The Farriers, Aynho, Northamptonshire

This wonderful three-bedroom Grade II-listed cottage sits within a conservation area in the apricot tree-filled village of Aynho, Northamptonshire. The cottage was built in the 17th century and retains many of its original features, including uncoarsed rubble limestone masonry and a pretty thatched roof. A verdant front garden and a leafy patio to the rear of the house provide inviting outdoor space for relaxing or hosting. Despite its tranquil location, the house is well connected: a nearby railway station at King's Sutton provides services to Marylebone in 75 minutes, and the M40 is close by.

Setting the Scene

Aynho's name derives from Aienho, an Old English word for a 'spring' or a 'hill'. The village is affectionately known as the ‘apricot village’ due to its abundance of apricot trees, and legend has it that villagers used to pay part of their rent with the fruit.

The history of the village is intertwined with that of Aynhoe Park, formerly known as the manor of Aienho. In the 17th century, the manor and much of the surrounding village were purchased by Thomas Cartwright, a wealthy lawyer whose family maintained the estate for over 300 years. It was between the 17th and mid-18th century that many of the vernacular buildings that form the village today were built, including this house on Blacksmith's Hill, where many local tradesmen are thought to have historically lived and worked.

The Grand Tour

A pretty front garden unfurls before the cottage, which sits set back from the road. A shingled pathway leads to the front of the house, where climbing yellow roses embrace the original stone exterior. A thatched roof crowns the building - a telltale sign of its 17th-century provenance.

An original panelled timber door with a wooden lintel hewn into the stone interior above forms the entrance to the cottage. It opens to an expansive sitting room with wooden beams overhead and grey flagstones underfoot. A log burner sits in a stone alcove, and a window seat is carved out beneath casement windows that face out onto the front garden.

The cottage has been thoughtfully extended to accommodate a modern kitchen and dining area, which lies beyond the sitting room. Smart kitchen cabinetry provides plenty of room for storage and a gas Belling oven sits in an alcove. Overhead, a skylight maximises natural brightness, and sliding Crittall-style doors to the left of the kitchen provide access to the patio garden. A WC is also located on the ground floor.

Original wooden doors reveal a set of stairs that ascend to the first floor. Here, there are two bright bedrooms, both with wooden floorboards underfoot, exposed beam detailing and stone window seats. A spacious bathroom with a wood-panelled bath and overhead shower also sits on this floor.

Another bedroom with an en suite shower room is on the second floor; its pitched ceiling, original wooden beams and exposed stone wall render it a cosy, private haven.

The Great Outdoors

The lush south-facing front garden is filled with cottage-garden perennials. To the rear, a tiered, L-shaped garden with original stone steps is accessed from both the kitchen and the living room, providing a peaceful retreat as well as plenty of room for outdoor dining.

Out and About

This house is nestled within Aynho, a tranquil stone-built village in the north Oxfordshire landscape, close to the pretty Cherwell Valley. The village has a thriving community, with a village hall, tennis courts and a parish church, and is known for the magnificent Grade I-listed Aynhoe Park estate, which is just a five-minute walk from the house and houses two highly regarded restaurants, The Orangery and The Loggia.

The Great Western Arms is an excellent spot for a canal-side tipple in the village. Further dining opportunities are found in the nearby town of Banbury, less than seven miles away. Featured in the Michelin Guide, The Duck on the Pond serves locally sourced fare, while The Yurt is another excellent option in nearby North Aston. For shopping, Bicester Village is a short drive away, and there is a Marks and Spencer Foodhall for daily provisions.

Aynho Wharf provides wonderful canal-side walks, and there are a number of circular routes in the area that offer excellent opportunities for exploring the local surroundings. The impressive Thenford Arboretum is a 15-minute drive from the house and is home to more than 3,500 different trees and shrubs, plus a water garden, a rose garden and a sculpture garden. The medieval manor house of Broughton Castle is also close by.

The dramatic dreaming spires of Oxford can be reached in just under 40 minutes. The Chilterns and the Cotswolds National Landscapes, with their near endless walking routes, are both near.

There are a number of schools in the area, both private and state-run. Newbottle and Charlton and Croughton All Saints primary schools are both around a five-minute drive away, and secondary schools Chenderit and Blessed George Napier are also close.

Despite its sense of remove, Aynho has great transport links. A nearby rail station in King's Sutton provides services to Marylebone in around 75 minutes, while Bicester North offers more frequent services to the city in just under an hour. The M40 is also easily reached.

Council Tax Band: D