WEST HANNEY HOUSE

W E S T H A N N E Y • W A N T A G E • O X F O R D S H I R E

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Summertown Oxford 256 Banbury Road, Summertown

Oxford OX2 7DECharles Elsmore-Wickens

cewickens@savills.com 01865 339 70207870 999 447

Country House Department33 Margaret StreetLondon W1G 0JDEd Sugden MRICS

esugden@savills.com0207 409 888507557 337 507

WEST HANNEY HOUSEW E S T H A N N E Y • W A N T A G E • O X F O R D S H I R E

Oxford 14 miles, Wantage 5 miles, Abingdon 8 miles Didcot Parkway station 9 miles (London Paddington 40 minutes)

(Distances and time approximate)

A Georgian Classic of ‘Remarkable Distinction’

(Murray’s Architectural Guide edited by John Betjeman and John Piper)

AccommodationDrawing room • Panelled sitting room • Sitting room • Dining room • Kitchen • Cellar • Boot room

Principal bedroom suite with dressing room and en-suite bathroom 6 further bedrooms • 2 family bathrooms

Three bedroom separate cottage

Garaging • Stables • Two barns • Granary • Summer house Tennis court • Swimming pool • Orchard paddock

In all about 2.87 acres

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SITUATION

The property’s flamboyant skyline, high gates and wall dominate the Green and village cross in the quaint village of West Hanney, ‘whose beauty lies in the balanced variety of its buildings’ (Country Life, 1943).

A sought after and historic location that has been valued since the Doomsday Book when it was held by Walter Gifard, a preeminent Norman baron who helped William the Conqueror win the Battle of Hastings, West Hanney retains its significance today.

Situated off the main Oxford to Wantage road in the Vale of the White Horse, Wantage is five miles to the south and there are excellent train and road links. Didcot Parkway provides an hourly, non-stop commuter service to London Paddington and the M4, M40 and A34 are all within easy reach. Whilst London is 70 miles away, Oxford is a mere 13 miles or 20-minute car journey to the north and offers a wide range of recreational, educational and cultural amenities, as well as first class shopping.

The village of West Hanney itself has a vibrant community spirit, church, community-owned pub and numerous local sports clubs. Local sporting facilities include golf at Frilford Heath. Lambourn, the centre of UK National Hunt racing, is a short drive away.

The local area is renowned for its excellent choice of internationally recognised schools including Eton, Radley, Marlborough, Abingdon School, St Edward’s, The Dragon, Summerfield’s, St Hugh’s and Cothill to mention a few. The local hunt is the Old Berks and the surrounding estates all offer shooting on a commercial let-day basis.

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HISTORY

West Hanney House is an exquisite example of the English, country house genre. Records show that the property was so dilapidated at the death in 1718 of the Vicar’s of Salisbury’s tenant, Elizabeth Bowles,

who according to a tablet in the local church died aged 124, that the house had to be rebuilt (Church Commissioners Records, Vicars choral 6/1, Wiltshire Records Office, Trowbridge). The landlords requested the retention of the Tudor kitchen wing for economic reasons but in so doing spoilt the perfect ‘chocolate box’ symmetry often associated with the best Georgian architecture.

Built in 1722 (there is a partially illegible date on the South Front), the bulk of the existing house belongs to a select group, including Kingston House and Ardington House that were built by a local school of Vanbrugh-influenced masons for ‘ambitious and newly-wealthy patrons’ or conservative, rural gentry. The nearby Blenheim Palace naturally providing a first-class training ground. For unlike other arts that the Baroque movement encompassed architecture required a team to fulfil the architect’s ideas. Indeed, it was Hawksmoor who said, referring to the workmen at Blenheim, ‘all of them together could not stir without me’.

Having become familiarized with Vanbrugh’s architecture, the workmen diffused into the Vale of the White Horse to build provincial houses, copying small details and diluting the generality as a result of their irregular wages. For after Mrs Masham succeeded the Duchess of Marlborough as Keeper of the Privy Purse, the Treasury payments dwindled and eventually stopped. This left the Duke of Marlborough to finance his own prize for defeating the Franco-Bavarian army at the Battle of Blenheim – something he naturally resented (although in the end he did pay £60,000 out of the £300,000 build cost). The Strongs for instance, long considered as candidates to have built West Hanney House were owed £12,000 over an argument about whether the Duke was exempt from crown rates or not.

However, the curves of West Hanney are also reminiscent of Italian Baroque precedents, where curve and counter curve create a sense of frozen drama as at Borromini’s undulating, restless walls at S.Carlo.

None of these houses have come to the open market in 50 years.

A Vanbrugh influenced,

symetrical Georgian house of ‘remarkable

distinction’ (Murray’s Architectural

Guide edited by John Betjeman and John Piper)

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WEST HANNEY HOUSE

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W est Hanney House, with its rubbed red bricks and panels of greyish-purple bricks, prominent keystones and curious symmetrical design provides an opportunity to enjoy all the benefits of a grand

country house with the flexibility and manageability of a smaller property.

The principal house with its spacious and light filled reception hall, flanked as it is by the main entertaining rooms of drawing room, panelled sitting and dining room (with associated Butler’s pantry) all arranged in perfect symmetry, gives an imposing first impression.

The kitchen is fully fitted with a four door oil fired Aga, Miele four ring conductor hob and double oven and off it there is a room which works either as a home office or supplementary sitting room. Leading out of the kitchen is a series of rooms including a larder, utility and boot room.

A fine central staircase, three balusters to each step, turned and carved, leads to a landing on the first floor with a Chinese Chippendale pattern balustrade, two large bedrooms and associated bathroom as well as the master bedroom suite with its large bathroom and dressing room.

The second floor is approached via centralised, panelled double-doors leading off the first floor landing and accommodates four bedrooms and a bathroom.

W E S T H A N N E Y H O U S E

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WEST HANNEY HOUSEApproximate Gross Internal Area:

Main House: 463.7 sq m / 4991 sq ftCellar = 46.3 sq m / 498 sq ft

Total = 510.0 sq m / 5489 sq ft(Including Eaves / Excluding Voids)

Not to scale. For identification purposes only.

Ground Floor

Lower Ground Floor

First Floor Second Floor

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GARDEN AND GROUNDS

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The courtyard at West Hanney represents an exceptional range of traditional buildings. It is a long L-shaped, two storey block, north of the main house made of rubble stone with a stone tile roof and two louvred turrets. It offers

a large array of potential uses but is currently arranged as stables, storage and garages. In addition there is a large traditional barn and a granary, which could make, subject to planning, a fabulous banqueting barn and separate office.

The Pigeon House is situated opposite the main house in the heart of the courtyard and is a three-bedroom cottage that would make excellent staff accommodation.

West Hanney sits elegantly in the middle of its entirely-walled, three-acre garden, offering both privacy and enhanced security. An old paved causeway runs along the outside of the east garden wall from the village green towards the church. On the inside, there is a delightful sun trap, walled swimming pool and formal garden ‘room’.

To the South, lawns and gravel pathways stretch out to a set of large white gates that in turn lead out onto a row of pleached limes, a further low gate and the church beyond. Stretching out in a westerly direction, a glade comes alive with snowdrops in Spring before the next ‘room’ reveals the tennis court, paddock and adjacent woodland.

The total effect is one of a romantic garden in the classic English style combining expansive lawns, ancient trees and a variety of sheltered walled garden rooms. The latter provide any number of seating areas giving perspectives of the house and garden be if from the Summer pavilion for evening drinks or one of the terraces by the house.

G A R D E N A N D G R O U N D SWEST HANNEY HOUSEApproximate Gross Internal Area:

Pigeon House = 126.1 sq m / 1357 sq ftGarage = 30 sq m / 323 sq ft

Barn 2 / Stables = 144.5 sq m / 1555 sq ftGranary = 30.3 sq m / 326 sq ft

Summerhouse = 8.1 sq m / 87 sq ftStore = 27 sq m / 291 sq ft

Total = 366 sq m / 3939 sq ft

Barn 1 / Open Garage / Open Store = 176.4 sq m / 1899 sq ft

Not to scale. For identification purposes only.

Pigeon House - Ground Floor

Pigeon House - First Floor

Not shown in actual location/orientation

Not shown in actual location/orientation

Not shown in actual location/orientation

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Swindon

Newbury

Oxford

Didcot

Witney

Wantage

M4

M4M4 M4

A34

A34

A34

A34

A420

A420

A40A40

A34A44

A40

A4142

FaringdonAbingdon

Cowley

Headington M40

M40

Lechlade-on-Thames

Chieveley

Marlborough

Not to scale. For illustrative purposes only.

WEST HANNEY HOUSE

Important Notice: Savills, their clients and any joint agents give notice that: 1. They are not authorised to make or give any representations or warranties in relation to the property either here or elsewhere, either on their own behalf or on behalf of their client or otherwise. They assume no responsibility for any statement that may be made in these particulars. These particulars do not form part of any offer or contract and must not be relied upon as statements or representations of fact. 2. Any areas, measurements or distances are approximate. The text, photographs and plans are for guidance only and are not necessarily comprehensive. It should not be assumed that the property has all necessary planning, building regulation or other consents and Savills have not tested any services, equipment or facilities. Purchasers must satisfy themselves by inspection or otherwise. 21.03.08.ES. Photography taken February 2021. Capture Property. 01225 667287.

GENERAL REMARKS AND STIPULATIONSTenureFreehold with vacant possession on completion.

ListingMain House: Grade II* Listed

Stable Block: Grade II Listed

Granary: Grade II Listed

Garden Wall: Grade II Listed

ServicesHouse and Cottage: Mains drainage and electricity. Oil fired central heating.

Local AuthorityVale of White Horse District Council. Telephone: 01235 520202

Oxfordshire County Council. Telephone: 01865 792422

Council TaxHouse: Band H

Cottage: Band E

OverageThe vendors will reserve a proportion of the increase in value due to planning consent for alternative uses and subsequent disposal, not ancillary to the enjoyment of West Hanney House.

Fixtures and FittingsItems regarding as fixtures and fittings, all garden and estate statuary and pots whether mentioned in the particulars or not are excluded from the sale although certain items may be available by separate negotiation.

Directions (OX12 0LN)From Junction 13 of the M4, take the A34 turn off to Oxford and almost immediately take the turning to Chieveley. Drive through Chieveley, heading north past the village shop and continue through Downend and Peasemore. Head north through Peasemore to Lilley and join the B494. Continue on this road to Wantage and upon entering the town turn right, then turn left onto the A417 and head for Oxford onto the A338. Upon entering East Hanney, take the first left into West Hanney, Mill Orchard Lane which joins the Causeway and onto School Road. West Hanney House will be seen on the far side of the green.

ViewingStrictly by appointment with Savills. If there are any points which are of particular importance to you, we invite you to discuss them with us, especially before you travel to view the property.

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