RECTORY FARM HOUSE

Architecturally interesting, this Grade II listed 17th century, quintessentially English country house affords its future custodian a true Swallows and Amazons lifestyle. Marrying period charm with the convenience of 21st century living, Rectory Farm House provides the opportunity to entertain on a grand scale. It is a perfect country retreat for those seeking a private edge of village estate, hidden from view.

A previous owner, the actor Michael Caine, extensively added to the house and planted many of the specimen trees to be found in the grounds. The driveway sweeps round to the front of the house, with its impressive portico entrance. Double doors open to a welcoming reception hall, then directly to the magnificent Long Room with its vaulted ceiling and panelled walls. Four sets of bespoke oak pocket doors open to the west facing terraces. Forming the heart of the house, this room features a carved stone fireplace and cocktail area at one end. At the opposite end, a spiral staircase rises to a fabulous mezzanine with its own open fireplace, cinema room and snooker table. Also directly off the Long Room is the leisure/spa complex, with doors opening out onto the terraces. The music room, drawing room and sitting rooms are in the oldest part of the house and retain a traditional country house feel with their stone fireplaces, beams and bespoke cabinetry.

The library, presently used as a study, features bespoke oak book shelves and three sets of French doors, making it a wonderfully light-filled room. Stairs lead down to a further study and store room. There are two kitchens to the front of the house, making for easy entertaining. The main kitchen has contemporary glazed sliding doors opening directly to the Long Room. Painted wood units sit beneath granite worktops with a four door Aga. The secondary kitchen still houses the original iron range cooker, as well as more modern additions. Also on the ground floor are a utility room, gym, plant room, boot room and two loos.

The principal bedroom suite has its own staircase. The bedroom has a vaulted ceiling and doors opening to a private outside terrace. The generous dressing room and bathroom both have bespoke cabinetry with a dual vanity unit and separate 11 shower and bath. This principal bedroom suite has also been designed as a secure room. A separate staircase leads to five further bedrooms over two floors, two with en suite shower rooms and a family bathroom.

Leisure/spa wing
The leisure complex houses a 100,000 litre pool, part of which is enclosed by a striking Victorian-style glass pavilion with its curved glass roofline. There is also a Moroccan-style jacuzzi, 16 person sauna, changing room with shower and loo.

Cottage
This pretty cottage has a sitting room, kitchen, downstairs bedroom suite and mezzanine bedroom suite.

Lodge
Presently used as staff accommodation, this provides a generous kitchen/living room, two bedrooms and a shower room.

Car/party barn
The wonderful thatched, timber barn is presently used for car storage with a car lift to maximise storage space. The present owners have installed a kitchen and loo, enabling use as a party barn, and stairs lead to a mezzanine office.

Garaging
A three bay, timber clad garage provides an additional three car ports, a large machinery store, log store and first floor storage room.

Outside
The house sits in the center of its plot, surrounded by its 8.3 acres of gardens and grounds. Waterways and lakes are woven through, criss-crossed by wooden bridges, and the River Thames meanders along its boundary. York stone terraces span the westerly aspect of the house and are accessed from double doors from both the Long Room and the swimming pool. One of the terraces has a gazebo housing a substantial outside kitchen.

The formal gardens include a beautiful circular fountain, mature herbaceous beds bordered by formal hedging and mellowed old brick paths. There is a tennis court and pavilion. Beneath the formal and croquet lawns, the waterside meadows are left wild with paths mown through, and are a haven for all manner of wildlife including otters, swans, kingfishers, hedgehogs, sparrowhawks, buzzards, rooks and deer.

There are three lakes, all with islands. One, spanned by two wooden bridges, has a delightful summerhouse and terrace, an idyllic spot to while away time with friends and family. An impressive avenue of lime trees draws the eye from the house towards the boathouse, mooring jetty and river.

A vegetable garden, enclosed by yew hedging, provides productive vegetable and fruit beds, cut flower beds, orchard and greenhouses. The hexagonal Georgian dovecote, which once housed Michael Caine’s Port collection and whose shelves still bear the labels written by him, provides ample storage for wine.