Swan House

About the House cont'd

The rear garden faces almost due south and is a tranquil oasis with established shrubs and trees, including Silver Birch, providing screening and privacy.The property is within walking distance of village amenities and is only 6 minutes’ drive from amenities in the market town of Thame, which include a Waitrose supermarket.

History and Heritage

The property was given Grade II listed status in June 1981 as a house of architectural and historical interest and was formerly known as Notley Farmhouse. The listing report dates the front façade to the 18th century but believes this “re fronts an older timber framed house” constructed of rubble stone on the ground floor with brick above. The property was altered in 1874 in Victorian times and was refurbished and further extended by previous owners who added a garden room, converted the loft into two bedrooms with a Jack and Jill shower room, refitted the other bathrooms, and put in a bespoke kitchen/breakfast/family room and utility room. In addition, the roof was retiled with Heritage tiles and Triso insulation.

History cont'd

The current vendors have redecorated throughout, added some additional lighting, and replaced the roof on the garage and adjoining games/hobby room. They also added a timber shed in the rear garden and restored the well, adding a pump so that it can provide the water for the garden. The mature grounds of approximately 0.25 acres are enclosed by the original stone wall which is mentioned in the grade listing.

Entrance Hall

An original solid wood door opens to the entrance hall which has stairs to the first floor, a part glazed door to the garden and engineered oak flooring which continues into the adjoining dining room. There is access to the cellar which has power and light connected, and is used to store wine. A built-in cupboard on the stairs houses the broadband router which provides wi-fi throughout the property. The property has also been rewired throughout with Cat 5 wiring.

Reception Rooms

The two principal reception rooms, on either side of the hall, both have feature fireplaces, exposed beams and bay windows overlooking the street. The spacious sitting room also has a bay window to the rear with double doors to a paved terrace in the garden for outside dining and entertaining. The Corian stone fireplace houses an inset Clearview wood burning stove. The dining room is also dual aspect with a large window overlooking the rear garden. The original brick fireplace has a solid oak mantel and a wood burning stove.The garden room was built incorporating an original stone wall and has been tanked. One whole wall is glazed with large picture windows and sliding doors to the garden providing plenty of natural light, views of the garden and access to the terrace. There is a built-in cupboard and display shelving, concealed lighting and a travertine tiled floor with underfloor heating.

Kitchen/Breakfast/Family Room

The kitchen/breakfast/family room has engineered oak flooring throughout and an exposed ceiling beam. The triple aspect family room has windows and a stable door to the rear garden. There is space for a seating area and a wall mounted TV. The kitchen/breakfast area has a range of bespoke solid oak storage units which include shelved larder cupboards, pan drawers, and display shelving which can be converted into plate display racks if desired. The central island unit provides additional storage and has two power points connected. There is also a walk-in pantry which has shelving, drawers and a work surface. The Silestone work surfaces incorporate an inset double sink under the window which overlooks the street. Appliances include a fridge/freezer, a dishwasher, and a Falcon range cooker which has a five ring gas hob and is set into a recess with an extractor over and a Fired Earth tiled splashback. A small breakfast table is attached to one end of the central island. A door conceals a secondary staircase to the first floor landing.

Further Bedrooms, Bathroom, Cloakroom

The second landing overlooks the gardens and has a feature window to bedroom five. Bedroom four has a front aspect and a cast iron fireplace with a wooden mantel and surround. Bedroom five also overlooks the front and is currently used as a study. There is a built-in wardrobe and a range of bespoke furniture including storage cupboards and display/book shelving. The bathroom has a freestanding roll top bath with floor standing taps and a shower attachment, and a curved shower cubicle with a rain head shower and a handheld shower. In addition, there is a washstand basin and a WC. There is also an airing cupboard. The cloakroom includes a WC and a wash basin.

Second Floor Bedrooms and Shower Room

Bedroom two is dual aspect and has exposed beams. Bedroom three is also dual aspect, overlooks the gardens and has exposed beams. There is a Jack and Jill shower room which serves both bedrooms and comprises a curved shower cubicle, a WC and a wash basin. Eaves cupboards provide storage space.

Games/Hobby Room and Double Garage

The games/hobby room is accessed via the gravelled driveway and is triple aspect. There is a bar area which is surrounded by tongue and groove panelling, painted with Farrow and Ball colours, and has space for entertaining. A door leads through to the garage which has two electronically controlled doors to the front and windows to the rear. Power and light are connected.

Utility Room and Cloakroom

The utility room has a range of matching bespoke storage units, an inset Twyford butler sink, a water softener and Silestone work surfaces. There is also an understairs storage cupboard, a shelved linen cupboard which has a heated towel rail, and space and plumbing for a washing machine and a tumble dryer. There are dual aspect windows for natural light and a door to the driveway. The stone tiled floor continues into the cloakroom which has a shuttered window to the front, a WC, a wash basin, and a cupboard housing the boiler.

Principal Bedroom Suite

The landing is accessed by two staircases from the kitchen and hall and the area accessed from the hall has stairs to the second floor, and a feature oval window overlooking the rear garden. The landing has two further windows overlooking the rear garden and borrowed light windows to two of the bedrooms. The principal bedroom is dual aspect with garden views. It has an extensive range of built-in solid wood wardrobes with hanging space, shelving and drawers, and a door matching the wardrobe doors opens to the en suite which includes a double shower cubicle with a rain head shower and a handheld shower, a WC and a vanity wash basin with an inset cupboard above. There is also a further storage cupboard above the WC. The tiled floor has underfloor heating and there are low level lights connected.

Other Bedrooms, Bathroom and Cloakroom

Bedroom four has a window to the front, picture rails, and a cast iron fireplace with a wooden mantel and surround. Bedroom five has a window to the front and is currently being used a study. It has a built-in cupboard and a range of bespoke cupboards and display shelving spanning one wall.The bathroom has a freestanding roll top bath with floor standing taps and a shower attachment, a separate curved shower cubicle with a rain head shower and a handheld shower, a washstand basin and a WC. There is also an airing cupboard which houses two water tanks. In addition to the bathroom there is also a cloakroom with a WC and a wash basin.

Second Floor

There are two double bedrooms on the second floor which are both dual aspect and have vaulted ceilings with exposed beams. These bedrooms share a Jack and Jill shower room which has a curved shower cubicle, a WC, and a wash basin. Eaves cupboards provide storage space.

Games/Hobby Room and Double Garage

Across the drive from the house and attached to the double garage, there is a versatile triple aspect room which has tongue and groove panelling to dado height, engineered oak flooring, heating and power, and fitted shelving. This room has previously been used as a games/hobby room but could be used as a home office, a playroom or gym. A door leads through to the garage which has two electronically controlled doors to the front, windows to the rear, and space for a workshop. Power and light are connected.

Situation

Long Crendon has a village shop, a post office, a coffee shop, a florist, a library, a primary school and a church. Public houses/restaurants include The Eight Bells, The Churchill Arms and The Angel Restaurant. Thame (2.5 miles) has shops, boutiques, restaurants, supermarkets, sports facilities, hairdressers and beauty salons. Haddenham and Thame Parkway railway station (3.5 miles) has services to Marylebone and Oxford. The County Town of Aylesbury (11 miles) has a range of shopping, social and sports facilities, a college, a university and a mainline railway station.

Gardens

The front of the property has gravelled borders with interspersed topiaries. Timber double gates open to the gravelled driveway which provides parking and access to the garage and games/hobby room. A stone built arch with a gate opens to the south facing rear garden which is enclosed by the original stone wall. It is principally laid to lawn with mature trees, and established flower and shrub borders, some with box hedge edging. There is an extensive York stone terrace spanning the rear of the property for entertaining and a cobble path, partly covered by a cast iron arch with trailing roses, leads to the orchard, and a raised vegetable garden with a new timber shed. The orchard has two apple trees, a cherry tree and a plum tree and has been turned into a wildflower garden. The well has a glass plate for safety and a light and pump connected. Lights, power and water are also connected within the garden. The mature grounds measure approximately 0.25 acres in total.