Dean Farm, Coln St Aldwyns, CIRENCESTER, Gloucestershire, GL7 5AX

                                                  SOLD AS A WHOLE

“First time on the market since 1870”

A charming residential and sporting property in a classic Cotswold landscape

• Two principal houses in the centre of the farm
• Staff bungalow
• Modern and traditional buildings
• Exceptional high bird shoot 
• Productive arable farmland
• Rolling landscape, wooded valley, stream
• No road noise or light pollution

In all about 392.58 acres (158.88 hectares)

FOR SALE BY PRIVATE TREATY AS A WHOLE OR IN UP TO 4 LOTS

Guide Price for the whole: Offers in excess of £7,000,000

The Property
Dean Farm comes to the market for the first time since at least 1870, when it was part of the Hatherop
Estate, since when it has been in the same family ownership.

The property is situated in one of the most attractive areas of the Cotswold Hills in a delightful landscape of rolling farmland and a steep wooded valley through which runs the infant River Leach. Although two bridlepaths and a footpath cross the property, most of the land is situated in a very private setting and is a haven for flora and fauna with a wide range of bird life, and offers considerable sporting and amenity potential.

There are two principal dwellings; Dean Farm House, situated in a raised position with a glorious outlook, and Lower Dean Farm which is situated in the valley adjacent to a useful range of modern and traditional farm buildings. The property is approached over a quiet no through road which ends at the entrance to the farmyard.

Situation
Dean Farm is situated approximately mid-way between the towns of Cirencester and Burford in the Cotswold Hills. Both towns provide excellent shopping and other facilities. The local village of Coln St Aldwyns (2 miles) has a village shop/post office, parish church and a Cotswold country Inn. The adjoining village of Hatherop has a primary school and Hatherop Castle Preparatory School and Nursery.

There are many recreational opportunities available in the area, including Cheltenham Racecourse, polo at Cirencester Park, water sports at the Cotswold Water Park, hunting with the VWH and Heythrop, and a good availability of golf courses, shooting and equestrian facilities.

LOT 1A

DEAN FARM HOUSE, STAFF BUNGALOW AND 12.66 ACRES (5.12 HECTARES) (coloured yellow on the sale plan)

Dean Farm House:
Dean Farm House was constructed in 1870 to be the principal house on the farm. The house was altered and improved in 1934, at which time the formal gardens were laid out. The house has remained largely unaltered since then.

Dean Farm House stands well in its own secluded grounds, in an elevated position overlooking undulating farmland. The house is traditionally constructed of dressed Cotswold stone under a pitched Cotswold slate roof and is approached over its own private driveway to a parking area adjacent to the front door.

The accommodation briefly comprises: Front door and entrance porch opening into the Entrance Hallway with open fireplace with cut stone surround, hearth and mantel shelf, stairs to the first floor, timber floor, door to cellar and bookshelves. Drawing Room - a light and airy room with open fireplace with cut stone surround, hearth and mantel shelf, ornate garden door, bookshelves and window seat. Dining Room with open fireplace with cut stone surround, hearth and mantel shelf, window seat in bay window, hatch to the kitchen, timber floor and four double wall lights. Study with open fireplace with cut stone surround, hearth and mantel shelf and book shelves with cupboards beneath. Cloakroom with Belfast sink, heated towel rail, hanging cupboards with sliding doors and wc.

Inner Hallway with coat hangers, rear stairs to the first floor and understairs cupboard with safe. Back door. Store Room with dresser, shelving and tiled floor. Kitchen with oil-fired Aga, large dresser, range of base units with double tub sink, shelving, wall cupboards and hatch to the dining room. Walk-in Larder. Boot Room with double drainer sink, shelving and blocked fireplace. Cloakroom with wc. Pantry with slate shelving.

On the First Floor: Stairs lead to a half landing. Bedroom One with wash hand basin, wardrobe and open fireplace. Bathroom One with bath and heated towel rail. Landing. Bedroom Two with wash hand basin, wardrobe and open fireplace. Bedroom Three with wall cupboard and open fireplace. Ensuite Bathroom with bath, wash hand basin, wc, heated towel rail and part tiled walls. Maid’s Room with Belfast sink and cupboard. Linen Room with shelving and wardrobe. Bedroom Four with wash hand basin, wardrobe and open fireplace. Cloakroom with wc.

On the Second Floor: Landing with shelving leading to an Inner Landing with wall cupboard. Bedroom Five. Bedroom Six with wash hand basin and open fireplace. Bathroom Three with bath, wash hand basin, wc and heated towel rail. Bedroom Seven with open fireplace. Bedroom Eight with window seat. Tank Room containing the water header tanks and the lagged hot water cylinder.

Cellars, accessed from the entrance hallway. Inner Cellar giving access to five further Cellars, including the oiler Room with Ideal Standard oil-fired boiler.

Outside: Adjacent to the back door is a small store. There are two external fuel tanks (for the central heating boiler and the Aga). To the rear of the house is a former Coach House containing two garages with sliding doors, tack room with stairs to loft over, log store and potting shed. In an extension to the rear are three further stores, one of which contains the pump house serving the water borehole. Beyond the outbuilding is a range of four timber Loose Boxes.

Gardens and Grounds: The house is bounded by formal gardens and grounds that were originally laid out by the Late Lady Howard in the 1930’s. To the front of the house there are terraced gardens bounded by tall yew hedging with a formal pond and steps leading to the lower garden. There are flower borders bounded by stone walls and a tall beech hedge, part of which incorporates a secret garden. At a lower level is a wild flower garden, beyond which lies a stand of mixed hardwood trees. An attractive stone summer house looks over the gardens, the piers to the front of which were found in the farmyard and are believed to be of Roman origin. Behind the house is a walled vegetable garden, above which is an all weather tennis court. The property is bounded by four pasture paddocks and a small spinney.

Staff Bungalow:
To the north of Dean Farm House is a timber framed and timber clad bungalow constructed during the 1950’s. The accommodation briefly comprises: front door to Entrance Hallway with storage cupboard. Sitting Room with double glazed windows. Dining Room. Kitchen with range of base and wall units containing a single drainer sink with mixer taps, storage cupboard and oil-fired central heating boiler (fuelled from an external tank). Rear Porch with back door and electricity meters. Cloakroom with wc. Landing with storage cupboard. Three Bedrooms. Bathroom with bath and wash hand basin.

Dean Farm House - Floor Plans

Please click here for large size Floor Plans


LOT 1B

FARMLAND AND WOODLAND – 77.54 ACRES (31.38 HECTARES)
(coloured green on the sale plan).

This land adjoins Dean Farm House on its western boundary. The farmland is all in arable production and the woodland includes Bibury Ground, which extends to approximately 11.86 acres and contains attractive stands of semi-mature beech and ash.

This Lot will be made available to a buyer of Dean Farm House, in the first instance, who might be interested in purchasing all or part of this land.

LOT 2

LOWER DEAN FARM,
BUILDINGS AND 220.25 ACRES (89.14 HECTARES)
(coloured pink on the sale plan).

Lower Dean Farm:
Lower Dean Farm is traditionally constructed of Cotswold stone under a pitched Cotswold slate roof. It dates from the early to mid 17th Century and is Grade 2 Listed. Prior to the construction of Dean Farm House, Lower Dean Farm was the farmhouse for Dean Farm, since when it is believed to have been divided into four cottages, but was returned to a single dwelling during the 20th Century. In recent years, the eastern wing of the house has been utilised as a separate dwelling known as East End Cottage, but the house has flexible accommodation which could easily be reutilised to form a single dwelling. The house is situated in a quiet position with a lovely outlook along the Leach valley.

The Accommodation briefly comprises: semi glazed front door opening to a small hallway with shelving. Drawing Room – a beautiful room with large inglenook fireplace and wall cupboard to one side, garden door, stone mullion windows with shutters, two window seats, recessed cupboard and shelving. Dining Room with garden door, stone mullion window with window seat, three wall lights, exposed beam and wall cupboard. Two arches lead to the Kitchen with oil-fired double oven Aga, range of base and wall units containing a double tub sink and single drainer, exposed beam and walk in larder. Utility Room with range of base units, two Belfast sinks, exposed beam and yard door. Hallway with stairs to the first floor, glazed door and porch to a rear door. Cloakroom with wash hand basin, wc and coat hangers. Sitting Room (part of East End Cottage) with open fireplace with stone hearth containing a wood burning stove, book shelves and wall cupboards either side, rear stairs to the first floor and understairs cupboard. Rear Lobby with back door and Worcester Danesmoor 26/32 oil-fired boiler (heating the central heating and hot water in East End Cottage) single drainer sink, plumbing for washing machine, work surfaces and shelves. Kitchen with base and wall units containing a single drainer sink, part tiled walls and garden door.

On the First Floor: Landing. Master Bedroom with large wardrobe. Ensuite Bathroom with suite of bath, wash hand basin, wc, part tiled walls and wall cupboard. Door to Dressing Area with wall cupboard. Bedroom Two with wash hand basin. Bedroom Three with wash hand basin and wardrobe. Bathroom Two with bath with shower unit over, wash hand basin, wc, wall cupboards, part tiled walls, heated towel rail and two Velux windows. Inner Landing. Linen Cupboard with slatted shelving and hot water cylinder. Bathroom Three with bath, wash hand basin in vanitory unit, integral shower unit, heated towel rail and wc. Bedroom Four with wardrobe.

Rear Landing (part of East End Cottage) with rear stairs. Airing cupboard with hot water cylinder and slatted shelving. Steps lead down to Bedroom Five with exposed beam. Bathroom Four with bath with shower unit over, part tiled walls, wash hand basin in vanitory unit, wc and heated towel rail. Bedroom Six.

On the Second Floor: Stairs lead from the rear landing to Attic Bedroom Seven (6.54m x 3.87m at waist height). From the inner landing stairs lead to an unconverted Attic (8.58m x 3.91m at waist height) with further small Inner Attic.

Outside: To the rear of the house is a lean-to Boiler Room containing a Camray Quartet oil-fired boiler and the electricity meters.

Gardens & Grounds: The gardens lie mainly to the front of the house and are bounded by Cotswold stone walling. Immediately adjacent to the house is a terraced area beyond which there are well stocked flower borders and lawns. To the rear of the house are terraced grounds with an orchard and paddocks above.

Lower Dean Farm - Floor Plans

Please click here for large size plans

Farm Buildings:
The farm buildings are situated adjacent to Lower Dean Farm. Immediately to the west of the farmhouse is the front yard bounded by:

Traditional Stable (20.9m x 7.2m) of Cotswold stone construction and separately listed Grade 2. The building contains four loose boxes, tack room, two stores, an office and steps leading to a loft over. Traditional Cart Shed (12.0m x 6.9m) of Cotswold stone construction, open fronted with a pitched timber frame roof covered with corrugated iron. Currently contains three loose boxes. Pair of Timber Loose Boxes (7.2m x 3.6m).

The main farm buildings are situated to the rear of Lower Dean Farm and comprise:

Grain Store (55.0m x 15.0m) of nine bay steel portal frame construction, fully clad with grain walling and fibre cement, two large sliding side doors, concrete floor, Alvan Blanch double flow drier (approx. 16 tonnes per hour), Lainchbury cleaner, wet pit, 2 x 40 tonne wet bins, elevators and conveyors. 3 phase and single phase electricity. Six bay Dutch Barn (27.5m x 7.4m) with concrete floor and clad with corrugated iron and concrete block. 3 phase electricity. Three bay Covered Yard (13.5m x 11.9m) of steel portal frame construction and lean-to. Clad with fibre cement and sleepers, concrete floor. Six bay Covered Yard (27.6m x 18.5m) of steel portal frame construction, part clad with Yorkshire boarding and Cotswold stone with concrete floor. Water and fuel tanks.

Traditional Mill (15.2m x 7.3m) of Cotswold stone construction under a blue slate roof with loft over and tiled floor. Lean-to Workshop (9.8m max x 7.8m) of timber frame construction under a corrugated iron roof, part clad with corrugated iron and timber boarding. Concrete floor. Single storey Traditional Range (21.5m x 4.9m) of Cotswold stone construction under a corrugated iron pitched roof. Concrete floor. One bay contains the farm chemical store.

The Land:
The land comprises a classic Cotswolds setting of rolling hills, through which runs the River Leach valley. One of the highest points on the farm is Dean Camp, a former hill fort dating back to the 8th to 5th Centuries BC, from which there are extensive views over the rolling Cotswold countryside.

There are 99 acres currently planted to arable crops and game strips. Many of the arable fields are bounded by grass headlands. There are 90 acres of grassland, partly arable reversion, for which grants are payable, and part of which comprises the valley bottoms.

The woodlands, extending to 30 acres, are extremely varied and much is ancient semi-natural in character. There are beech, high forest valley oak and ash woodlands interspersed with other native broadleaves. There are also re-stocked areas and new areas of planting. The woodlands have been managed and maintained on a regular basis including thinning and cleaning. The largest wood is Dean Farm Covert situated on the sides of the River Leach Valley.

LOT 3

FARMLAND – 82.13 ACRES (33.24 HECTARES)
(coloured blue on the sale plan)
Four enclosures of productive arable land situated to the south of the entrance drive from which access is taken.

THE SHOOT:
The Sellers have run an extremely successful high bird pheasant/partridge shoot for a number of years, operated on a family basis with approximately seven shoots each year. The seclusion and the natural contours of the land provide excellent conditions, assisted by the woodlands and plantings of game covert. About 200 acres of adjoining shooting rights have been rented on an annual basis.

SUMMARY OF LOTS

Please click here for large size sale plan



DIRECTIONS
From Cirencester, take the B4425 Burford Road. Pass through Barnsley and Bibury villages and, immediately on leaving Bibury, turn right signposted Coln St Aldwyns. After approximately one mile, turn left at the T junction, bear round to the right, and turn almost immediately right signposted Dean Farm, which will be found at the end of the lane after almost two miles.

From Oxford, take the A40 in a westerly direction to Burford. On reaching Burford, continue straight on signposted Cheltenham, and approximately one mile after leaving the town, bear left onto the B4425 signposted Cirencester. After approximately five miles, pass Aldsworth village on the right and take the turning left immediately after the village, signposted Coln St Aldwyns. Follow this road for just over two miles and, where the road bears sharp right, take the turning left signposted Dean Farm, which will be found at the end of the lane after almost two miles.



Please click here for additional photographs

GENERAL INFORMATION

Viewing: Strictly by appointment through the Joint Selling Agents:
CKD Kennedy Macpherson (0207 409 1944) and Moore Allen & Innocent (01285 648115).

Fixtures and Fittings: Those fixtures and fittings not mentioned in the sale particulars are not included in the sale.

Services:
Electricity: mains electricity is connected to the dwellings and to the farm buildings. The grain store and the former grain store both have 3 phase connections.
Water: a private borehole situated to the rear of Dean Farm House supplies the dwellings, the farm buildings and water troughs on the land. The water header tank is situated adjacent to Coltsmoor Farm. A mains water connection could be made available from a connection adjacent to the former Dean Farm Cottages. Further information is available from the Sellers’ Agents. If the property is sold in lots, suitable covenants will be required for the provision of water to each lot.
Drainage: the dwellings are connected to private tank drainage systems.
Heating: Dean Farm House, Lower Dean Farm, East End Cottage and the Bungalow all have separate oil-fired
central heating systems.

Local Authorities:
County: Gloucestershire County Council, Shire Hall, Gloucester, GL1 2TG. Tel: 01452 425000.
District: Cotswold District Council, Trinity Road, Cirencester, GL7 1PX. Tel: 01285 623000.

Council Tax:
Dean Farm House: Band “G”.
Lower Dean Farm: Band “F”.
East End Cottage: Band “D”.
Dean Farm Bungalow: Band “A”.

Town and Country Planning:
Lower Dean Farm and the adjoining stable building are separately listed Grade 2.
Dean Camp is a Scheduled Ancient Monument.
Two bridlepaths and a footpath cross the property.
Dean Farm lies within the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Tenure and Possession: The property is offered for sale by private treaty as a whole or in up to four lots, with vacant possession on completion, subject to rights of holdover.

Covenants: If Lots 1A and 2 are sold seperately, each buyer will be required to enter into a covenant not to keep pigs or poultry, or to erect any form of structure on land adjoining the other's house. Further details are available from the Sellers' Agents.

Ingoing Valuation: It is anticipated that the Sellers will complete the 2008 harvest. As such, there will be no ingoing valuation of growing crops, but the Sellers may require holdover to complete the harvest of arable crops and to store harvested crops and fodder, until 31st March 2009.

Farm Sale: The Sellers reserve the right to hold a sale of live and dead farming stock on the property prior to completion.

Single Payment Scheme: The Sellers have established entitlements under the Single Payment Scheme. The single payment for the property will be claimed by the Sellers in 2008. The entitlements registered with the property will be transferred to the buyer after completion, if required. Further details are available from the Selling Agents.

Grant Schemes:
Countryside Stewardship: Part of the property was entered into a Countryside Stewardship agreement
(ref: 17CSS010828) on 1 October 2002 for a ten year term. Grants are payable for certain environmental
land management practices totalling approximately £4,300 per annum.
Entry Level Stewardship Scheme: The property was entered into the Entry Level Stewardship Scheme
(ref: AG00236740) on 1 August 2006 for a five year term. A grant of approximately £4,230 per annum is
available for certain environmental land management practices.
Farm Woodland Premium Scheme: Two parcels of woodland totalling 2.4 hectares were planted under a FWPS agreement in 1995 for a fifteen year term for which an annual grant of £719.98 is available. Further information concerning the grant schemes is available from the Selling Agents.

Sporting, Timber and Minerals: The sporting rights, standing timber and minerals are all included in the sale. The property is situated within the VWH Hunt country.

Sellers’ Solicitors: Wilmot & Co LLP, 38 Castle Street, Cirencester, Gloucestershire, GL7 1QH. Tel: 01285 650551.

Sale Plan and Particulars: CKD Kennedy Macpherson and Moore Allen & Innocent LLP for themselves and for the Sellers of this property, whose Agents they are, give notice that:

these particulars are set out as a general outline only for the guidance of intending buyers and do not constitute, nor constitute part of, an offer or contract;

all descriptions, dimensions, areas, references to condition and necessary permission for use and occupation, and the other details, are given in good faith and are believed to be correct, but any intending buyers should not rely on them as statements or representations of fact but must satisfy themselves by inspection or otherwise as to the correctness of each of them;

the sale plans are based on the National Grid sheets (as revised by the Selling Agents) and are published for identification purposes only;

no person in the employment of CKD Kennedy Macpherson or Moore Allen & Innocent LLP has any authority to make or give any representation or warranty whatsoever in relation to the property;

no responsibility can be accepted for any expenses incurred by intending buyers or their agents;

all areas, measurements and distances referred to herein are approximate only;

while we endeavour to make our sale particulars accurate and reliable, if there is any point which is of particular importance to you, please contact this office and we will be pleased to check the information for you, particularly if you are contemplating travelling some distance to view the property.

Joint Agents

Should you wish to view the property, please contact our Cirencester Office.

Tel:  01285  648115
Fax: 01285  640494

e-mail: farmsales@mooreallen.co.uk

33 Castle Street, Cirencester, Gloucestershire GL7 1QD Telephone: 01285 648115 Fax: 01285 640494 E-Mail: farmsales@mooreallen.co.uk