Location

Shipton-under-Wychwood nestles in the Evenlode Valley, in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty between Burford and Chipping Norton in the Oxfordshire Cotswolds. Surrounded by delightful countryside, amenities in the village include a post office and general store, a doctors’ surgery and pharmacy, three public houses, a fine parish church, Wychwood Church of England Primary School and Shipton Wild Gardens, owned by the village. The active community has a tennis club and scenic village cricket club ground with golf courses close by at Burford, Chipping Norton and Lyneham. Soho Farmhouse, Estelle Manor and Daylesford are also within convenient reach.

More extensive amenities are available in the nearby market towns of Burford, Chipping Norton and Witney. Oxford provides the main shopping and cultural centre for the area, with Cheltenham and Stratford-upon-Avon about 40 minutes’ drive away. There is a good choice of local state and independent schools in the area. Junior schools include the village primary school, Windrush Valley School and Kitebrook, with senior at the Cotswolds Academy, Burford Academy, Kingham Hill and Cokethorpe, as well as the highly regarded schools in Oxford and Cheltenham. There is a mainline station at Charlbury which provides regular train services to Oxford and London/Paddington, with some services stopping at the Shipton-Under-Wychwood station and Oxford Parkway offers an alternative service into London Marylebone.

Description

Located at the end of a shared drive, Shipton Leys is both in the heart of the village yet private. Constructed mainly of Cotswold stone beneath a slate roof, origins are understood to date to the early 1800s with later additions. This fascinating property, attached to Shipton Lodge, was part of a substantial single residence, which together with The Stables, was split up in 1979. Grade II listed there are numerous original features.

The elegant drawing room has high ceilings and feature sash windows, with window seats, and French doors open to the garden. There is also a jet master fire. The dining room also overlooks the garden. A less formal snug/TV room has fitted shelving and a Jetmaster fireplace. With high ceilings, the kitchen has original built-in full height dresser with glass casement storage, a 2-oven gas fired Aga, door to courtyard and access to utility/boot room.

Also on the ground floor is a study and access to the cellars. On the first floor the generous principal bedroom has feature windows overlooking the gardens, a dressing area and en suite bathroom. There three further double bedrooms, (one en suite) a single bedroom, and family bathroom.

The attached cottage has a separate entrance and could be re-connected to the main house depending on needs. It has a sitting room with wood burner, kitchen/breakfast room, utility room, two bedrooms and a bathroom.

Outside, glorious specimen trees include Canadian maple, ash, and lime (some with TPOs) create a parkland style setting fitting of the property. An attractive archway leads to a private courtyard garden to the rear of the house and cottage. There is an orchard area with fruit trees and a wooded spinney with interconnecting ponds offering a haven to all manner of wildlife. More formal gardens include a croquet lawn, which doubles as grass tennis court and sun trap terraces. There is a paddock of about 1.64 acres and two small timber stables and tack room.

Directions

From Oxford proceed along the A40 to Burford. Once in Burford, proceed down the hill and over the bridge to the mini roundabout and bear right onto the A361 towards Chipping Norton. Continue through the village of Fulbrook and on for a further 4 miles to Shipton-Under-Wychwood. On entering the village proceed past the cricket club on your left the entrance to Shipton Leys is opposite the arch gate to Shipton Court. Proceed up the drive past Shipton Lodge Cottage and The Stables and Shipton Leys is at the end.