Property description
Set amidst glorious countryside, well set back from the famous Avenue of Oaks, overlooking Bucklebury Common land, a spacious and very attractive late 1800`s 5 bedroom period house with some later additions.
Approx 2,530 sq ft / 235 msq.
Approx 0.233 acre / 0.094 ha.
M4 Junction 12 approx 5 miles,
Reading approx 8 miles, Newbury approx 8 miles
Set amidst glorious countryside, well set back from the famous Avenue of Oaks, overlooking Bucklebury Common land, a spacious and very attractive late 1800`s period house with some later additions, substantially constructed of brick and, true to the period, some clay tiled hung elevations, under a clay tiled roof.
The property enjoys twin vehicular access and car parking areas for a number of cars, one of the drives giving access to a detached double garage of modern timber construction under a clay tiled roof in the form of a small barn. The gardens are very pretty and enjoy the southerly sun with a lawned area to the rear, shrubberies and a raised terrace with decking area and arbour with access from the sitting room for summer dining. There are further lawns sweeping out to the front between the twin access drives, these are maintained by the owner and are actually part of the common land which surrounds the property to the front.
This is a charming country house of great character offering spacious accommodation and is a wonderful family home but is neither isolated or overlooked which is almost impossible to achieve both. Gunnells is well set back from The Avenue and approached by way of a well maintained access lane. The property is surrounded by the very beautiful Bucklebury Common with its wonderful scenic, long walks right on the doorstep.
Special Features: The property has been kept in good order with the introduction of replacement primary double glazed windows throughout.
* The recent introduction of a very pretty white painted kitchen/breakfast room with granite work surfaces, twin ceramic bowls, lots of cupboards and drawers, expensive Toledo Rangemaster cooking unit with 6 plates and 2 ovens, warming drawer and grill with extractor over, fitted dishwasher, space for refrigerator, and ceramic tiled flooring throughout which runs into the large laundry room which has a door to the exterior with cat flap.
* A lot of the original features have been retained - the solid wood flooring in the reception hall and dining room.
* There is a pretty traditional entrance porch hung on gallows tree brackets to the front with substantial oak door with black iron fittings giving access to the hall. * Original open fireplace with Bessemer beam across in the dining room, no longer in use.
* A large open fireplace with Bessemer beam across with log store to one side and fitted with an efficient, attractive wood burning stove in the sitting room. * Double doors open from the dining room into the sitting room which gives a flow and ease for entertaining. * Double French doors open from the sitting room onto the sun terrace, decking and gardens, a natural sun trap facing south, with the sun terrace enjoying the southerly and westerly sun, just right for summer dining. *
*The family room has another example of a fine original open brick fireplace, also fitted with a wood burning stove.
* To the first floor there is a large landing with an area to one end presently used as a study area with window overlooking the front common land. * Bedroom 1 has twin windows with lovely views over the common to the front, lots of wardrobes
* A very spacious en suite shower room to bedroom 1 - with good quality Victorian style shower unit, floor to ceiling quality tiling, new floor tiling, new radiator and ceiling spotlights.
* The family bathroom has also been recently fitted to a very high standard to include new shower unit, retiling from floor to ceiling, new floor tiles, brand new bath, basin and toilet, re plastered, redecorated, new modern radiator, newly fitted ceiling spot lights * Downstairs the cloakroom has been fully modernised of recent times.
Local Facilities: This is a very convenient spot to live, yet with all the easy access to large commercial centres of Reading, Newbury, Basingstoke and London, this is very much a rural spot to live - near people, not isolated, yet completely private and surrounded by some of the most magnificent lightly wooded unspoilt countryside to be found in this part of the world.
It is not only Pangbourne offering excellent shopping facilities; there is also Thatcham which has a station and a Waitrose. There is another Waitrose just outside Pangbourne at Tilehurst and a Sainsbury`s hypermarket at Calcot just the other side of Junction 12 at Theale.
Pangbourne village is only a short distance away by car with its excellent selection of specialist shops and a station giving an intercity fast train service to London Paddington. There is an excellent pub and restaurant, The Bladebone, a very popular tea room and an interior design shop at the end of the Avenue of Oaks. Only a short distance is Yattendon village with the fine Royal Oak Country House Hotel & Restaurant, and a hairdressing salon. Just up the road Bradfield has a fine village shop and post office which is a co-operative run by the village and so will remain serving all essentials, and a small general store in Upper Bucklebury.
There are excellent pubs and restaurants in the area, including only a short distance away at Frilsham, The Pot Kiln, run by the television chef, Mike Robinson, which is a sleepy tucked away little hostelry offering fine food. Stanford Dingley is a short distance with the Boot Inn, a Georgian pub with excellent restaurant.
Bradfield College sports complex is just down the road which offers fabulous facilities including indoor tennis courts, squash, a fine indoor swimming pool, a gymnasium and fitness centre - this is open to public membership, as is the 9-hole golf course just along the road owned by Bradfield College which, I understand, still has membership open. There is a doctors` practice and medical centre in Bucklebury at the end of the Avenue of Oaks near The Bladebone pub. Bridle paths abound with riding stables in Bradfield, which also has livery yards.
Schools: Schools abound - the famous Bradfield College is within easy driving distance, as is St Andrew`s Preparatory School, Downe House girls` school, Pangbourne College, The Oratory School, Moulsford School for Boys, Cranford House. Theale Green public sector school also has a school bus service collecting locally. Elstree is just up the road. Reading Bluecoat also has a school bus that picks up, so the taxi service that all families seem to run for their children is reduced enormously. Bucklebury Church of England Primary School is approximately 2 miles.
SUMMARY OF ACCOMMODATION: Reception hall with solid wood flooring, south facing sitting room with open log fire, large dining room, large kitchen/breakfast with room for 8-seater table, large laundry room, cloakroom, family room. First floor: Large landing with study area overlooking the common, 5 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms (one en suite to bedroom 1). Outside: Plenty of parking to front, vehicular access to double garage with electric light and power, 2 timber constructed garden stores, covered log store, gardens to front and rear, easterly terrace breakfast area, south westerly terrace with decking area and pretty arbour for summer dining.
Gardens & Grounds: Extending to approximately 0.233 acres / 0.094 ha.
DIRECTIONS: From the offices of Dudley Singleton & Daughter turn left, proceed out of Pangbourne through Tidmarsh, over the M4 and turn right signposted to Bradfield. Proceed along this road through Bradfield College until you reach a sloping T-junction with a War Memorial on your left, turn right. Proceed through the centre of Southend Bradfield until you reach the Avenue of Oaks. Pass Hungerford Lane on the right. There is a large house on the left hand side; just after this a gravelled drive leads down to Gunnells which splits allowing parking either to the left or to the right.
SERVICES:Mains water, electricity. Oil fired central heating. Newly fitted septic tank drainage system (Autumn 2013).
POST CODE:RG7 6NJ
LOCAL AUTHORITY: West Berkshire Council. Tel: 01635 42400.
Council Tax: 2013/14: Band F - £2,174.36
Viewing by arrangement with vendor`s agent, Dudley Singleton & Daughter,
No. 1 Station Road,
Pangbourne,
Berkshire, RG8 7AN.
Tel: 0118 984 2662.
Fax: 0118 984 5490.
London Office: Cashel House, 15 Thayer Street, London, W1
NoticePlease note we have not tested any apparatus, fixtures, fittings, or services. Interested parties must undertake their own investigation into the working order of these items. All measurements are approximate and photographs provided for guidance only.
Property Features :
- Five bedroom period cottage.
- Amidst Bucklebury common
- Recent kitchen/breakfast room
- Refitted bathrooms
- Large open fireplace
- Detached double garage
- Pretty South facing gardens
- Pangbourne office 0118 9842662