High Street, Upton, OX11

DESCRIPTION:

A truly individual, award-winning barn, expertly converted within the last five years using master tradesmen. Originally a 7-bay grain barn dating to 1740, this landmark Grade II listed property sympathetically retains its historic agricultural heritage, yet offers everything needed for comfortable, modern living. The property has been meticulously designed with incredible attention to detail and a top specification, and was awarded Best Conversion by The Daily Telegraph in 2022. The spectacular barn retains its original brick and timber structure, but has been entirely revitalised, with complete limestone re-pointing, new roof, and insulation exceeding regulations. The property also benefits from various outbuildings including a triple bay garage, fully appointed apartment above, and cottage which could be used as additional living space, home office or a self-contained one bedroom cottage. The property is available with no onward chain.

LOCAL INFORMATION:

Upton is a small village within the Vale of the White Horse in Oxfordshire. The village lies on a spring line on the edge of the North Wessex Downs, designated in 1972 as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, between the villages of Blewbury, East and West Hagbourne, Harwell and Chilton. Upton has a village pub, a village hall and children's playground, both sited within a large recreation ground. Upton benefits from being conveniently located with good commuter links both via road (A34 / M4) and rail (Didcot mainline is a short drive of approximately 3 miles). There is also a converted railway embankment which now serves as a popular cycle track into Didcot.

ACCOMMODATION:

The front door opens into an entrance hall with a vaulted ceiling, with Italian limestone flooring running throughout the ground floor living areas. The hall provides access to a WC with wooden pallet feature wall, and a utility with a washing machine, tumble dryer, auxiliary sink, additional storage space and feature granite backsplash. (Agent’s note: the utility also provides hatch access to a fully converted loft space, with velux windows and housing the boiler).

Striking German-crafted Crittall style double doors open into the main barn, a spectacular open plan living space. This area has retained the traditional barn feeling, with treated and sandblasted beams and rafters left exposed throughout. The kitchen is modern and minimalist in style, designed so as not to detract from the striking space it sits within. The bespoke Ridgeway Interiors kitchen is fully fitted with Neff appliances, including a full height fridge and freezer, five ring induction hob and pop up extractor, traditional and combination ovens, dishwasher, wine cooler and four-way Quooker tap along with a convenient countertop pop-up power socket. The central feature of the kitchen is a 4.2 metre island topped with a continuous piece of Corian worktop with waterfall effect. Bi-folding doors lead out to the rear patio, and full height aluminium windows are located at the far end of the space, adding to the light filled atmosphere that is found throughout. The barn also uses reversible ceiling fans designed to maximise hot or cool air, depending upon the season, and has electric and solar velux windows.

Steps from this area lead down to a sunken reception space, perfect for entertaining. This area has a feature Swedish-made bio-ethanol fire with a wooden slatted acoustic panel surround, oak flooring and deep window seats. An open tread oak staircase leads to a galleried family room, a very cozy space with exposed ceiling beams and a balcony looking down into the main barn living space. The main space also provides access via a sliding oak door to a study, with exposed steel beams and a hidden server room.

A second open tread oak staircase leads up to the main bedroom suite, with a galleried landing providing a unique outlook through the ceiling beams. The entrance to the bedroom is lined with bespoke built-in wardrobes with sliding solid oak doors. Exposed beams and ceiling timbers are featured in this room. Steps lead down to the en-suite, with underfloor heating, a shower with double rainfall shower heads and double sinks.

The additional bedrooms are located to the ground floor, accessed via another Crittall door from the living space. All the bedrooms are en-suite and individual in style and design, with high ceilings and solid oak doors. The first suite has a dressing area, en-suite shower room and a door to a rear courtyard. The next bedroom has built-in wardrobes, timber framed windows and an en-suite with a feature concrete herringbone tiled floor. The final bedroom offers bi-folding doors to the main garden, and an en-suite with a traditional claw foot bath.

OUTSIDE SPACE & OUTBUILDINGS:

Electric double gates open to a sweeping gravelled drive, leading to the triple garage, with planted lavender borders and pleached trees providing privacy. The walled garden has a south-westerly orientation, with landscaped level lawn and planted beds. A sealed porcelain flagstone patio is accessible from the kitchen, leading to a feature sunken seating area surrounded by miniature boxwood hedging. Block paved paths lead around the grounds providing access to the various areas. The garden is serviced by a smart controlled full irrigation system with pop up sprinklers, fed by a 5000 litre rainwater harvesting tank with an external tap.

To the side of the barn is an extra-deep detached solid oak framed triple garage. This structure is fully insulated, with the garaging walls ply-lined for use as a workshop, and three individual electric roller doors. A staircase on the outside leads up to a fully appointed studio apartment. This space a velux window with an outlook over distant countryside, a fully functioning kitchen with a two-ring electric hob, microwave, larder fridge and independent water heater. There is eaves storage, including a hidden utility cupboard with a washer/dryer. There is also a shower room with attractive honeycomb tiling. Timber storage sheds and bin store are neatly tucked away behind the garage.

There is also a detached cottage within the grounds. French doors open into an L-shaped space. There are bi-folding doors, a kitchenette and a shower room, and the space is served with an individual consumer unit that is isolated from the main property. This self-contained cottage works well for additional living space, a home office or gym. Currently open plan but with a minor internal addition could easily create a one bedroom cottage.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

LPG heating with a buried tank. Zoned underfloor heating throughout the ground floor. Mains drainage. Smart water softener. Ducting is in situ in the utility room if an EV charger is required. Cat 6 cabling throughout the barn and outbuildings. All windows are fitted with electric blinds with smart controls. An ADT security system with CCTV, and an intercom system is also connected throughout the barn and outbuildings. EPC Exempt.

Vale of White Horse Council. Tax band G.

BUYERS INFORMATION
To conform with government Money Laundering Regulations 2019, we are required to confirm the identity of all prospective buyers. We use the services of a third party, Lifetime Legal, who will contact you directly at an agreed time to do this. They will need the full name, date of birth and current address of all buyers. There is a non-refundable charge of £78.00 including VAT. This does not increase if there is more than one individual selling. This will be collected in advance by Lifetime Legal as a single payment. Lifetime Legal will then pay Us £26.00 Inc. VAT for the work undertaken by Us.

REFERRAL FEES
We may refer you to recommended providers of ancillary services such as Conveyancing, Financial Services, Insurance and Surveying. We may receive a commission payment fee or other benefit (known as a referral fee) for recommending their services. You are not under any obligation to use the services of the recommended provider. The ancillary service provider may be an associated company of Davis Tate. (Not applicable to the Woodley branch – please contact directly for further information).