The Old Vicarage
Escape to the countryside, and discover the character, comfort and charm of The Old Vicarage, a warm and welcoming family home lovingly renovated and restored for modern living, in the friendly village of Northmoor.
Character and comfort
Designed in 1891, by celebrated ecclesiastical architect, John Oldrid Scott (son of Sir George Gilbert Scott), arrive at The Old Vicarage via Bakers Lane, a no-through road.
Plenty of parking can be found on the gravel driveway, lined by mature hedgerows which bristle with birdsong. A handsome home, emanating Victorian refinement from the offset, neatly clipped topiary balls frame the entrance to The Old Vicarage.
Parking is also available in the new garage, built from the foundations up – one of several upgrades made to The Old Vicarage by the current owners. Other improvements and refurbishments include a new roof and insulation, new boiler, improvements to the water system, a damp proof course re-done throughout in August 2024, windows refurbished with draught proofing and re-balancing and redecoration work to both the interiors and exteriors throughout.
A warm welcome
A spacious porch provides room to doff and don coats and boots, offering handy access to a cloakroom with fitted cupboard space and which leads to a modern WC and wash basin.
Ahead, leaded lights within a wide, period door, guide light through from the porch into the entrance hallway where newly laid wooden flooring flows throughout the ground floor, warmed by underfloor heating in the hallway and kitchen.
Work from home in comfort in the study on the left, where the natural green hues in the feature wallpaper bring in the foliage of the outdoors, framed by two large sash windows. A quirky corner fireplace, emanating cheerful warmth, whilst built-in cabinetry provides storage for your papers, books and files.
Light-filled living
Opposite the front door, discover the serenity of the sitting room, south and east facing and drenched in light from the morning sun. A wonderfully festive space at Christmas, there is room for all the family here, and ample storage for board games and books in the cabinetry beneath the large window overlooking the garden. Part-glazed, a door provides direct access east to the garden.
Rejoining the entrance hallway, continue to the left, where toasty warmth emanates throughout the house from the log-burning stove encased within a fireplace. Ahead, the imposing staircase sweeps up to the right, whilst, on the left, the formal dining room awaits.
Wine and dine
With plenty of space to seat a dozen easily, the sun streams in through tall sash windows to the south, whilst a handsome fireplace made out of carved Italian marble is a one of a kind feature. Access the garden easily for alfresco summer dining via a part-glazed door.
Passing the foot of the stairs, where opposite, an original serving hatch hints at the heritage of the home, make your way through into the right-hand wing of the home, where there is access to the original, [JC1] boot room with plenty of hanging space and shelving.
Opposite, the spacious utility room, reinstated to its original size, features traditional checkerboard flooring alongside masses of cupboard storage and a large, Belfast sink, nestled within the solid wood worktops. Plumbed for a washing machine and dryer, this practical laundry is a welcome addition to the home.
Heart of the home
Savour the sights and smells of the sumptuously sized John Lewis of Hungerford, bespoke kitchen replete with composite stone and solid oak worktops. Cook up a feast for family and friends using the array of integrated Siemens appliances including large fridge, dishwasher, double ovens and induction hob. Sleek, handleless cabinetry affords so much storage space for culinary utensils and essentials, whilst the breakfast bar offers sociable seating.
Awash with light, there is ample room for a breakfast table across the room, before French doors which open to the patio, and a cottage-style window overlooking the garden. Casting glow down over the breakfast table, a trio of brushed brass pendants harmonise effortlessly with the floral-motif feature wallpaper. Traditional traits of this Victorian home can be found in the walk-in pantry, designed to stay cool all year-round, where there is plenty of shelving for your dry store supplies.
Returning to the entrance hall, ascend the staircase to the first floor, where an impressive window on the turn frames enchanting views out over the fields.
Sleep soundly
Tranquillity awaits in the principal bedroom, where the cosy glow of the log-burning “hobbit” stove adds warmth, and light streams in through a large window overlooking the garden. Airy and bright, original picture rails trace the walls beneath the high ceilings.
Fully furnished with wardrobes and drawers, storage for all seasons can be found in the adjacent spacious dressing room, whilst the capacious ensuite invites you to refresh and revive in the contemporary freestanding tub, or beneath the drench head of the large, walk-in shower, with alcove shelving within the white metro splashback tiling. Warmed by underfloor heating, plenty of storage is available in the vanity unit beneath the wash basin and built-in cupboard. With its iridescent tiles, the period fireplace infuses elegance.
Returning to the landing, to the right, fitted shelving is perfect for your collection of books, before arriving at the family bathroom on the left.
Room for all
Drenched in light, a wide window above the deep, double-ended bath with retractable shower head attachment, frames phenomenal views out over the fields and countryside. Powder blue tiles contrast with white above the bath and within the separate shower cubicle, whilst storage is available in the two-drawer vanity unit beneath the wash basin. A heated towel radiator and WC also feature, as warmth emanates from the underfloor heating.
Across the landing whitewashed wooden flooring evokes the country setting of The Old Vicarage, in a large double bedroom, where enchanting wallpaper sits beneath the picture rails and a cosy fireplace features in the corner.
A fourth bountiful bedroom is radiant bathed in dawn light. Dressed in blush pink, and leading out to a beautiful balcony, reinforced and repainted this year, take your morning coffee whilst admiring the cornucopia of colour in the garden, with its catalogue of mature trees.
Serene spaces
Turning right from the top of the stairs, an inner landing can be closed off for privacy, leading to a serene guest bedroom dressed in restful shades of sage green with windows looking out to the front and rear. Light, bright and spacious, wake up to idyllic views out over the fields. An attractive fireplace adds period charm.
Bathroom bliss
Guests can refresh and revive in the bountifully sized ensuite bathroom, with black and white tiled floor and high ceiling embellished by exposed beams. A deep, double ended bath is available for restorative, candle-lit soaks, with a rainfall shower above.
Returning to the landing, storage awaits in the linen closet on the right and another set of stairs leads up to the second floor, before dividing to the right and left.
On the right, freshen up in the substantially sized shower room with high vaulted ceiling, before crossing the staircase and ascending to the first of two additional bedrooms on the right once more. Light, bright and bountifully sized, with ample storage available in the eaves, low cottage-style windows draw the outdoors in, offering elevated countryside vistas.
Across from here, a sixth spacious bedroom with feature fireplace also offers incredible views out over the verdant scenes below.
Embraced by nature
Step outside and into the total tranquillity of the outdoor space that surrounds The Old Vicarage. Lovingly landscaped by the current owners to create the essence of a traditional English country garden, formal areas of planting, lavender walkways and trimmed topiary combine with lush lawn interspersed by mature trees and informal planting areas.
Relax and soak up the sunshine on the newly laid York stone terrace and listen to the birdsong emanating from the hedgerows.
An idyllic garden in which to raise children in harmony with the heartbeat of nature, there is plenty of room for exploration and adventure.
Out and about
Rural, but not remote, embrace village life in the thriving community that can be found on the doorstep of The Old Vicarage. Just a two-minute walk away, discover community-owned pub The Red Lion with its welcoming vibe and real ales, newly re-opened under new management.
Just ten minutes’ drive from home, the 2 AA Rosette-awarded White Hart in Fyfield is perfect for special occasions and Sunday dinners, nestled within a stunning Tudor building.
For a riverside setting, head to The Maybush Inn in Newbridge, just five minutes’ drive away, where you’ll find great food, seasonal mini festivals and paddleboarding opportunities. Carnivores can sample the steaks at Double Red Duke in Bampton (20 minutes’ drive from The Old Vicarage), while just 15 minutes’ drive away, Mollie’s Diner serves up burgers and milkshakes as part of its retro American menu.
Outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy a fantastic river walk extending around 5.5 km through birdlife-rich water meadows and pastural scenes, along the Thames path, passing a charming lock and lock-keeper’s cottage and, should you wish, starting or ending at the village pub. A 2.5 km loop just behind the home is ideal for a quick dog walk, with a 4 km extension available around the reservoirs, whilst for runners, there is a fantastic 7 km road running loop that also starts from The Old Vicarage.
Families are well situated, within the catchment for Bartholomew’s Secondary School (rated ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted), with several primary schools nearby. Renowned independent options include St Hugh’s Prep, The Manor Preparatory, Chandlings Prep, St Helen and St Katharine, Abingdon School, and Cokethorpe.
Essentials are close by, with a corner shop and Post Office just five minutes away at Standlake, while at less than ten minutes’ drive, Kingston Bagpuize is home to a Co-op, with larger supermarkets available in Witney and Abingdon.
A quintessential English country village, Northmoor’s calendar is brimming with the dates for summer fetes, autumn fayres, monthly markets and more. The church, with its unique open bookshop, hosts regular services including a beautiful candlelit Christmas Eve gathering.
Set in the heart of a welcoming village, The Old Vicarage is a true rural retreat, offering spacious and elegant living for all the family, with a harmonious blend of historical character and modern comforts.
Whilst every effort has been taken to ensure the accuracy of the fixtures and fittings mentioned throughout, items included in sale are to be discussed at the time of offering
