Fancy a home in an idyllic Oxfordshire village?

IT is just a few hundred yards to the High Street of one of Oxfordshire’s most desirable villages and as a modern, gated development offers the perfect environment for modern family life.

“It is the ideal place for a family with young children, as well as those seeking a quiet lifestyle within a friendly community,” say the Delafields, who have spent the last eleven years bringing up their two children in Lady Place, a community of 25 homes in the heart of Sutton Courtenay.

Built in 2000 by Berkley Homes, 18 Lady Place is a detached five bedroom property on the market for £775,000 through Carter Jonas and set within a development with its own playground and village green.

“You can let your children go and give them their freedom which you can’t do in other places. They can come and go as they please and I know they will be safe in Lady Place,” says Mia Delafield. With three pubs and the well renowned French restaurant, The Fish, two local shops, a florist, greengrocer and motor garage, Sutton Courtenay offers plenty of life to villagers, while commuters can enjoy excellent transport connections. Didcot Parkway railway station (which provides two trains an hour to London Paddington) is less than four miles away, Oxford is just over 13 miles away and the popular town of Abingdon, three miles away. Mrs Delafield said:

“When you walk off the High Street and into Lady Place there’s a real feeling of peace and tranquillity and the development is very well maintained”.

“The house is well proportioned and there’s a really nicely flowing layout downstairs. It is open and airy and the triple aspect windows in the drawing room create a beautiful light room.”

As well as the impressive drawing room with French doors opening to the rear garden, the downstairs features a generous hallway, dining room and study, all fitted with solid French Oak flooring. The kitchen is fitted with a range of solid beech units with a gas hob and integrated double oven and dishwasher. Adjacent to the kitchen is the breakfast area with a door to the larder and an archway to the family room, which in turn has French doors opening to the garden making this a particularly appealing design for families with young children and for summertime entertaining. The master bedroom overlooks the garden to the rear and has generous fitted wardrobes and a large en suite bathroom with separate shower cubicle. Also on the first floor is a guest bedroom with an en suite shower room and two further double bedrooms, all with built in wardrobes, as well as a single bedroom and a large family bathroom.

There is a large double garage to the front of the property with power and light together with a boarded loft area ideal for storage. Outside the rear garden is mainly laid to lawn while Number 18 benefits from not having another house either immediately to the front or behind the property.

To arrange a viewing contact Mark Charter at Carter Jonas on 01856 511444 or visit www.carterjonas.co.uk.

This article was written for The Oxford Times Property News

Grimm theatre at its best

Grimm and Grimmer - a real hit!

Karen David took her Panto-averse 12 year old son to Grimm and Grimmer at Pegasus Theatre last night in the hope that this ‘bit more grown up’ Christmas production would be a winner.

“Having worked with Pegasus to promote Grimm and Grimmer during December, I was desperate to see it,” she says.  ”And not taking my 12 year old son Joe was out of the question, but I knew he’d need some persuasion.

“When I heard that there was a particularly gory scene, that was my cue to persuade Joe and his best friend to come along.

“I needn’t have worried.  From the very first scene, we were all gripped.  This play is genuinely very, very funny and the acting did the script complete justice.  Precision comic timing, some very clever ad-libbing and the multiple talents of the cast of three had the whole audience engaged and having fun.

“Grimm and Grimmer is a highly original take on the lives of these most famous story tellers and their sister Lottie.  It entwines their lives with those of their characters, twisting reality and fantasy with pathos, humour and, yes, some really grisly bits. It delivered some of the most hilarious characters I have ever seen, reminiscent of Python’s most creative days, as well as some truly memorable one-liners.

“The two boys giggled all the way through and their only complaint was that it was too short!  What a result!”

Grimm and Grimmer is on until 30th December at Pegasus Theatre, Oxford.

Tree-mendous delivery kicks off Christmas at Oxford Castle

Oxford Castle's Sarah Mayhew takes deivery of a giant Norwegian Spruce

Earlier this week Oxford Castle took delivery of one of the county’s biggest Christmas Trees this year when a 25ft Norwegian Spruce was winched into position by a one-and-a-half-tonne crane.

It took the team from S L Forestry and Oxford Castle most of the morning to plant the Spruce plus another fifteen traditional Christmas trees around the grounds of the historic visitor attraction in an operation that includes lowering the colossal conifer into position.

The arrival of the tree-mendous firs signalled the start of the Christmas season at Oxford Castle, which includes playing host to the crescendo of Oxford’s Unsilent Night parade, the staging of Empress Matilda’s dramatic escape from Oxford Castle in the 12th Century, musical performances at Oxford Castle – Unlocked, and holding Oxford’s one and only Christmas market.

The Christmas trees were delivered by S L Forestry, which owns a sustainable forestry near Kidlington. The firm, which plants a tree for every one that is cut down, will drive the huge cargo six and a half miles into Oxford by tractor in the early morning.

Director Steven Napier who founded the firm in 1979 said: “This is one of the biggest trees we’ll deliver this Christmas and as such it presents quite a challenge for us to put it in to position for the client.

“We chop down the trees on Sunday to make sure they arrive fresh but the delivery of a tree over 20 ft is a specialist job which requires careful handling.

“We need to use a large crane to deliver the 25ft tree and lower them in slowly and gently to make sure we don’t damage any of the historic castle walls.”

Events and Marketing Manager Sarah Mayhew (pictured) said: “The giant tree really does herald the arrival of Christmas at Oxford Castle, and all around our site the preparations are in full swing, with decorations, seasonal menus and party bookings all starting to appear at the many restaurants and bars we have here.

“With more activities happening at Oxford Castle than ever before this year, it’s one of the best places in Oxford to get wrapped up and come on over for some winter warmth and family fun!”

 

First show homes open at Stratford Park

One of the first showhomes at Stratford Park, from David Wilson Homes

David Wilson Homes has opened Stratford Park’s first two show homes and the location, style and quality of the properties have made them so popular that one was reserved during the opening weekend.

Building work on Stratford Park began this autumn and a selection of one, two, three, four and five bedroom homes will be on offer from three of the UK’s largest house builders, Barratt Homes, Bellway and David Wilson Homes.  These major builders are combining to deliver high standards of build quality, planned environment and interior design, all of which assure buyers they are investing in a comfortable and quality new home.

With prices currently ranging from £214,995 to £274,995 for three and four bedroom homes, agent Carter Jonas sees Stratford Park will appeal to professionals and families looking to enjoy the rural charm and boutique shops of Stony Stratford, as well as the area’s excellent transport connections, with Wolverton close by and just 45 minutes by train from London Euston.

For more information on Stratford Park or to register your interest, please visit www.stratfordpark.co.uk or contact Sarah Price on 01604 608223. The David Wilson show homes are open to view daily from 11am to 6pm. Contact Mark and Flip on 07769 306851 / 0844 8114477 or email stratfordpark@dwh.co.uk.  Bellway Homes is due to open its show home at the end of November and Barratt Homes will be launching in December.

Former village pound transformed into idyllic Oxfordshire cottage

Pound Cottage, Brightwell-cum-Sotwell

ONCE the village pound for stray animals, this thatched cottage has been transformed into an idyllic Oxfordshire home full of charm and period character.

Believed to have been built in the 17th Century, when it was two dwellings, Pound Cottage has all the iconic features of a truly wonderful country house; a newly thatched roof, beautiful beamed ceilings, a gas fired Aga, large bay windows to capture the light and additional detached living quarters, all surrounded by a landscaped garden.

However less than 50 years ago this four bedroom detached home in Brightwell-cum-Sotwell, near Wallingford, still served as the village pound for loose livestock and hence the name Pound Cottage.

Up until the 1960s stray cattle or other animals in Sotwell parish were kept in its grounds until their owners stumped up a fee to release them, while persistent offences could see owners brought before the manor court and having to face further fines.

Nowadays no trace of the pound remains and the house has been lovingly restored and tastefully extended over the last 35 years; it has now been put on the market for £875,000 through agents Carter Jonas.

Re-thatched in May this year, the wheat straw and reed roof was replaced by renowned thatcher, Kit Davies, from Steventon, who in 2008 repaired and re-ridged of one of the world’s most iconic thatched buildings, The Globe Theatre in London’s Southbank.

Acquired by the Salisbury family in 1976, the property has been extended from a two bedroom home to four while retaining all the original oak floors, wall and ceiling beams and brick and stone fireplaces. Thanks to its bay windows, the three ground floor reception rooms are full of light. As well as an Aga, the kitchen has hand painted John Lewis of Hungerford units and terracotta tiled floor, with French doors leading to a private terrace and seating area.

The first floor is currently configured as a master suite of a bedroom with a dressing room and bathroom, two further bedrooms and a family bath/shower room.

At the side of the property there is a large detached two storey oak framed building with a double garage and an additional multi-purpose living space with separate kitchenette, shower room and first floor bedroom. There is a large ground floor garden/dining room with a wood-burning stove and French doors leading to the adjoining terrace.

Outside the Salisbury’s have created a beautiful garden complete with flowering borders, specimen trees, bricked edged gravel paths, paved terraces and sweeping lawns.

Mother-of-two Anne Salisbury said: “For us Pound Cottage has been a really good family home. It’s very pretty, very comfortable and has lots of natural light.

“As our family grew, so the house grew with us; our home was an old cottage but now it’s been brought into the 21st Century.

“We’ve enjoyed living in a house with such history and character.”

“Pound Cottage is a lovely home, cool in the summer, warm in the winter, and of all the cottages I know in the village, this one is by far the lightest with really big bay windows which bring in the light all through the day.”

“We’re moving locally as we want to remain in Brightwell-cum-Sotwell. We’re really keen gardeners and we’ve created a really pretty garden here, but we feel we have done as much as we can with it, and now we want to have a bit of adventure by taking on a new garden.”

Contact agents Carter Jonas on 01865 511444 or visit the website carterjonas.co.uk

Written by Spriggs David for The Oxford Times

Stratford Park: Carter Jonas brings hundreds of new homes to market

Our client, Carter Jonas New Homes, is heading up the launch and marketing of a major housing development near Milton Keynes which will bring hundreds of much-needed new homes to the region.

Carter Jonas in Northampton has been appointed sole agent for Stratford Park, a development of approximately 350 new homes on the edge of Wolverton, Milton Keynes.

The 18-acre site is being jointly developed by three of the country’s biggest house builders; Barratt Homes, Bellway and David Wilson Homes who have chosen Carter Jonas to handle the marketing by creating an overall brand and web presence for the Stratford Park development. Spriggs David is handling media relations to generate coverage throughout regional, trade and national titles.

Building work commenced this autumn, which will bring a variety of contemporary, high specification one, two, three and four bedroom homes to the historic market town of Wolverton, just a stones’ throw from Stony Stratford.

With prices currently ranging from £214,995 to £274,995 Stratford Park will be popular with professionals and families looking to capitalise on the area’s excellent transport connections.  Train services from Wolverton to London Euston take 45 minutes while commuters are just a four minute ride from central Milton Keynes, four miles away, or a 13 minute train journey from Northampton, 15 miles away.

Carter Jonas anticipates that the range of properties and the site’s location will also appeal to buy-to-let investors.

Zoe Davies, who runs Carter Jonas’ Central Region New Homes Division, says:  “We are proud to be involved in bringing this exciting new development to our central region and believe it will play a part in helping to satisfy the huge demand for housing in this area.”

The New Homes Division of the Carter Jonas Northampton office has been expanded this year in order to manage the marketing of this fantastic new venture, alongside village developments in Nether Heyford and Hartwell, as well as several more schemes due to launch in 2012.

For more information contact Sarah Price on 01604 608223 or email her at sarah.price@carterjonas.co.uk.

Carter Jonas helps Christian charity open door to larger premises

Telfer House, acquired by Christian charity Open Doors

Carter Jonas has finalised the letting of one of Witney’s largest vacant commercial properties to an Oxfordshire based charity.

Telfer House, a 21,960 sq ft (2,040 sq m) detached office and warehousing unit in Range Road, Witney, which is owned by Vale of White Horse District Council, is set to be occupied by Christian charity Open Doors after they agreed a ten year lease on the property for £120,000 p.a. with an option to purchase the building.

Formerly occupied by Torex Retail, the unit comprises a two storey, open plan building with kitchen facilities and 102 car parking spaces

The charity, which supports and serves persecuted Christians, has been based in Oxfordshire since 1970, and had outgrown its current 5,563 sq ft office building in North Leigh.  It will move into the new unit in December.

Open Doors’ Chief Executive Officer, Eddie Lyle, said: “We had massively outgrown our existing premises so we are very excited to be moving in.  This new building with all the facilities it offers is a perfect base to work towards our vision of raising global support for persecuted Christians.”

Cllr Elaine Ware, cabinet member for property at Vale of White Horse District Council, said: “This property is part of our investment portfolio and we are pleased to have secured the letting of it to Open Doors, particularly in this difficult economic climate.”

Jon Silversides of Carter Jonas added: “In what remains a challenging market, this is a significant letting in Witney in terms of both size and the ability to retain an established local occupier.”

Carter Jonas has now been instructed to market Open Doors’ former premises, a detached, high quality office building in North Leigh. “This property is available either to lease or to purchase and would make an ideal space for an SME to move into,” adds Jon Silversides.

Dramatic civil war escape brought to life at Oxford Castle

UnderConstruction re-enact Empress Matilda's daring escape from Oxford Castle

EMPRESS Matilda’s daring escape from Oxford Castle is the inspiration for ‘Mummers, Michaelmas and The Empress Matilda,’ a unique piece of theatre which will be played out across the castle grounds this winter.

The daughter of King Henry 1st took up residence in the castle in 1141 but when she found herself under siege from her cousin King Stephen during the bitter winter of the civil war she was forced to flee her home in the dead of night.

Clad in an illustrious white cape to disguise herself against the snow, Empress Matilda was lowered from the castle tower by ropes and guarded by four knights as she made her dramatic escape along a frozen River Thames to Wallingford. UnderConstruction theatre company will bring the famous tale to life by holding twelve performances of the story  during Oxford Castle’s Christmas Market.

Six performers from the Oxford theatre company are involved in dramatising the historic event which will see theatregoers follow the story through the Oxford Castle gardens, towers and crypts during 75 minutes of live theatre.

The siege occurred in 12th Century England when the country was wracked by a civil war as the two cousins fought for their right to succeed Henry I, son of William the Conqueror.

Lizzie McBain of UnderConstruction said: “We are delighted to be bringing this fantastic piece of Oxford’s history to life.

“Empress Matilda was a brave and proud part of Oxford’s past and she is portrayed in history as a striking character making her escape from Oxford Castle in her white cape.

“The story is quite magical and the fact that we are able to bring it to Oxford Castle at winter while shoppers enjoy Oxford Christmas Market means we are hoping lots of people will have the chance to see this part of our history.”

Oxford Castle marketing manager Sarah Mayhew said: “We are delighted that  these productions are bringing our history to life in such magical ways.  They’re a wonderful way to fire up everyone’s imaginations at this Christmassy time of year!”

‘Mummers, Michaelmas and The Empress Matilda,’ performances take place Thursday to Sunday from the 3rd to 18th December,  7pm each day plus 3pm on Saturdays and Sundays.  Tickets are £10 (£8 students and children under 12, under 5’s go free), and available from oxfordcastle.com, gigantic.com and from the O3 Gallery at Oxford Castle.

Philip Selway plays solo for Pegasus

Philip Selway

Tonight and tomorrow, Radiohead drummer Philip Selway steps from behind one of the world’s most famous bands to front two sellout solo gigs to support Pegasus Theatre in his home town Oxford next month.

Philip will perform tracks from his new EP Running Blind and his haunting debut album Familial when he plays two nights in a 135-seat auditorium at Pegasus in November.

The gigs are being held to raise much needed funds for youth work Pegasus delivers and to kick off its 50th anniversary celebrations.

For fans used to seeing Radiohead headline festivals or play sold out arenas, the gigs offer the unique chance to get up close and personal with the multi-talented musician. This is the first time he has played in Oxford as a solo artist, and the gigs mark Philip’s last public performances of his solo material before he returns to a busy Radiohead schedule.

“I haven’t had the chance to play in Oxford as a solo artist,” he says.  “So bringing the songs back to where they were written makes playing these gigs very special to me.

“Pegasus is a wonderfully intimate venue,” he adds.  “Playing in smaller venues can be unforgiving, but when you get it right they are the best places to perform because of the incredible connection you can get with the audience.”

Philip is currently in the process of writing more of his own material and may debut some of it during his Pegasus shows if he has finished the arrangements in time. He will be joined on stage by musicians Kath Mann, Caroline Weeks and drummer Alex Thomas, as well as renowned solo artist and producer Adem.”

Bucks farm to benefit from faster rail access

Muswell Hill Farm, Brill, near Aylesbury. On the market as a whole or in lots

Commuters who need good access to the capital have the opportunity to purchase a beautiful 54.51 acre farm on in Brill. Muswell Hill Farm is a grassland holding with a guide price of £1.495m and its hilltop position allows views over a number of surrounding counties including Berks, Northants, Warwicks and Oxon.

The hilltop view over several counties

The farm is for sale as a whole or in two lots. Lot 1, priced at £1.245m, includes a period detached farmhouse of brick and stone which is full of character and in need of complete modernisation.. There are also a number of traditional buildings some of which still contain original stabling. Set within 4.25 acres (1.72 hectares), the house enjoys views from the top of Muswell Hill to the south, east and west.

Lot 2 is 49.89 acres (20.19 hectares) of grassland with long ranging views to the south, east and west, and is on the market for £250,000.

Located just over one mile from the village of Brill and less than seven miles from Bicester, the farm is ideally situated to benefit from faster train times between Birmingham and London which take effect this September. The work will cut journey times by up to 20 per cent, making Bicester just 41 minutes from London by train.

Steven McLaughlin, Rural Partner for Carter Jonas in Oxford, said: “This is an excellent opportunity to invest in land with incredible views over five counties and with excellent transport links to London, the Midlands and Oxford.”
To arrange a viewing contact Steven McLaughlin on 01865 511444, email steven.McLaughlin@carterjonas.co.uk or visit www.carterjonas.co.uk.

This editorial was written by Spriggs David for the Bucks regional media, September 2011