Dean Farm

Coln St Aldwyns, Gloucestershire

A charming residential and sporting property in a classic Cotswold landscape

• Two principal houses in the centre of the farm
• Staff bungalow
• Modern and traditional buildings
• Exceptional high-bird shoot
• Productive arable farmland
• Rolling landscape, wooded valley, stream
• No road noise or light pollution

Dean Farm

Dean Farm comes to the market for the first time since at least 1870, when it was part of the Hatherop Estate, since when it has been in the same family ownership. The property is situated in one of the most attractive areas of the Cotswold Hills in a delightful landscape of rolling farmland and a steep wooded valley through which runs the infant River Leach. Although two bridle paths and a footpath cross the property, much of the land is situated in a very private setting and is a haven for flora and fauna with a wide range of bird life, and offers considerable sporting and amenity potential. There are two principal dwellings: Dean Farm House, situated in a raised position with a glorious outlook; and Lower Dean Farm which is situated in the valley adjacent to a useful range of modern and traditional farm buildings. The property is approached over a quiet no through road that ends at the entrance to the farmyard.

Situation

Dean Farm is situated approximately mid-way between the towns of Cirencester and Burford in the Cotswold Hills. Both towns provide excellent shopping and other facilities. The local village of Coln St Aldwyns (2 miles) has a village shop/post office, parish church and public house. The adjoining village of Hatherop has a primary school and Hatherop Castle Preparatory School and Nursery. There are many recreational opportunities available in the area, including Cheltenham Racecourse, polo at Cirencester Park, water sports at the Cotswold Water Park, hunting with the VWH and Heythrop, and a good availability of golf courses, shooting and equestrian facilities.

Lot 1A

DEAN FARM HOUSE, STAFF BUNGALOW AND 12.64 ACRES (5.12 HECTARES)

Dean Farm House:

Dean Farm House was constructed in 1870 to be the principal house on the farm. The house was altered and improved in 1934, at which time the formal gardens were laid out. The house has remained largely unaltered since then.

Dean Farm House stands well in its own grounds, in an elevated position overlooking undulating farmland. The house is traditionally constructed of dressed Cotswold stone under a pitched Cotswold slate roof and is approached over its own private driveway to a parking area adjacent to the front door.

The accommodation briefly comprises: Front door and entrance porch opening into the Entrance Hallway with open fireplace with cut stone surround, hearth and mantel shelf, stairs to the first floor, timber floor, door to cellar and bookshelves; Drawing Room, a light and airy room with open fireplace with cut stone surround, hearth and mantelshelf, ornate garden door, bookshelves and window seat; Dining Room with open fireplace with cut stone surround, hearth and mantelshelf, window seat in bay window, hatch to the kitchen, timber floor and four double wall lights; Study with open fireplace with cut stone surround, hearth and mantelshelf and bookshelves with cupboards beneath; Cloakroom with Belfast sink, heated towel rail, hanging cupboards with sliding doors and WC.

Inner Hallway with coat hangers, rear stairs to the first floor and under-stairs cupboard with safe; Back door; Store Room with dresser, shelving and tiled floor; Kitchen with oil-fired Aga, large dresser, range of base units with double-tub sink, shelving, wall cupboards and hatch to the dining room; Walk-in Larder; Boot Room with double drainer sink, shelving and blocked fireplace; Cloakroom with WC; Pantry with slate shelving.

On the First Floor: Stairs lead to a half landing; Bedroom One with wash hand basin, wardrobe and open fireplace; Bathroom One with bath and heated towel rail; Landing; Bedroom Two with wash hand basin, wardrobe and open fireplace; Bedroom Three with wall cupboard and open fireplace; En-suite Bathroom with bath, wash hand basin, WC, heated towel rail and part tiled walls; Maid’s Room with Belfast sink and cupboard; Linen Room with shelving and wardrobe; Bedroom Four with wash hand basin, wardrobe and open fireplace; Cloakroom with WC.

On the Second Floor: Landing with shelving leading to an Inner Landing with wall cupboard; Bedroom Five; Bedroom Six with wash hand basin and open fireplace; Bathroom Three with bath, wash hand basin, WC and heated towel rail; Bedroom Seven with open fireplace; Bedroom Eight with window seat; Tank Room containing the water header tanks and the lagged hot water cylinder.

Cellars: accessed from the entrance hallway; Inner Cellar giving access to five further Cellars, including the Boiler Room with Ideal Standard oil-fired boiler.

Lot 1B

FARMLAND AND WOODLAND – 77.54 ACRES (31.38 HECTARES)

This land adjoins Dean Farm House on its western boundary. The farmland is all in arable production and the woodland includes Bibury Ground, which extends to approximately 11.86 acres and contains attractive stands of semi-mature beech.

This Lot will be made available to a buyer of Dean Farm House, in the first instance, who might be interested in purchasing all or part of this land.

Lot 2

DEAN FARM BUILDINGS AND 220.27 ACRES (89.14 HECTARES)

Lower Dean Farm is traditionally constructed of Cotswold stone under a pitched Cotswold slate roof. It dates from the early to mid 17th Century and is Grade 2 Listed. Prior to the construction of Dean Farm House, Lower Dean Farm was the farmhouse for Dean Farm, since when it is believed to have been divided into four cottages, but was returned to a single dwelling during the 20th Century. In recent years, the eastern wing of the house has been utilised as a separate dwelling known as East End Cottage, but the house has flexible accommodation that could easily be re-utilised to form a single dwelling. The house is situated in a quiet position with a lovely outlook along the Leach valley.

The accommodation briefly comprises: semi-glazed front door opening to a small hallway with shelving; Drawing Room, a beautiful room with large inglenook fireplace and wall cupboard to one side, garden door, stone mullion windows with shutters, two window seats, recessed cupboard and shelving; Dining Room with garden door, stone mullion window with window seat, three wall lights, exposed beam and wall cupboard; Two arches lead to the Kitchen with oil-fired double-oven Aga, range of base and wall units containing a double tub sink and single drainer, exposed beam and walk-in larder; Utility Room with range of base units, two Belfast sinks, exposed beam and yard door; Hallway with stairs to the first floor, glazed door and porch to a rear door. Cloakroom with wash hand basin, WC and coat hangers; Sitting Room (part of East End Cottage) with open fireplace with stone hearth containing a wood-burning stove, book shelves and wall cupboards either side, rear stairs to the first floor and under-stairs cupboard; Rear Lobby with back door and Worcester Danesmoor 26/32 oil-fired boiler (heating the central heating and hot water in East End Cottage) single drainer sink, plumbing for washing machine, work surfaces and shelves; Kitchen with base and wall units containing a single drainer sink, part tiled walls and garden door.

The Land

The land comprises a classic Cotswold’s setting of rolling hills, through which runs the River Leach valley. One of the highest points on the farm is Dean Camp, a former hill fort dating back to the 8th to 5th Centuries BC, from which there are extensive views over the rolling Cotswold countryside. There are 99 acres currently planted to arable crops and game strips. Many of the arable fields are bounded by grass headlands. There are 90 acres of grassland, partly arable reversion, for which grants are payable, and part of which comprises the valley bottoms.

The woodlands, extending to 30 acres, are extremely varied and much is ancient semi-natural in character. There are beech, high forest valley oak and ash woodlands interspersed with other native broadleaves. There are also re-stocked areas and new areas of planting. The woodlands have been managed and maintained on a regular basis including thinning and cleaning. The largest wood is Dean Farm Covert situated on the sides of the River Leach Valley.

Lot 3

FARMLAND – 82.13 ACRES (33.24 HECTARES)

Four enclosures of productive arable land situated to the south of the entrance drive from which access is taken.

THE SHOOT

The Sellers have run an extremely successful high-bird pheasant/partridge shoot for a number of years, operated on a family basis with approximately seven shoots each year. The natural contours of the land provide excellent conditions, assisted by the woodlands and plantings of game covert. About 200 acres of adjoining shooting rights have been rented on an annual basis. Print this page << Back to listings