Ickleton Road, Wantage, Oxfordshire

A delightful, unique property in a highly desirable position. Ham Lodge has been extensively refurbished and redecorated throughout and set within a stunning garden which backs onto Letcombe Brook, a beautiful chalk stream, and features a large wildlife pond, with the historic town centre and open countryside just moments away.

Ham Lodge dates from 1833 and was formerly a lodge house to The Ham, an impressive mansion house on the edge of Wantage. The original Georgian lodge house is a striking octagonal mellow red brick building which has been cleverly mirrored by a more recent extension of a similar design seamlessly linking the old and new parts of the house, resulting in a comfortable 4-bedroom home overlooking the special setting with the wildlife pond in the foreground and the lovely Letcombe Brooke beyond. A welcoming reception hall doubles as a second sitting room and features a wooden staircase leading to the first floor. The main reception room is a generous drawing room with a dual aspect and timber beams overhead, as well as a brick-built fireplace fitted with a woodburning stove. Additional living space comes in the form of a charming dual aspect dining room, benefitting from lovely views across the garden. Adjoining the dining room, the well-equipped kitchen features fitted units to base and wall level, as well as an integrated Smeg oven, a gas hob with an extractor hood and a new Everhot double oven eco range cooker. The ground floor also has a useful utility room for further storage. There are two accessible double bedrooms on the ground floor, both of which benefit from built-in storage. A shower room is found on the ground floor. Staircases at either end of the house lead to two first-floor bedrooms. One has a skylight overhead and access to eaves storage, while the private principal bedroom, features a vaulted ceiling with exposed timber eaves, fitted wardrobes and a luxury en suite bathroom with a roll-top bathtub and a separate shower unit.

Ham Lodge is set in beautiful south facing gardens approaching an acre, with the Letcombe Brook running through. This clear chalk stream has trout and a variety of waterfowl. The house is approached via gates which open onto a sweeping gravel driveway, culminating in a turning circle and garaging. The gardens are cleverly designed to fully enjoy the pond and brook, both with imaginative marginal planting, and wonderful borders of year-round interest. The sunny garden has a south facing terrace, overlooking the lily pond with fish and much wildlife. A foot bridge leads across the brook to a lovely, shady garden area. In addition, there is a kitchen garden with a greenhouse and vegetable beds for growing your own produce.

The historic market town of Wantage is a sought-after location, set in a convenient position within easy reach of the large surrounding towns of Didcot and Oxford, and on the edge of the stunning countryside of the North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. A short walk to the market square will take you up Ham Road to Locks Lane, past the lovely ford, Arthur’s Well, John Betjeman’s old home and a park and church. The town itself is charming with its narrow streets and King Arthur’s statue proudly displayed in the market square, while providing plenty of everyday amenities, including a variety of shops, supermarkets, leisure facilities, pubs and restaurants. The town is well-connected by road, with the M4 within easy reach, and the A34 connecting to Newbury and Oxford. Further attractions within walking distance include the lovely Letcombe Regis with its excellent dining pub, The Greyhound, and Childrey, a charming village with a beautiful pond, resident geese, village deli shop with gifts and café, and the picturesque Cantorist Farm Café.