This meticulously renovated 19th-century cottage is situated in the historic Old Baptist Chapel Court in the heart of the delightful Cotswolds town of Tewkesbury. Attached to the oldest Baptist Chapel in England, the finish inside is exquisite, pairing a contemporary approach to colour and materiality with the distinctive period bones. Front and side courtyard gardens offer quiet private space to eat and drink outside, with wonderful views from the lane to 12th-century Tewkesbury Abbey. The house lies within moments’ walk of an excellent choice of independent restaurants, and Tewkesbury is a brilliant foothold for exploring the rest of the surrounding landscape, easily reached from London in around two hours and 40 minutes.
Setting the Scene
Tewkesbury is a striking medieval market town around nine miles north of Cheltenham. Its historic architecture is varied and vast, though it is perhaps best known for the Norman Tewkesbury Abbey, which was first consecrated in 1121. The Abbey’s tower is speculated as being, along with Norwich Cathedral’s, among the largest Norman towers still in existence today.
This house, set down atmospheric Old Baptist Chapel Court, is thought to have once been two smaller cottages, joined in later years create a cohesive and spacious home. Along from the chapel is a 17th century burial ground in which can be found some of William Shakespeare’s descendants. Beams inside stand as a reminder of its early history, with windows along the front aspect looking out to the charming and private cobbled lane in front. The current owners, both designers, have brilliantly reappointed the space in a way that is mindful of its history yet wonderfully equipped for contemporary Cotswolds living. Modern interventions include an electric heating system, controllable via a smart app.
The Grand Tour
Accessed via a quiet cobbled courtyard, the end-of-terrace red-brick house has two entry points: one to the kitchen, one to the living room. The latter is a refined space, sensitively appointed with a thoughtful material and colour palette; its white-painted walls are almost luminescent in the light that enters from a wide south-west-facing window. A marble fireplace surround and modern glass-fronted fireplace provide a warming focal point come wintertime.
The dining room is positioned centrally, where the pale oak ban-sawn floorboards from the living room continue underfoot. A white-painted beam runs overhead here, and there is plenty of space for a table in the centre of the room. Light is drawn in through a second south-west-window that overlooks the pretty garden outside.
The room is partly open to the kitchen, where bespoke, hand-crafted units are arranged in a sociable L-shape. A deep sink has been slotted into a marble countertop, which continues upwards to form a splash-back and a useful shelf ideal for placing vases, cookbooks and other favourite trinkets. Appliances have been neatly integrated and a second glazed door adds to the brightness to the space.
Stairs ascend from the dining room to the first floor, with a banister painted in brown shades of Little Greene. The two double bedrooms are at either end of the upper level; both with solid floorboards and a soft, restful colour palette across the walls and decoration. The principal bedroom has double-aspect windows as well as a bespoke built-in wardrobe. A beautifully finished bathroom sits between the two bedrooms.
The Great Outdoors
Sweet-smelling lavender, hydrangea and yew hedging form the front gardens which run the length of the house, wrapping around its exterior to form a secluded walled seating area outdoor dining. At night, a private door at the end of Old Baptist Chapel Court lane can be closed for a feel of total privacy.
Out and About
Located in the heart of the picturesque riverside town, the house is excellently catered for with an abundance of independent shops, cafes and restaurants. Tewkesbury has an enthusiastic attachment to its lineage, with guided history walks and its own museum housed in a 17th-century building. There is an excellent Grade II-listed pub, The Berkeley Arms, which is a three-minute stroll away, as well a good selection of daily amenities including supermarkets and a post office. There is also a handy Waitrose in Cheltenham.
The town is surrounded by open countryside with exceptional walking and cycling routes. There are three popular routes which take in the Sustrans National cycle. Daylesford, Pittville Park, Sandford Parks Lido and Sudeley Castle are also popular local highlights.
The elegant town of Cheltenham is nine miles away and hosts many highly regarded festivals of literature, jazz, film, folk music, comedy and science as well as a busy racing calendar including the Gold Cup. It was recently named by the Daily Telegraph as the best place to raise a family in the UK. Its combination of beautiful Regency architecture, outstanding schools, rich cultural life and amazing festivals all add to its unique appeal.
Tewkesbury has excellent local schools including Tewkesbury Church of England Primary School, The John Moore Primary School. Nearby schools in Cheltenham include Cheltenham Ladies’ College, Cheltenham College, Dean Close, St Edward’s RC and The Richard Pate School. Highly sought-after state schools include Pates Grammar and Balcarras Secondary.
There is easy access to the motorway network with the M5 Junction approximately 1.5 miles to the west. Nearby Cheltenham Spa provides direct train service to London Paddington in just over two hours.
Council Tax Band: B
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