WEST HANNEY HOUSE

WEST HANNEY • WANTAGE • OXFORDSHIRE WEST HANNEY HOUSE WEST HANNEY • WANTAGE • OXFORDSHIRE

Oxford 14 miles, Wantage 5 miles, Abingdon 8 miles Didcot Parkway station 9 miles (London Paddington 40 minutes) (Distances and time approximate) A Georgian Classic of ‘Remarkable Distinction’ (Murray’s Architectural Guide edited by John Betjeman and John Piper)

Accommodation Drawing room • Panelled sitting room • Sitting room • Dining room • Kitchen • Cellar • Boot room

Principal bedroom suite with dressing room and en-suite bathroom 6 further bedrooms • 2 family bathrooms

Three bedroom separate cottage

Garaging • Stables • Two barns • Granary • Summer house Tennis court • Swimming pool • Orchard paddock

In all about 2.87 acres

Summertown Oxford Country House Department 256 Banbury Road, Summertown 33 Margaret Street Oxford OX2 7DE London W1G 0JD Charles Elsmore-Wickens Ed Sugden MRICS [email protected] [email protected] 01865 339 702 0207 409 8885 07870 999 447 07557 337 507

2 3 SITUATION

he property’s flamboyant skyline, high gates and wall dominate the Green and village cross in the quaint village of West Hanney, ‘whose beauty lies in the balanced variety Tof its buildings’ (Country Life, 1943). A sought after and historic location that has been valued since the Doomsday Book when it was held by Walter Gifard, a preeminent Norman baron who helped William the Conqueror win the Battle of Hastings, West Hanney retains its significance today.

Situated off the main Oxford to Wantage road in the Vale of the White Horse, Wantage is five miles to the south and there are excellent train and road links. Didcot Parkway provides an hourly, non-stop commuter service to London Paddington and the M4, M40 and A34 are all within easy reach. Whilst London is 70 miles away, Oxford is a mere 13 miles or 20-minute car journey to the north and offers a wide range of recreational, educational and cultural amenities, as well as first class shopping.

The village of West Hanney itself has a vibrant community spirit, church, community-owned pub and numerous local sports clubs. Local sporting facilities include golf at Frilford Heath. Lambourn, the centre of UK National Hunt racing, is a short drive away.

The local area is renowned for its excellent choice of internationally recognised schools including Eton, Radley, Marlborough, Abingdon School, St Edward’s, The Dragon, Summerfield’s, St Hugh’s and Cothill to mention a few. The local hunt is the Old Berks and the surrounding estates all offer shooting on a commercial let-day basis.

4 5 A Vanbrugh HISTORY influenced, symetrical Georgian est Hanney House is an exquisite example of the house of ‘remarkable English, country house genre. Records show that the property was so dilapidated at the death in 1718 of distinction’ the Vicar’s of Salisbury’s tenant, Elizabeth Bowles, (Murray’s Architectural whoW according to a tablet in the local church died aged 124, that the Guide edited by John Betjeman house had to be rebuilt (Church Commissioners Records, Vicars choral and John Piper) 6/1, Wiltshire Records Office, Trowbridge). The landlords requested the retention of the Tudor kitchen wing for economic reasons but in so doing spoilt the perfect ‘chocolate box’ symmetry often associated with the best Georgian architecture.

Built in 1722 (there is a partially illegible date on the South Front), the bulk of the existing house belongs to a select group, including Kingston House and Ardington House that were built by a local school of Vanbrugh-influenced masons for ‘ambitious and newly-wealthy patrons’ or conservative, rural gentry. The nearby Blenheim Palace naturally providing a first-class training ground. For unlike other arts that the Baroque movement encompassed architecture required a team to fulfil the architect’s ideas. Indeed, it was Hawksmoor who said, referring to the workmen at Blenheim, ‘all of them together could not stir without me’.

Having become familiarized with Vanbrugh’s architecture, the workmen diffused into the Vale of the White Horse to build provincial houses, copying small details and diluting the generality as a result of their irregular wages. For after Mrs Masham succeeded the Duchess of Marlborough as Keeper of the Privy Purse, the Treasury payments dwindled and eventually stopped. This left the Duke of Marlborough to finance his own prize for defeating the Franco-Bavarian army at the Battle of Blenheim – something he naturally resented (although in the end he did pay £60,000 out of the £300,000 build cost). The Strongs for instance, long considered as candidates to have built West Hanney House were owed £12,000 over an argument about whether the Duke was exempt from crown rates or not.

However, the curves of West Hanney are also reminiscent of Italian Baroque precedents, where curve and counter curve create a sense of frozen drama as at Borromini’s undulating, restless walls at S.Carlo.

None of these houses have come to the open market in 50 years.

6 7 WEST HANNEY HOUSE

8 9 WEST HANNEY HOUSE

est Hanney House, with its rubbed red bricks and panels of greyish-purple bricks, prominent keystones and curious symmetrical design provides an opportunity to enjoy all the benefits of a grand countryW house with the flexibility and manageability of a smaller property.

The principal house with its spacious and light filled reception hall, flanked as it is by the main entertaining rooms of drawing room, panelled sitting and dining room (with associated Butler’s pantry) all arranged in perfect symmetry, gives an imposing first impression.

The kitchen is fully fitted with a four door oil fired Aga, Miele four ring conductor hob and double oven and off it there is a room which works either as a home office or supplementary sitting room. Leading out of the kitchen is a series of rooms including a larder, utility and boot room.

A fine central staircase, three balusters to each step, turned and carved, leads to a landing on the first floor with a Chinese Chippendale pattern balustrade, two large bedrooms and associated bathroom as well as the master bedroom suite with its large bathroom and dressing room.

The second floor is approached via centralised, panelled double-doors leading off the first floor landing and accommodates four bedrooms and a bathroom.

10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 First Floor Second Floor

Lower Ground Floor WEST HANNEY HOUSE Approximate Gross Internal Area: Main House: 463.7 sq m / 4991 sq ft Cellar = 46.3 sq m / 498 sq ft Total = 510.0 sq m / 5489 sq ft (Including Eaves / Excluding Voids) Not to scale. For identification purposes only.

Ground Floor

18 19 GARDEN AND GROUNDS

20 21 22 23 WEST HANNEY HOUSE GARDEN AND GROUNDS Approximate Gross Internal Area: Pigeon House = 126.1 sq m / 1357 sq ft Garage = 30 sq m / 323 sq ft Barn 2 / Stables = 144.5 sq m / 1555 sq ft Granary = 30.3 sq m / 326 sq ft Summerhouse = 8.1 sq m / 87 sq ft Store = 27 sq m / 291 sq ft he courtyard at West Hanney represents an exceptional Total = 366 sq m / 3939 sq ft range of traditional buildings. It is a long L-shaped, two storey block, north of the main house made of rubble stone Barn 1 / Open Garage / Open Store = 176.4 sq m / 1899 sq ft with a stone tile roof and two louvred turrets. It offers Ta large array of potential uses but is currently arranged as stables, Not to scale. For identification purposes only. storage and garages. In addition there is a large traditional barn and a granary, which could make, subject to planning, a fabulous banqueting barn and separate office.

The Pigeon House is situated opposite the main house in the heart of the courtyard and is a three-bedroom cottage that would make excellent staff accommodation.

Not shown in actual Not shown in actual West Hanney sits elegantly in the middle of its entirely-walled, location/orientation location/orientation three-acre garden, offering both privacy and enhanced security. An old paved causeway runs along the outside of the east garden wall Not shown in actual location/ orientation from the village green towards the church. On the inside, there is a delightful sun trap, walled swimming pool and formal garden ‘room’.

To the South, lawns and gravel pathways stretch out to a set of large white gates that in turn lead out onto a row of pleached limes, a further low gate and the church beyond. Stretching out in a westerly direction, a glade comes alive with snowdrops in Spring before the next ‘room’ reveals the tennis court, paddock and adjacent woodland.

The total effect is one of a romantic garden in the classic English style combining expansive lawns, ancient trees and a variety of sheltered walled garden rooms. The latter provide any number of seating areas Pigeon House - First Floor giving perspectives of the house and garden be if from the Summer pavilion for evening drinks or one of the terraces by the house.

Pigeon House - Ground Floor

24 25 26 27 28 29 A44 A34

A40 GENERAL REMARKS AND STIPULATIONS A40 Witney Tenure Headington FreeholdM40 with vacant possession on completion. A40 Oxford Listing A4142 Main House: Grade II* Listed Cowley Stable Block: Grade II Listed M40 Granary: Grade II Listed A420 Garden Wall: Grade II Listed Lechlade-on-Thames Services House and Cottage: Mains drainage and electricity. Oil fired central heating. Abingdon Faringdon Local Authority A34 Vale of White Horse District Council. Telephone: 01235 520202 Oxfordshire County Council. Telephone: 01865 792422 A420 WEST HANNEY HOUSE Council Tax Didcot House: Band H Cottage: Band E Wantage A34 Overage The vendors will reserve a proportion of the increase in value due to planning consent for Swindon alternative uses and subsequent disposal, not ancillary to the enjoyment of West Hanney House. Fixtures and Fittings Items regarding as fixtures and fittings, all garden and estate statuary and pots whether mentioned in the particulars or not are excluded from the sale although certain items may be available by separate negotiation.

M4 A34 Directions (OX12 0LN) From Junction 13 of the M4, take the A34 turn off to Oxford and almost immediately take the turning to Chieveley. Drive through Chieveley, heading north past the village shop and continue M4 Chieveley throughM4 Downend and Peasemore. Head north through Peasemore to Lilley and join the B494. M4 Continue on this road to Wantage and upon entering the town turn right, then turn left onto the A417 and head for Oxford onto the A338. Upon entering East Hanney, take the first left into West Hanney, Mill Orchard Lane which joins the Causeway and onto School Road. West Marlborough Hanney House will be seen on the far side of the green. A34 Viewing Newbury Not to scale. For illustrative purposes only. Strictly by appointment with Savills. If there are any points which are of particular importance to you, we invite you to discuss them with us, especially before you travel to view the property.

Important Notice: Savills, their clients and any joint agents give notice that: 1. They are not authorised to make or give any representations or warranties in relation to the property either here or elsewhere, either on their own behalf or on behalf of their client or otherwise. They assume no responsibility for any statement that may be made in these particulars. These particulars do not form part of any offer or contract and must not be relied upon as statements or representations of fact. 2. Any areas, measurements or distances are approximate. The text, photographs and plans are for guidance only and are not necessarily comprehensive. It should not be assumed that the property has all necessary planning, building regulation or other consents and Savills have not tested any services, equipment or facilities. Purchasers must satisfy themselves by inspection or otherwise. 21.03.08.ES. Photography taken February 2021. Capture Property. 01225 667287. 30 31 32