Middleton Park, Middleton Stoney, Bicester, OX25

A listed lodge in a country house setting built for the Earl of Jersey. This 1930s gem was designed by Edwin Lutyens (architect of the Cenotaph) and stands close to Middleton Park. The interior is light with high ceilings on the ground floor and feels like a grand home in miniature, surrounded by 40 acres of park land.

Middleton Stoney is a small village set between Bicester to the East and Lower Heyford to the West. It has history dating back to at least the 13th century, a fact confirmed by the age of the Jersey Arms hotel/ restaurant. The access to both towns and arterial routes is excellent, with Bicester a short drive away (from where London Marylebone is as little as a 42 minute journey by rail) and Oxford a straight run to the South. Surrounding the village is wonderful open countryside and farmland with some delightful established walks including at least one tree lined avenue that was once a Roman road.

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Middleton Park has to be seen to be believed. Edwin Lutyens was commissioned in the 1930's by the Earl of Jersey to design a landmark country house to replace the 18th Century predecessor. Lutyens, often described as the greatest British architect , created a grand manor house with wonderful views over its own land. The four lodges shared in his brilliance, with high ceilings, elegant balustrades, grand living spaces and of course the peaceful setting. Today the grounds are carefully tended to retain all the original character, with a leasehold and management arrangement to ensure the property remains kept to a high standard. Close to the lodge there is a pool and a tennis court for residents use, plus a dedicated double garage for this lodge which includes power. To find such a property and position is rare enough, to find one so secluded but just minutes away from main road and rail access is extraordinary. It truly is a great property.

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The entry to the Park is between tall and elegant pillars next to a keeper's lodge. The drive runs uninterrupted for perhaps a mile, much of the time past mature trees. After several hundred metres a delightful church appears to the left, and here there are signs marked Private, no public access . Either side of the road the parkland is beautiful, laid out mainly as pasture, with a cricket pavilion and green off to the right just before the main buildings. When the drive splits there's a tennis court off to the left and to the right a stone homage to one of the park's gardeners marks the entry to the parking, and here a red brick wall encloses the swimming pool, which is thereby very secluded. Also here, garages provide parking for all the residents and within this is the double garage for this lodge. Continuing ahead on the drive the four lodges, two either side, flank pillars beyond which is the Grade 1 listed main house, a building to rival the likes of Stowe. The parkland is maintained for the benefit of all the residents, with secluded areas ideal for picnics and plenty of lovely walks through the trees.

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Walking through a thick timber door with sculpted stone surrounds, Wilmere Lodge instantly feels special and historic. The large entrance hall has an alcove to the left, under the stairs, ample for coats and boots. Under your feet the oak floor is beautifully patinated, and this carries on throughout much of the house To the left the staircase is a work of art, elegant oak handrails curving gently upwards above shallow oak stairs, contrasting perfectly with the white walls and balusters. Ahead the door leads into a remarkable living space. L-shaped, it features no less than 5 windows on 3 sides which pour light into every corner. The first impression is of how high the ceilings are, and the second how grand but somehow right the two pillars (making a feature of the spine beam above) seem in this context. The flow of the room naturally encourages seating around the cozy fire to one side with a vast space for a dining table at the other - and more space besides. At nearly 27 feet in both directions this is a sizeable space by most standards. Completing the downstairs is a kitchen comprehensively fitted with timeless cream units and timber work tops. A modern oven, microwave, hob and fridge/ freezer are all fitted alongside ample store cupboards. No washing machine is present as there is a utility upstairs. Glazed double doors to the side invite the courtyard to the side to be used frequently, an ideal secluded Summer dining space that is flanked with planters and several trees.

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Upstairs there are five ample bedrooms across two further floors, all reached via easy, shallow steps. Lutyens' design provides a window to each landing so every space is light. On the first floor all three bedrooms are doubles, and two are both double aspect and fitted with wardrobes. Serving these the bathroom may be modern, but it fitted with a classic suite including elegant chrome fittings. In addition to the bath there is also a shower. On the top floor two further bedrooms are bright, and particularly characterful with their dormer windows. A further bathroom is as suitably fitted as the first floor, this time with a bath but no shower. In addition the last room is a clever utility, fitted as per the kitchen and featuring a washer/dryer in addition to a sink and timber work top. It's worth noting our client has particularly found working from home on the the top floor delightful as the views are inspiring!