Valley Farm

Approaching the house down a long private track that winds through paddock and field, the house and barns, built around a central courtyard, come into view. Constructed in honey-toned stone indicative of the local vernacular, the house is a traditional pre-industrial farming compound with barns and original stabling intact. The current owners have converted the front-facing barn into a sleek gallery space for exhibitions with office space above. There are several picture-perfect red-brick stables located in a neat row along the entrance to the courtyard compound.

The main house is situated in the north east corner, with the wings of outbuildings adding a layer of privacy to the already pastoral setting. Entering into the hall, ruddy quarry tiles spread out underfoot. A cosy country kitchen beckons just beyond. Centred around a warming Rayburn, the kitchen is large enough for a good size breakfast table. A large conservatory spills out from the kitchen, adding light and airiness. Underfloor heating ensures the bright space is comfortable year-round. Views of the stunning walled garden extend on all sides, with double doors for throwing open in fine weather to take in the herbaceous borders filled with roses, hollyhocks, and lavender.

An indoor swimming pool has been cleverly placed in a barn previously used by the farmer’s cattle as a milking parlour. Unrecognisable from its cattle byre days, it now houses a heated pool of around 10 metres that offers year-round prospects for the keen paddler of all ages. A utility room with a butler’s sink and laundry facilities is accessed from a rear door and is ideal for wet gear post-swim.

Along the other side of the house lies a striking dining room. Painted in tones of chrome yellow ‘Mister David‘ by Little Greene and papered in ‘Savuti’ by Cole and Son contrasting with the original beamwork running overhead. A large sitting room is beyond. Adorned in cardinal tones of ‘Atomic Red’ by Little Greene the room centres around a substantial inglenook fireplace. Here, flagstones run underfoot and the period beams continue. Across a hall is a further downstair WC and a large room currently used as an office. Two stairwells ascend to the first and second storeys, one in the easternly early 17th-century part of the house and the other in the later westerly 18th-century addition. Four bedrooms, including one with an en suite, and a family bathroom are found on the first floor. A further three bedrooms and additional bathroom are found on the second floor.

Outside, an additional cottage is nestled in the westerly side of the complex. Within, a pretty sitting room and kitchen are enhanced with exposed brick and Cotswold stone. A bedroom and bathroom upstairs make the space ideal for hosting guests.

A large, double-height timber-clad barn is access via immense double doors. A renowned sculptor working with monument-scale works, the current owners used this space as a casting studio, but the barn is a flexible space that would be suitable for multiple uses. Next along there is a storeroom with studio space above. There are a further set of former cattle sheds which currently serve as wood stores and storage for tools, completing the ample outbuildings.

The Great Outdoor”

The gardens, grounds and fields surrounding Valley Farm roll out in all directions. Stretching to around 20 acres, there is plenty of space for keeping horses or a diminutive smallholding. The current owners have historically let 10 of the most arable acres to a local farmer as a source of income.

Ancient orchards have been planted and abound with apples, pears and plums. Along the northern side of the plot, species trees including a striking copper birch have been planted providing shelter from cold winds. There is also a small indigenous wood planted some 12 years ago and dotted with fruit trees, pear apple and cherry.

An utterly charming walled garden has been lovingly cultivated. The current owner, a keen gardener, has crafted a garden ‘room’ in this lovely suntrap that becomes a fully indoor/outdoor space when the conservatory doors left wide open.

There are two paddocks on either side of the drive approaching the house. Rolling and green, these are currently kept in check by the neighbouring farmer’s obliging sheep.

Out and About

Radway is a charming village that sits between Stratford-upon-Avon and Banbury. Ripe with historic importance, it appears in the Doomsday book and has a compelling array of period architecture that includes the Gothic revival parish church of St Peter and the Octagonal Tower, a folly echoing Warwick Castle. The village is surrounded by woodland and fields and lies within the Cotswolds National Landscape (AONB) on the north-eastern border. Nearby, Greenhill has an several shops, florist, schools and a post office and an excellent bakery providing freshly baked bread made using locally sourced flour.

Banbury is around 25 minutes away by car, home to the famed ‘Banbury cake’ as well as a bronze statue of the ‘Fine Lady’ from the Banbury Cross nursery rhyme. Along with a post office, doctors, there is also a handy Waitrose. The National Trust’s Upton House and Garden is close by and is home to a world-renowned art collection.

Stratford-upon-Avon is a 30-minute drive away. A medieval market town, it is known for its great cultural offerings and history – not least as the birthplace of William Shakespeare. Stratford has several heritage sites that honour the playwright’s life and work, including the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust and the Royal Shakespeare Company. Cultural offerings beyond the Bard are aplenty too, with an Everyman Cinema and easy access to Compton Verney, an 18th-century manor house with a renowned art collection and expansive grounds. The town has established an impressive reputation for great dining, including the family-run Loxleys; The Woodsman, for a tour de force Sunday Roast; Sorrento, for traditional Italian cuisine; and the Michelin-starred Salt. Planetarium is great for a hearty plant-based lunch, while MOR serves up delicious pastries and locally roasted coffee.

There are plenty of other places to visit in the vicinity too, including Warwick, with its notable cathedral and castle, and Royal Leamington Spa, a 20 and 30-minute drive away respectively. Oxford and Northampton are also within easy distance.

There are plenty of excellent schooling options close by, including Stratford Girls’ Grammar School, The Croft Preparatory, Sibford School, Tudor Hall and King Edward VI School (which celebrates among its notable alumni, William Shakespeare).

Transport connections to London and the surrounding areas are easily accessible. Banbury Rail station has a direct line to London Marylebone in around 65 minutes. Birmingham Airport can be reached in just under an hour.

Council Tax Band: G