Everything apart from the ocean

Jun 16 2006

By Marsya Lennox, Property Correspondent

"It's the house that has everything - except the sea", said James Way of Knight Frank this week. "That is why the vendor is moving." He is talking of Castle Farm at Woolscott in Warwickshire, a perfected country package with every extra one might expect - in the landlocked Midlands. There may not be cliffs, sand or surf - but Castle Farm has an unusually long list of "toys" to pack real, upmarket value into its £3 million plus price tag. There is an indoor swimming pool complex with entertainment area; and indoor riding arena with stabling, games room, office and outdoor manege; tennis court, coach house cottage and not one, but two helipads. For those potential viewers without private air transport, these are safe landing spaces, marked neatly with an "H", where accomplished pilots can show off by land accurately with their runners on the downstrokes. A helicopter is not a necessity at Woolscott, however, where the road and rail links are good, and within easy reach. Banbury and the M40 are 18 miles, Rugby, also with its mainline trains, seven miles and the M1 12 miles. Neither does one have to be a serious equestrian to enjoy this well-provided property. There may be smart facilities, with everything in place. But the current owners keep only llamas. Also in place are the potential pleasures of proper gardening. Castle Farm is all set up with productive fruit and vegetable gardens, even five heated greenhouses. Yet, balancing the package are the most impressive formal gardens with stone "canal" pond, pergolas, gravelled walkways, seating areas and manicured lawn plus mature, sculpted topiary - just there for looking at. There is also a lake with island, summerhouse and pontoon, focal points including a rockery in Welsh stone from the Chelsea Flower Show. And closer to the house is a boules pitch, even a giant, outdoor chess board. This part of the country offers solid value for money thanks to its absence of a "Cotswold" tag. In that price "micro climate", a Castle Farm might be marketed with a guide between £5 and £6 million. Among other selling points is the utter readiness of Castle Farm for its next occupants. It has been totally refurbished and remodelled in the last year, elegantly finished and now "immaculate", according to the selling agents. James Way says that his clients were drawn to Castle Farm by its amazingly light interiors, all its main rooms looking south west through wide bays and big French windows. There is little hint of the past here although the oldest portion of the house has its roots in the 1500s. The original portions are distinctive for their mix of local ironstone and blue lias. Georgian improvers left their mark too and the white rendered elevations now dominate the look. But old features still sit happily next to contemporary comforts including stone mullions and some exposed beams. The main house alone provides some 6,552 sq ft of living space, the coach house, currently with two or three bedrooms could be further extended as a full, secondary house. Add the leisure areas with pool and party room and there is some 13,525 sq ft to play with. Showpiece areas include the kitchen with its big utility room off, masses of storage with big Aga and companion dooker, central island and great runs of polished granite. Also, the first floor principal suite with big bathroom in marble, raised sleeping area, open sitting room with balcony off and an upper dressing room area with access to further attic storage. Also on the second floor is a fifth bedroom, reached separately, yet another private suite. There are four main reception rooms including the 28ft by 21ft plus drawing room and a large conservatory. By the pool room is a Jacuzzi pool, sauna, changing rooms and cloakroom plus the upper entertaining gallery with fitted kitchen. There is another kitchen area by the office in the outbuildings, equestrian extras including barns, tack room, wash room and viewing gallery above the indoor arena. Offers over £3 million are invited. Details from Knight Frank in Stratford-upon-Avon, telephone 01789 297735.