Detached house for sale in Cirencester GL7, 6 Bedroom

Arlington Lodge occupies a first class edge of village setting. It is a short walk from all the amenities that Bibury has to offer and yet from the rear of the house there are unspoilt southerly views over its gardens and paddock giving you the feeling that you are in the middle of the countryside.

The property dates from c.1700, with later additions in the 19th Century, and is Listed Grade II. For a Cotswold property of this age, Arlington Lodge has particularly elegant and well-proportioned accommodation with good ceiling heights and large windows. It is a house of enormous charm, with a very beguiling atmosphere. The stone-flagged reception hall immediately gives a great feeling of space, having a double height ceiling and a galleried landing above. The drawing room is a particularly lovely room with a wide south-facing bay window and a window seat over-looking the garden. The sitting room is also a good size and the large dining room has space for at least a 12-seater table. All three reception rooms have open fireplaces.

On the first floor, the master suite has a large bedroom with a bay window overlooking the garden, a dressing room and en suite bathroom. There are three further double bedrooms and a bathroom on this floor. The second floor is ideal for guests or older children with bedrooms five and six and a shower room.

• Bibury is remarkably pretty, famously described by William Morris as ‘the most beautiful village in the Cotswolds.’ It sits astride the River Coln, amidst classic Cotswold countryside • It is a thriving community with a post office, primary school, church, two hotels and a pub.

• The historic market town of Cirencester is about 7 miles. Cirencester has a very good range of shops, from the everyday such as Waitrose and a Marks and Spencer foodstore, to more specialist suppliers and boutiques.

• The main regional centres are Cheltenham, Oxford and Swindon, all of which are within easy daily commuting distance.

• There is good access to the A417 dual carriageway for access to Junction 15 of the M4 at Swindon. Direct rail services to London Paddington from Kemble or Swindon stations, the latter scheduled to take from approximately 55 minutes.

• Ample local sporting opportunities including a number of golf courses. The area has long been associated with equestrian sports including polo at Cirencester Park, National Hunt racing at Cheltenham and Newbury and the Badminton, Blenheim and Gatcombe Horse Trials.

• Private schools in the area include Hatherop Castle, Pinewood, St Hugh’s, Rendcomb, Beaudesert Park and the Cheltenham Colleges.

Arlington Lodge is approached from a no-through lane through a pair of stone pillars. The drive leads down through an avenue of lime trees to a gravelled parking area, with steps leading down to the front door.

To the side is a range of period outbuildings providing garaging and useful storage space. Planning permission has been granted for the part conversion of these to provide ancillary accommodation. Copies of the approved plans are available on request. Along the south side of the house is a paved and gravelled terrace beyond which are raised herbaceous borders leading to lawns with further colourful mixed borders. A path runs alongside the Mill Stream down a footbridge leading to Arlington Row. There is also a useful paddock to the side of the drive, ideal for ponies.