detached house for sale

An elegant country house in unspoilt Oxfordshire, centred on a restored 17th-century palazzo and set within 43 acres of gardens, meadows and water, including the river Thame running through. Description The Situation Set on the edge of the unspoilt Oxfordshire village of Newington, the estate enjoys a private elevated position above the River Thame, approached via wrought iron gates and a gravel carriage drive. The Manor House and Coach House sit alongside with their own access and gardens. Everyday amenities are in nearby Stadhampton and Wallingford, with Oxford and Abingdon close by. The area offers excellent schooling, including Moulsford, Cranford, The Dragon and Radley. Newington House One of Oxfordshire’s most admired houses, this Grade II* 17th century limestone masterpiece was built as a gift for an Italian princess, modelled on Rubens’ Palaces of Genoa. In the early 1900s, Newington House was owned by American artist and hostess Ethel Sands, whose renowned taste made it a gathering place for leading cultural figures. Writers Henry James and Arnold Bennett, along with members of the Bloomsbury Group including Virginia Woolf, were among its regular visitors. Inside, the grand Corinthian porch leads to a soaring entrance hall and a suite of west-facing reception rooms opening to the terrace and gardens. High ceilings, sash windows and marble fireplaces enhance the sense of light and scale. The lower ground floor is converted to provide a gym, reception room, gun room, wine storage and games room featuring a full size snooker table thought to have belonged to Winston Churchill from the War rooms. Upstairs, the principal suite is complemented by two guest suites, with a further four bedrooms above. A self-contained annexe provides additional accommodation with sitting room, kitchen, three bedrooms and bathroom. Further Accommodation The estate includes two recently refurbished residences: The Manor House, a Grade II listed 17th century stone house with three reception rooms, five bedrooms and four bathrooms; and The Coach House, with two reception rooms, four bedrooms and three bathrooms, well suited for staff or guests. Gardens and Land Formal lawns and terraces frame the house, with a walled garden, Italian garden and rose garden, orchard, greenhouse and woodland walks. Amenities include stables, paddocks, hard tennis court, heated swimming pool and a boating lake with island, all within a private setting of about 43 acres beside the River Thame. Historically a sporting estate, Newington House retains the capacity to reinstate its traditional country pursuits, offering a rare opportunity to revive its distinguished heritage. Square Footage: 21,756 sq ft Acreage: 43 Acres Additional Info Wallingford 4.5 miles, Oxford 9 miles, Oxford Station (London Paddington from approx. 55 minutes), Central London 51 miles, Heathrow 55 miles (All distances and times are approximate)