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" Historically a medieval hall house dating back to the 16th Century, at one time two properties hence the pair of front doors, intelligently extended to provide the perfect entertaining house with excellent downstairs space and delightful features. 2,132 sq ft, village lane location next to a 13th Century church, and with valley views.

History, space, character, comfort, quality and relaxation are all words to be associated with this unusual and highly attractive house, situated in the Cherwell Valley. The facade gives little clue to the extent of the accommodation, which is delightful. Grade II listed. Somerton village offers a rare mix of countryside seclusion and easy access to all amenities, sitting amidst some of the most wonderful rolling countryside. The village has its roots in Saxon times, mentioned in the Doomsday Book, and the Church of St James dates back in part to at least 1074. There are many local activities, a number of which revolve around a fine village hall, rebuilt with Lottery money in 2008. This features everything from gatherings of toddler groups and the monthly meetings of senior citizens and the Somerton Womens group to films, evening talks and a Thursday evening bar. The village boasts a brand-new wooden playground for young children. Within a short drive are rail and road links to London and Birmingham, the M40 and A34, Oxford via Kidlington A4260 and Banbury. Also nearby are a number of other villages offering a wide range of amenities. Hall houses are rare and fascinating examples of the evolution of the English village house, originally basic timber buildings which grew and divided into separate rooms with large open fireplaces. Church End is a great example of this. Many key character features ranging from a wide-hearth open fireplace to wall and ceiling timbers exhibit the history of what is a historic house. It was divided into two cottages in the nineteenth century (hence the two front doors) but has since been reunited and our owners have also achieved the difficult feat of creating some wonderful extra living space that complements the existing building. It is a wonderful, unique, spacious and comfortable house, the like of which we have not seen before. The entrance door leads into what is known as the Book Room. At over 15 feet square this is a good sized reception room, comfortable and characterful with features including an oak floor and an impressive, large fireplace with a wood burning stove. The room is also equipped with practical modern downlighters and book shelves. To the right a panel door leads into the kitchen and sitting rooms. The first impression here is of great age and character. The sitting room has a large, raised Inglenook open fire and to the front is a window seat. In addition there are wall, ceiling and hearth timbers as well as a pre-Victorian quarry tiled floor. To the rear, this room is open to the kitchen which was once the dairy. Today it is equipped with a range of base units to three sides, with a wood top and an inset Belfast sink. There is space for various 'white goods' and the dimensions amply allow for a breakfast table. Underfoot the floor is stone and a rather lovely central feature is the Aga. To the left a door leads into the signature space, a dining/ drawing room of over thirty feet in length. The care that has been taken in creating this is obvious, with an oak and glass pyramid ceiling which ensures fantastic natural light over a significant entertaining space. Natural materials ranging from oak timbers and wide plank oak flooring to an Indian stone hearth plus both Cotswold and Horton stone walling are seamlessly integrated with under floor heating and a modern Norwegian wood burning stove. The overall feeling of space and airiness is marvellous, and the double doors at the rear plus a single to the side invite the landscaped garden to be fully enjoyed. Also downstairs the rear lobby provides hanging and shelving space adjacent to a wet room which is fully tiled with modern fitments. To the rear of the lobby a door leads through to a further covered store which contains the oil boiler and further storage space with shelves, and the passage to it is paved and contains two large sheds providing yet more storage. Upstairs there are four bedrooms. To the rear a double aspect bedroom overlooks the garden and the churchyard; it is equipped with an integral wardrobe providing hanging space. Adjacent to it an en-suite bathroom is modern and stylish with a white suite and shower screen, underfoot the floor is a practical wood laminate. The next door bedroom overlooks the lane to the front and it too is equipped with an en-suite, in this case a shower room with a rail and curtain alongside a vanity-mounted wash basin and a wc. The two further bedrooms overlook the lane and feature exposed timbers, the larger of the two has been fitted with a generous range of full-height wardrobes and further hanging space. Serving these is a modern shower room with a stone floor, and alongside there is the clever addition of a utility cupboard with space and plumbing for a washing machine and dryer. Outside to the rear the garden has been comprehensively landscaped to provide a wonderful space. With the church immediately behind and the Cherwell valley beyond the owners have ensured they get the maximum pleasure from their low-maintenance garden. Several different areas have been provided for dining, sitting, reading - and gardening. Part stone walled and part fenced, the garden has a five metre stone terrace for dining, and this is externally lit. Flanking this are walls with planting borders between which are steps down to another stone terrace which provides a sun-trap seating area in the corner between kitchen and drawing room, plus further stone terraces around the garden space. The list of plants is endless, ranging from pear, apple, buddleia and hornbeam to a herb wheel with rosemary, lavender, oregano and thyme. Practicality is also well served with outside power sockets and a water tap, a water butt, and a wood store. A wooden side gate links the house to the footpath which leads to both the church and meadows. In addition a pair of wood gates provide access from the gravelled parking across the neighbour's property to the main road. Directions Deddington 4 miles
Bicester 7 miles
Rail - London 45 mins Bicester
M40 5 miles, A34 8 miles You may download, store and use the material for your own personal use and research. You may not republish, retransmit, redistribute or otherwise make the material available to any party or make the same available on any website, online service or bulletin board of your own or of any other party or make the same available in hard copy or in any other media without the website owner's express prior written consent. The website owner's copyright must remain on all reproductions of material taken from this website. "