Avoncliff, Wiltshire£895,000 Share of Freehold

Ancliff Square

Nestled amongst surrounding woodland and scenic canals, the house is a bucolic haven

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This handsome four-bedroom home sits in Avoncliff, a pretty village close to Bradford-on-Avon. In total, the home spans over 2,000 sq ft across four storeys, with its interiors finished in a calming, neutral palette. Formerly a chapel, the main living spaces are exceptionally voluminous and were converted with great sensitivity given the building’s Grade II-listed status. Outside, a newly landscaped garden unfolds to the front of the house, while the surrounding area offers rolling canal walks and bucolic landscapes. Avoncliff is brilliantly connected, with the station a short walk from the house offering regular trains to Bath Spa in 14 minutes, and to London Paddington in just under 90.

Setting the Scene

Ancliff Square is a complex of buildings, the oldest of which were originally weavers’ houses. 12 houses resided along the square, including an attached chapel, which was built later when the buildings became a workhouse in the early 19th-century.

The chapel was built to service the men in the workhouse around 1835. The facade is hewn from limestone ashlar, and is crowned with a pyramidal Welsh slate roof. The building extends over four storeys. Two round-headed sashes with interlaced glazing bars stand in the Gothic style on the ground floor.

After the workhouse closed down, the building became the Old Court Hotel in 1922 (the chapel, with its high ceilings, acting as the ballroom for guests). The square was restored and converted to houses in the late 1980s.

The Grand Tour

A hallway on the ground floor is lined with slate tiles is illuminated by the glazed front door. The hallway establishes the house’s neutral, restful palette, allowing clean lines to emphasise the building’s open, spacious proportions.

An additional entrance, on the first floor, opens out into a spectacularly tall double-height reception space. The extensive arch window is bisected by Gothic tracery, drawing an exceptional quality of natural light into this bright and airy space. A staircase rises to a gallery-style landing that passes by another large arched window; an exposed beam here reminds of the house’s history. Timber boards run underfoot, delineating the reception areas from the kitchen. A sitting area has been arranged around a striking fireplace with a grey-tiled surround.

Sensitively contemporary, the kitchen has tall white cupboard storage and pinewood cabinetry with integrated appliances. Tiling has been thoughtfully chosen to add texture and colour: a splash back has been formed with warm-toned teracotta, while a terrazzo-laid floor adds a playful edge. Deep window sills above the kitchen are a perfect nook to place flowers or cookbooks. There is also a utility room and W/C on the ground floor.

The ground-floor bedroom has beautiful parquet flooring and garden views. A large bedroom is laid out on the attic floor, framed beneath exposed rafters and beams. These rooms are served by a family bathroom with a bathtub, wood panelling and an exposed beam that fosters a cosy atmosphere.

There are two additional bedrooms, served by a bathroom with a walk-in shower.

The Great Outdoors

New landscaping has created a rich, sweeping lawn to the front of the house looking out across the bucolic surroundings. A stepped configuration has created different areas for varying functions; there is a large patio space to place a dining table for summer entertaining. The garden is surrounded by tall, mature trees, including a stately beech tree.

The house has the use of a large, double carport.

Out and About

The house sits a short walk from the centre of the village; the bucolic Avoncliff is host to a fantastic tea room and cafe, as well as a locally revered pub the Cross Guns with garden overlooking the river. The area is known for its historic aqueduct carrying the canal over the River Avon, and is perfect for river and canal walks, as well as cycling and water sports. Bradford on Avon can be reached via a stroll along the canal in some 25-minutes.

The picturesque riverside town of Bradford-on-Avon is around a nine-minute drive from the house. As well as its wealth of astonishing period architecture, it has brilliant amenities, including supermarkets and greengrocers, independent restaurants and shops, as well as well-regarded schools.

There are plenty of excellent schooling options available including Freshford (a sought after primary in the local village of Freshford), Winsley CofE Primary School and Newton Community Primary School. St Laurence School and Ralph Allen secondary schools are under three miles away and have a “Good” rating. There are also plenty of independent and public alternatives in the area.

Ancliff Square is an eight-minute walk from Avoncliff Station. There are frequent services to Bath Spa in 14 minutes, which heads to London Paddington in just under 90 minutes. The A36 is a 12-minute drive for journeys to Bath within 20 minutes and the M4 for services to the national motorway in under 45 minutes.

Tenure: Share of Freehold
Lease Length: Approx. 965 years remaining
Service Charge: Approx £1,800 p/a
Ground Rent: n/a
Council Tax Band: E

Please note that all areas, measurements and distances given in these particulars are approximate and rounded. The text, photographs and floor plans are for general guidance only. Inigo has not tested any services, appliances or specific fittings — prospective purchasers are advised to inspect the property themselves. All fixtures, fittings and furniture not specifically itemised within these particulars are deemed removable by the vendor.