double height entrance hall is welcoming and bright, with excellent natural light, while the adjoining drawing room is a great size for entertaining with French doors leading onto the terrace. The heart of the family home is the kitchen, dining, reception space with adjoining laundry room housing the Grant oil-fired boiler, and pantry. The annexe is connected to the main house by an additional reception room, which could be shared by the two separate residences or incorporated back into the main house if desired. The annexe is very well presented, with a modern kitchen and shower room, and could also be utilised as an income generator. Upstairs, the extensive accommodation is spread across two parts of the house: above the main residence there’s a principal bedroom with en suite shower room, built-in wardrobes and exceptional views across the Chilterns, two further bedrooms and a family bathroom. Across a suspended landing over the reception hall, there are two additional bedrooms, a bathroom, WC and storage room.

Outside
Seven bar wooden gates open to a generously sized gravel driveway which curves round in front of the house to a sizeable parking area and the detached barn garage and carport, which is a short distance from the house. The gardens envelop the home to the south and east and are mature and attractively landscaped, featuring a variety of trees, including an Indian Bean Tree and shrubs, colourful herbaceous borders and a boundary of woodland to the rear which makes the plot feel very private. To the rear of the house there’s a paved terrace and a gravel seating area, a pond, a storage room and a summerhouse. There’s a separate terrace to the side which has a southerly aspect.

Situation
Northend is situated high in the Chilterns, with excellent access to local footpaths and bridleways, including within the private estates of Turville Park and Wormsley. The hamlet has a village hall, and there’s a restaurant at Turville Heath and a variety of pubs in the surrounding villages. Watlington is under four miles and has day-to-day amenities, while Henley-on-Thames provides a wider range of day-to-day amenities and seasonal activities. The town offers an excellent variety of shops ranging from high-street chains to independent boutiques. There are numerous coffee shops and many restaurants offering an array of cuisines. Every summer the town hosts the world-famous Royal Regatta in early July. There are highly regarded primary schools in the vicinity as well as Buckinghamshire’s renowned grammar schools and independent schools which are within catchment to the property. The M4 and M40 are readily accessible by road and good rail links are available to London, Paddington (via GWR & Elizabeth Line) and Marylebone (via High Wycombe). A 24 hour bus service called the ‘Oxford Tube’ provides a travel service to and from London and picks up at Lewknor, just outside Watlington.

Additional Information
Local Authority: Buckinghamshire Council
Council tax band: H
Services: Mains water and electricity. Drainage via septic tank. Oil-fired central heating.

Additional information

• Substantial home in a rural setting with stunning views across the Chilterns
• Excellent access to country walking and riding
• Attractively presented
• characterful interiors
• Self-contained one-bedroom annexe
• Well-established wraparound gardens of just under 1.5 acres and ample driveway parking
• Detached Rural Family House
• Reception Hall
• Drawing Room
• Kitchen/Dining/Family Room

Key information

Council Tax Band: H

Tenure: Freehold

Energy Performance Certificate