House For Sale £2,300,000
The perfect Oxfordshire countryside retreat offering easy access to London and the city. Haddon Orchard is a superb country house offering spacious and flexible rural family living, with the advantage of being minutes from Didcot Parkway with trains to London Paddington in just 37 minutes.
In addition, the new Crossrail link will offer direct, fast train services to the City and Canary Wharf via the Elizabeth Line, which opened in May 2022, making commuting to the capital a breeze.
As well as being well-connected, the utterly alluring Haddon Orchard has been beautifully renovated, extended and updated by the current owners in the last few years. The result is a stylish family home that showcases its 1930’s period origins alongside the contemporary accoutrements of 21st century living. It’s ready and waiting for a new family to move in and start enjoying it straight away.
At the end of a gated sweeping drive, Haddon Orchard has an enviable hill-top location on the edge of the leafy village of Brightwell-cum-Sotwell in South Oxfordshire - an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It combines all the attractions of the countryside with close proximity to the towns of Wallingford and Didcot.
The current owners fell in love with the 1930s’ character and style of Haddon Orchard alongside the sunny south-facing aspect and the original Crittal windows which fill it with natural light.
It’s obvious that a great deal of care and attention has been devoted to the new two-storey extension which reflects the heritage style of the original red-brick house and has added the most amazing open-plan living space complete with dream kitchen and a truly breathtaking bedroom suite above – these rooms are the epitome of ‘wow’! Other contemporary enhancements include newly fitted bathrooms and ‘smart’ lighting and heating which are controlled via an app.
With 4,273 sq ft of flexible space throughout the main house, Haddon Orchard has many enticing extras in the grounds too, including a useful one-bedroom annexe that’s ideal as a ‘granny’ or au pair annexe or as an income-generating rental. There’s also a recently built double garage with potential to convert into an office or extra accommodation, double car port, a large barn, workshop and single garage. There is potential for further conversion/development if desired, subject to the necessary planning permissions.
Quiet and secluded, Haddon Orchard sits within 1.5 acres of beautiful, established gardens dotted with fruit trees. It’s a safe haven for a young family with oodles of space to run and kick a ball, or for placing climbing frames, trampolines and so on. And just across the road a footpath leads to the ancient Wittenham Clumps and endlessly scenic walks.
This is a truly exceptional home, we think you’ll agree, so let’s give you all the finer details . .
Spacious, Welcoming And Filled With Natural Light
The overriding impression of Haddon Orchard is of a light, bright and beautifully presented home offering luxurious, spacious rooms with plenty of scope for family gatherings, entertaining or for curling up with a book in your own private space.
Having parked on the gravel drive, where’s there’s space to park at least eight cars, entry is via a 1930s-style front door and entrance hall, with a useful boot room and cloakroom with WC, into the new underfloor-heated extension.
Be prepared to be wowed by the light-filled loveliness of the open-plan 30x30ft kitchen/living space. With expansive aluminium Crittal-style windows and bifold doors bringing the outside in, it really is something! To the left is the luxe bespoke Terence Ball fitted kitchen in palest grey with solid oak worktops, Bosch oven and induction hob, a duo of Bosch dishwashers, wine fridge and Qettle boiling water and filter tap. The large central island has a breakfast counter with space for four bar stools – a great spot for children’s breakfasts and snacks, or for catching-up on homework.
A door leads to a good-sized utility room with an extra-large sink, and to a fantastic walk-in pantry – a relic of the 1950s and 60s that is now a much-coveted extra - with loads of space for storing all the provisions.
This fantastic open plan space is sure to become the hub of family life: There’s room for a dining table seating eight, and a light-filled living area flanked on either side by bifold doors leading out to the patio. The double-sided chimney is set up for a woodburner inside with another outside on the terrace for al fresco entertaining, or you can snuggle up on the comfy sofas with the family and enjoy watching a movie together on the Pure Theatre drop-down projector screen.
Cleverly designed pocket doors open into the original part of the house and into the 20x16ft family room. The beauty of this area is its flexibility: When you want open plan living or to keep an eye on the kids from the kitchen the entire space can be opened up to create an effortless flow. And for times when you crave more privacy, slide the doors across to create two separate areas, allowing everyone their own space.
Leading off the family room you’ll discover the tech systems room alongside a wine cellar. With oil-fired central heating and underfloor heating in the extension, Haddon Orchard is equipped with a plethora of technological enhancements including rako smart lighting and Honeywell evo heating/hot water. The basics are in place for the easy addition of air or ground source energy pumps, solar panels etc, with pipework infrastructure for air conditioning.
The formal dining room has a delightful period feel to it, with a feature redbrick open fireplace and overhead beams, and this leads to the tranquil haven that is the sitting room. With views of the gardens this is the perfect place to relax at the end of the day with a nice glass of something chilled.
The hallway of the entrance to the older part of the house and another cloakroom with WC completes the downstairs layout.
When Sleep Beckons . .
Again, prepare to be blown away by the main bedroom suite which occupies the upper part of the new extension. It has it all – 30x30ft of tranquil softly carpeted space under a feature vaulted and illuminated ceiling with a cosy seating area under a Velux window and the most amazing dressing area with smart fitted wardrobes and storage. The en-suite is similarly impressive with the bathtub sunk into a raised plinth, twin washbasins, an enormous walk-in Crittall-style shower.
Bedroom two has an en-suite bathroom with a large storage cupboard while the three remaining bedrooms, all doubles, share two family bathrooms.
Into The Garden...
Haddon Orchard, clad in swathes of purple wisteria in the spring, is enveloped by 1.5 acres of truly glorious gardens with lawns, hedges, borders and trees – many of them ancient fruit trees.
It’s a safe haven for children and a blank canvas for gardening enthusiasts who can cultivate it as they desire. You could even add a tennis court and/or swimming pool to create the ultimate country retreat.
There’s a large paved terrace to the rear of the extension and, thanks to the woodburning stove, it’s perfect for al fresco dining all-year-round if desired.
Out And About...
Haddon Orchard’s location in the midst of an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty means there’s fabulous walks and heritage right on the doorstep – literally! Cross the road to access a footpath that takes you to the famous Wittenham Clumps, a pair of ancient wooded chalk hills with the oldest beech trees in England – dating back to the 1740s – at the summit. The land below is owned and run as a working farm by the environmental charity The Earth Trust with a packed programme of events for young and old such as guided walks, activity trails and a lambing festival.
Haddon Orchard is situated in between the two villages of North Moreton and Brightwell-cum-Sotwell. Down the hill in North Moreton the village pub, The Bear, serves pub grub, and community clubs and activities are centred on the village hall, cricket green and playground. Brightwell-cum-Sotwell is a quintessentially English village. Highly sought-after, Brightwell has a fabulous pub – The Red Lion, a thriving village shop and post office and an active and friendly community. There’s loads going on here, from ‘safari suppers’ to toddler groups, quiz nights and coffee mornings.
The nearest state primary schools are Brightwell-cum-Sotwell ce, St Laurence ce in Warborough (Ofsted ‘good’), Long Wittenham Primary School and Pre-School which has plans to have a new site built, and South Moreton primary school (Ofsted ‘good’).
Wallingford School is the nearest secondary school and also Ofsted-rated ‘good’, whilst the home is in the catchment for the ‘Outstanding’ Didcot Girls’ School. Excellent private schools abound in this part of the country, the nearest being Moulsford Prep, Cranford House, The Oratory, The Manor Prep, St Helens and Katherines, Our Lady’s, Abingdon Boys School and Radley College.
Despite the rural idyll, there are plenty of shops and facilities nearby. Within a ten-minute drive, the nearby towns of Wallingford and Didcot offer all the everyday necessities such as supermarkets, shops, pubs, coffee shops, restaurants and a variety of leisure options. Nearer to Haddon Orchard, the Root One garden centre sells all the gardening essentials and has a café, and the youngsters will enjoy meeting the donkeys at the Island Farm sanctuary.
When it comes to connectivity, Haddon Orchard is within easy reach of the M4 and M40, and the frequent trains from Didcot Parkway station will whisk you to Oxford in just 11 minutes or to London in around 40 minutes.
Where To Go When You Need:
Milk: The Village Stores in Brightwell cum Sotwell is run by the community and is open daily (Mon-Fri 9am-5.30pm, Sat 9am-1pm, Sun 9am-12pm). It stocks all the essentials and a wide range of local produce too. The Post Office is situated within the stores and is open Monday-Saturday.
Gym/fitness: There are a number of sports clubs in the village of Brightwell cum Sotwell including a cricket club, badminton and tennis club and golf society. Pure Gym in Didcot is in the smart new Orchard Centre and is open 24 hours, whilst Wallingford Sports Park occupies 26 acres and has floodlit pitches and tennis courts. Riverside Park in Wallingford has an open-air heated swimming pool next to the river and is a popular choice with families in the summer months.
Golf: Brightwell cum Sotwell Golf Society currently has over 50 members who join to have fun, meet other villagers, and play golf on different local courses. Book a tee time at Hadden Hill Golf Club – an 18-hole course and floodlit driving range. Or try The Springs Resort and Golf Club where as well as 133 acres of parkland golf you’ll also discover a luxurious spa, hotel and restaurant.
Dinner/drinks: The Red Lion in Brightwell cum Sotwell is a 16th Century thatched inn serving traditional pub food and a good range of locally brewed ales. The Bear Inn, North Moreton is dog-friendly and does a great Sunday lunch. Or for something special, one of our favourite nearby eateries is The Beetle & Wedge in Moulsford, around 15 minutes away. Its stunning riverside setting is the ideal spot to while away a summer afternoon with a glass of something chilled.
Takeaways: You’ll find a whole host of takeaways in nearby Didcot from pizza to Thai, Indian and Chinese, many of which will deliver.
Play area: Kings Meadow in the heart of the village is a great kids play area with a good range of equipment.
Schools: Brightwell-cum-Sotwell ce Primary School, St Laurence ce in Warborough, Long Wittenham Pre-School and Primary School, South Moreton Primary School, Didcot Girls School, Wallingford School, Moulsford Prep, Cranford House, The Manor Prep, St Helen and St Katherine, Our Lady’s, Abingdon Boys School, Radley College.
Finer Details:
Square footage: Main House: 4273 sq ft / 397 sq mtr
Annexe: 664 sq ft / 61.70 sq mtr
Outbuildings/Garages: 906 sq ft / 84.2 sq mtr
Total (excluding carport): 5,843 sq ft / 542.9 sq mtr
Council Tax Band: G
EPC: D
Local Authority: South Oxfordshire District Council: |
Central Heating: Oil fired central heating
Distances: Oxford 11 miles, Didcot Parkway 3.4 miles, London 57 miles, Heathrow 37 miles, Wallingford 4 miles
Trains to London Paddington from Didcot – over 100 services daily (journey time approximately 45 minutes)
What3Words: ///lifeguard.scrolled.listen
In addition, the new Crossrail link will offer direct, fast train services to the City and Canary Wharf via the Elizabeth Line, which opened in May 2022, making commuting to the capital a breeze.
As well as being well-connected, the utterly alluring Haddon Orchard has been beautifully renovated, extended and updated by the current owners in the last few years. The result is a stylish family home that showcases its 1930’s period origins alongside the contemporary accoutrements of 21st century living. It’s ready and waiting for a new family to move in and start enjoying it straight away.
At the end of a gated sweeping drive, Haddon Orchard has an enviable hill-top location on the edge of the leafy village of Brightwell-cum-Sotwell in South Oxfordshire - an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It combines all the attractions of the countryside with close proximity to the towns of Wallingford and Didcot.
The current owners fell in love with the 1930s’ character and style of Haddon Orchard alongside the sunny south-facing aspect and the original Crittal windows which fill it with natural light.
It’s obvious that a great deal of care and attention has been devoted to the new two-storey extension which reflects the heritage style of the original red-brick house and has added the most amazing open-plan living space complete with dream kitchen and a truly breathtaking bedroom suite above – these rooms are the epitome of ‘wow’! Other contemporary enhancements include newly fitted bathrooms and ‘smart’ lighting and heating which are controlled via an app.
With 4,273 sq ft of flexible space throughout the main house, Haddon Orchard has many enticing extras in the grounds too, including a useful one-bedroom annexe that’s ideal as a ‘granny’ or au pair annexe or as an income-generating rental. There’s also a recently built double garage with potential to convert into an office or extra accommodation, double car port, a large barn, workshop and single garage. There is potential for further conversion/development if desired, subject to the necessary planning permissions.
Quiet and secluded, Haddon Orchard sits within 1.5 acres of beautiful, established gardens dotted with fruit trees. It’s a safe haven for a young family with oodles of space to run and kick a ball, or for placing climbing frames, trampolines and so on. And just across the road a footpath leads to the ancient Wittenham Clumps and endlessly scenic walks.
This is a truly exceptional home, we think you’ll agree, so let’s give you all the finer details . .
Spacious, Welcoming And Filled With Natural Light
The overriding impression of Haddon Orchard is of a light, bright and beautifully presented home offering luxurious, spacious rooms with plenty of scope for family gatherings, entertaining or for curling up with a book in your own private space.
Having parked on the gravel drive, where’s there’s space to park at least eight cars, entry is via a 1930s-style front door and entrance hall, with a useful boot room and cloakroom with WC, into the new underfloor-heated extension.
Be prepared to be wowed by the light-filled loveliness of the open-plan 30x30ft kitchen/living space. With expansive aluminium Crittal-style windows and bifold doors bringing the outside in, it really is something! To the left is the luxe bespoke Terence Ball fitted kitchen in palest grey with solid oak worktops, Bosch oven and induction hob, a duo of Bosch dishwashers, wine fridge and Qettle boiling water and filter tap. The large central island has a breakfast counter with space for four bar stools – a great spot for children’s breakfasts and snacks, or for catching-up on homework.
A door leads to a good-sized utility room with an extra-large sink, and to a fantastic walk-in pantry – a relic of the 1950s and 60s that is now a much-coveted extra - with loads of space for storing all the provisions.
This fantastic open plan space is sure to become the hub of family life: There’s room for a dining table seating eight, and a light-filled living area flanked on either side by bifold doors leading out to the patio. The double-sided chimney is set up for a woodburner inside with another outside on the terrace for al fresco entertaining, or you can snuggle up on the comfy sofas with the family and enjoy watching a movie together on the Pure Theatre drop-down projector screen.
Cleverly designed pocket doors open into the original part of the house and into the 20x16ft family room. The beauty of this area is its flexibility: When you want open plan living or to keep an eye on the kids from the kitchen the entire space can be opened up to create an effortless flow. And for times when you crave more privacy, slide the doors across to create two separate areas, allowing everyone their own space.
Leading off the family room you’ll discover the tech systems room alongside a wine cellar. With oil-fired central heating and underfloor heating in the extension, Haddon Orchard is equipped with a plethora of technological enhancements including rako smart lighting and Honeywell evo heating/hot water. The basics are in place for the easy addition of air or ground source energy pumps, solar panels etc, with pipework infrastructure for air conditioning.
The formal dining room has a delightful period feel to it, with a feature redbrick open fireplace and overhead beams, and this leads to the tranquil haven that is the sitting room. With views of the gardens this is the perfect place to relax at the end of the day with a nice glass of something chilled.
The hallway of the entrance to the older part of the house and another cloakroom with WC completes the downstairs layout.
When Sleep Beckons . .
Again, prepare to be blown away by the main bedroom suite which occupies the upper part of the new extension. It has it all – 30x30ft of tranquil softly carpeted space under a feature vaulted and illuminated ceiling with a cosy seating area under a Velux window and the most amazing dressing area with smart fitted wardrobes and storage. The en-suite is similarly impressive with the bathtub sunk into a raised plinth, twin washbasins, an enormous walk-in Crittall-style shower.
Bedroom two has an en-suite bathroom with a large storage cupboard while the three remaining bedrooms, all doubles, share two family bathrooms.
Into The Garden...
Haddon Orchard, clad in swathes of purple wisteria in the spring, is enveloped by 1.5 acres of truly glorious gardens with lawns, hedges, borders and trees – many of them ancient fruit trees.
It’s a safe haven for children and a blank canvas for gardening enthusiasts who can cultivate it as they desire. You could even add a tennis court and/or swimming pool to create the ultimate country retreat.
There’s a large paved terrace to the rear of the extension and, thanks to the woodburning stove, it’s perfect for al fresco dining all-year-round if desired.
Out And About...
Haddon Orchard’s location in the midst of an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty means there’s fabulous walks and heritage right on the doorstep – literally! Cross the road to access a footpath that takes you to the famous Wittenham Clumps, a pair of ancient wooded chalk hills with the oldest beech trees in England – dating back to the 1740s – at the summit. The land below is owned and run as a working farm by the environmental charity The Earth Trust with a packed programme of events for young and old such as guided walks, activity trails and a lambing festival.
Haddon Orchard is situated in between the two villages of North Moreton and Brightwell-cum-Sotwell. Down the hill in North Moreton the village pub, The Bear, serves pub grub, and community clubs and activities are centred on the village hall, cricket green and playground. Brightwell-cum-Sotwell is a quintessentially English village. Highly sought-after, Brightwell has a fabulous pub – The Red Lion, a thriving village shop and post office and an active and friendly community. There’s loads going on here, from ‘safari suppers’ to toddler groups, quiz nights and coffee mornings.
The nearest state primary schools are Brightwell-cum-Sotwell ce, St Laurence ce in Warborough (Ofsted ‘good’), Long Wittenham Primary School and Pre-School which has plans to have a new site built, and South Moreton primary school (Ofsted ‘good’).
Wallingford School is the nearest secondary school and also Ofsted-rated ‘good’, whilst the home is in the catchment for the ‘Outstanding’ Didcot Girls’ School. Excellent private schools abound in this part of the country, the nearest being Moulsford Prep, Cranford House, The Oratory, The Manor Prep, St Helens and Katherines, Our Lady’s, Abingdon Boys School and Radley College.
Despite the rural idyll, there are plenty of shops and facilities nearby. Within a ten-minute drive, the nearby towns of Wallingford and Didcot offer all the everyday necessities such as supermarkets, shops, pubs, coffee shops, restaurants and a variety of leisure options. Nearer to Haddon Orchard, the Root One garden centre sells all the gardening essentials and has a café, and the youngsters will enjoy meeting the donkeys at the Island Farm sanctuary.
When it comes to connectivity, Haddon Orchard is within easy reach of the M4 and M40, and the frequent trains from Didcot Parkway station will whisk you to Oxford in just 11 minutes or to London in around 40 minutes.
Where To Go When You Need:
Milk: The Village Stores in Brightwell cum Sotwell is run by the community and is open daily (Mon-Fri 9am-5.30pm, Sat 9am-1pm, Sun 9am-12pm). It stocks all the essentials and a wide range of local produce too. The Post Office is situated within the stores and is open Monday-Saturday.
Gym/fitness: There are a number of sports clubs in the village of Brightwell cum Sotwell including a cricket club, badminton and tennis club and golf society. Pure Gym in Didcot is in the smart new Orchard Centre and is open 24 hours, whilst Wallingford Sports Park occupies 26 acres and has floodlit pitches and tennis courts. Riverside Park in Wallingford has an open-air heated swimming pool next to the river and is a popular choice with families in the summer months.
Golf: Brightwell cum Sotwell Golf Society currently has over 50 members who join to have fun, meet other villagers, and play golf on different local courses. Book a tee time at Hadden Hill Golf Club – an 18-hole course and floodlit driving range. Or try The Springs Resort and Golf Club where as well as 133 acres of parkland golf you’ll also discover a luxurious spa, hotel and restaurant.
Dinner/drinks: The Red Lion in Brightwell cum Sotwell is a 16th Century thatched inn serving traditional pub food and a good range of locally brewed ales. The Bear Inn, North Moreton is dog-friendly and does a great Sunday lunch. Or for something special, one of our favourite nearby eateries is The Beetle & Wedge in Moulsford, around 15 minutes away. Its stunning riverside setting is the ideal spot to while away a summer afternoon with a glass of something chilled.
Takeaways: You’ll find a whole host of takeaways in nearby Didcot from pizza to Thai, Indian and Chinese, many of which will deliver.
Play area: Kings Meadow in the heart of the village is a great kids play area with a good range of equipment.
Schools: Brightwell-cum-Sotwell ce Primary School, St Laurence ce in Warborough, Long Wittenham Pre-School and Primary School, South Moreton Primary School, Didcot Girls School, Wallingford School, Moulsford Prep, Cranford House, The Manor Prep, St Helen and St Katherine, Our Lady’s, Abingdon Boys School, Radley College.
Finer Details:
Square footage: Main House: 4273 sq ft / 397 sq mtr
Annexe: 664 sq ft / 61.70 sq mtr
Outbuildings/Garages: 906 sq ft / 84.2 sq mtr
Total (excluding carport): 5,843 sq ft / 542.9 sq mtr
Council Tax Band: G
EPC: D
Local Authority: South Oxfordshire District Council: |
Central Heating: Oil fired central heating
Distances: Oxford 11 miles, Didcot Parkway 3.4 miles, London 57 miles, Heathrow 37 miles, Wallingford 4 miles
Trains to London Paddington from Didcot – over 100 services daily (journey time approximately 45 minutes)
What3Words: ///lifeguard.scrolled.listen
