Bignell House

Bignell House CHESTERTON, OXFORDSHIRE, OX26 1UE

Glorious parkland setting

Approximate Distances: Bicester 2.5 miles, (Bicester North/London Marylebone from 49 mins) M40 (J9) 3.5 miles, Oxford 11 miles, London 63 miles

Entrance Hall • 7 Reception Rooms • 5/6 Bedrooms • 4 Bath/Shower Rooms • Kitchen/Breakfast Room Utility Room • Housekeeper’s Room • 2 Cloakrooms

Double Garage • Workshop • Field Shelter

Landscaped Grounds • Lakes • Lily Pond • Hard Tennis Court

Grass Tennis Court • Paddock

In all about 19.7 Acres

Strutt & Parker Oxford Savills Summertown 269 Banbury Road 256 Banbury Road Summertown Summertown Oxford Oxford OX2 7LL OX2 7DE [email protected] [email protected] 01865 366660 YOUR ATTENTION IS DRAWN TO THE IMPORTANT NOTICE ON THE LAST PAGE OF THE TEXT 01865 339700 Situation Chesterton is an attractive village situated about 2.5 In 1959 Mrs Pain sold to Thomas Gregory with 16 acres and Description she moved to Bignell Garden House retaining the land and miles south of Bicester and 11 miles north east of Oxford. Set in about 20 acres of parkland, Bignell House is constructed cottages in the village. The stables and laundry room were Amenities in the village include a parish church, public house, of stone below a part slate roof, part flat roof and a copper converted into houses in the 1960s and it was in 1979 when hotel, village hall, C of E Primary School and Bruern Abbey dome. The property retains many late Victorian original the current owners purchased Bignell House. Preparatory School. It is also the home of the Bicester Golf and features and, indeed even in the parkland grounds, it exudes Country Club with its health/leisure centre, the Bicester Sports (Source “Bignell House – A Social History”) the illustrious grandeur of the past. Association’s Cricket and Mini Rugby Clubs, and a village junior football club and cricket club. Polo is played at nearby An entrance hall leads to the principal reception rooms all of Kirtlington Park. palatial proportions. The morning room with decorative ceiling cornice and wooden floors has impressive solid double oak The market town of Bicester provides a full range of shopping, educational and sporting facilities as well as the popular Retail Outlet Village. There is further extensive schooling in Oxford, Banbury and the surrounding area.

Chesterton is well placed for communications, with access to junction 9 of the M40, A34, A41 and mainline rail services to London and Birmingham from Bicester.

History Situated on Gaggle Brook, Bignell was formerly a separate hamlet and records date to the Doomsday book when it was included as one of Kirtlingston’s four estates. The origins of Bignell House are recorded as dating to 1860’s and it was built for two sisters Frances and Agatha Tyrwhitt-Drake. Substantially larger than the current property it was designed by the architect William Wilkinson, who also designed the Randolph Hotel and St. Edwards School in Oxford. Having been sold in 1884 to Charles Twysdon Hoare, a nursery wing was added 1892 and this is the main part of the property which remains today. In 1911 Violet Hoare married Admiral Ruck-Keene. In 1935 both Squire Hoare and Admiral Ruck-Keene died within a couple of months of each other and Bignell House, including 3 tennis courts, cricket ground, 1454 acres of land and 4 farms was sold to Douglas Pain. Having lost her husband in 1951, Mrs Pain continued to live at Bignell House and it was in 1953/4 that the major, original part of the house, including the conservatory, was demolished leaving only the nursery wing, and the servant’s hall was converted to a separate house. doors leading into both the dining room and drawing room. With views overlooking the south facing gardens, the drawing room has intricate decorative ceiling mouldings, carved oak panelling and an open stone fireplace. The dining room has stone pillars and archway and a large working wood burner set in a stone fireplace. A study is accessed from the dining room. The kitchen has a more contemporary feel with built in work units, granite work surfaces, Aga and other integrated appliances. There is a utility/laundry room and from here access in to the garages. The housekeeper’s room with en suite shower room could be used as a play room or den. The ‘octagon’ room is used as a second dining area. A ground floor guest room with bedroom/sitting area and bathroom leads down to a lower ground floor music/TV room ideal for entertaining or alternatively for older teenage children wanting space.

On the first floor the principal bedroom, situated over the drawing room, has the same proportions and brightness. With wall to wall fitted wardrobes there is also an en suite bathroom. Two further bedrooms on the first floor share a bathroom and there is another smaller room which offers scope for use as a smaller bedroom, dressing room or conversion to another bathroom.

Gardens & Grounds Bignell House is approached up a long gravel drive to ample parking. A double garage and work shop are attached to the property.

The landscaped grounds are breathtaking with many different areas and themes to enjoy. Formal terraces with balustrades and steps lead to lawns; Sunken gardens with ornamental pond, statues and lilies; there are two tennis courts, one lawn and one hard court each with ornate stone seats. Fine, mature trees in the grounds include oak, cedar of Lebanon, willow, copper beech, silver birch and Scots pine. The Gaggle Brook feeds the lakes, and with islands, there are bridges and a late Victorian rock pool with stone arches. There is a separate orchard with apple, plum, pear and cherry trees and to the north, with access off the main drive, is Gross Internal Area (approx) Gross Internal Area (approx) = 634.5 sq m / 6830 sq ft Garage = 52.3 sq m / 563 sq ft Total = 686.8 sq m / 7393 sq ft (Excluding Courtyard / Void) For identification only. Not to scale.

Hall 4.24 x 3.10 Study 13'11 x 10'2 2.10 x 1.94 Up Void Up 6'11 x 6'4 B = Reduced headroom below 1.5m / 5'0 Bedroom 3 Dn Dining Room 5.68 x 5.61 7.03 x 5.01 18'8 x 18'5 23'1 x 16'5 Kitchen 6.69 x 3.61 Bedroom 4 21'11 x 11'10 3.69 x 2.38 Drawing Room 12'1 x 7'10 9.06 x 8.25 Principal Bedroom 29'9 x 27'1 7.46 x 7.18 Octagon 24'6 x 23'7 3.88 x 2.55 Sitting Room 4.00 x 3.95 12'9 x 8'4 5.20 x 4.24 13'1 x 13'0 Courtyard 17'1 x 13'11 Housekeeper's Dn Morning Room Room 6.53 x 5.04 4.46 x 3.61 21'5 x 16'6 14'8 x 11'10 Bedroom 2 5.48 x 3.19 18'0 x 10'6 IN Guest Bedroom 5.30 x 5.28 First Floor Utility Room 17'5 x 17'4 Ground Floor 5.34 x 3.00 Dn 17'6 x 9'10

Music / TV Room Up 9.86 x 4.44 32'4 x 14'7 Garage Energy Efficiency Rating 8.13 x 6.17 26'8 x 20'3 Lower Ground Floor

Workshop 5.75 x 3.90 18'10 x 12'10 (Approx) ck

Bignell Spinney

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Area : 19.711 acres (7.977 ha) A

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78.0m Chapel

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Bignell Park Boat Little Hotel and House Hilliers Restaurant

Chestnut House This Plan is based upon the Ordnance Survey Map with the sanction of the

The Controller of H.M. Stationery Office. Crown Copyright reserved. (100024244). G a Studio g le House This Plan is published for the convenience of Purchasers only. Its accuracy is not B r Pond oo k guaranteed and it is expressly excluded from any contract. NOT TO SCALE. Gagle Brook House

Ordnance Survey © Crown Copyright 2016. All rights reserved. Licence number 100022432. Plotted Scale - 1:3500 a paddock with timber field shelter. Local Authority: Cherwell District Council Fixtures and Fittings Agent’s notes: Those items mentioned in these sale particulars are included Directions in the freehold sale as are the fitted carpets. All other fixtures, The property is not listed. (OX26 1UE) From Oxford, take the A34 north towards Bicester. fittings and furnishings are expressly excluded. Certain such No public rights of way cross the property. After approximately 4 miles, take the exit onto the B430, items may be available by separate negotiation. Further signposted Middleton Stoney and Weston on the Green. Neighbouring Bignell Cottage has a right of way over part of information should be obtained from the selling agents. Follow the road north and, after about a mile, turn right the drive. Photographs taken and details prepared August 2016 signposted Chesterton. After about 1 mile turn left after golf Council Tax: H course (on left) at small cross roads as signed to Bicester. At Important Notice the next junction turn right. After a short distance you will pass Tenure: Freehold Savills, Strutt & Parker and their clients give notice that: 1. They are not authorised to Bignell Park Hotel and the entrance to Bignell House is found a Viewings make or give any representations or warranties in relation to the property either here short distance further on the left. Proceed up the driveway to or elsewhere, either on their own behalf or on behalf of their client or otherwise. They Strictly, by appointment with Savills. Prior to making an assume no responsibility for any statement that may be made in these particulars. the main house and car park. These particulars do not form part of any offer or contract and must not be relied appointment to view, Savills strongly recommend that you upon as statements or representations of fact. 2. Any areas, measurements or distances discuss any particular points which are likely to affect your are approximate. The text, photographs and plans are for guidance only and are not General Remarks necessarily comprehensive. It should not be assumed that the property has all necessary interest in the property with a member of Savills’ staff who planning, building regulation or other consents and Savills or Strutt & Parker have Services: Mains water, electricity and drainage are has seen the property in order that you do not make a wasted not tested any services, equipment or facilities. Purchasers must satisfy themselves by inspection or otherwise. 16/09/06 NQ. connected to the property. Oil fired central heating. Security journey. alarm.