Daisy Green, Wotton-under-Edge, Gloucestershire GL12

Why We Love Daisy Green

A Palladian masterpiece for the 21st century.

In the bucolic rolling hills just south of the charming market town of Wotton-under-Edge sits Daisy Green.   

Built between 2009 and 2011, this remarkable house has all the elegance and proportions of an 18th-century house but with all the building quality and certainty of the 21st century. Executed both with style and humour, the owners and creators of this house set out to delight the visitor. Their success is obvious on entering the house for the first time. The owners engaged a number of craftsmen, including a master Stonemason, to carve the Syreford stone. Lead downpipes, decorative plasterwork, internal joinery including shutters and panelling, all created to the high specification and direction of the owner.

Remaining true to Palladio’s principles of harmony and proportion with a simple aesthetic to the wisteria clad exterior, the front door opens to reveal the exuberant opulence of the double height entrance hall with a stone floor, a wrought metal staircase by the world-renowned Matt Livsey Hammond, elaborate plaster mouldings and views through a glazed door to the hills in the distance. Arranged over three floors in the classical style, with a raised ground floor, the drawing room is a magnificent formal space that is filled with light. Each window has working shutters and the focal point of the room is the period fireplace; the top half of the mantlepiece previously graced the home of Cecil Beaton at Reddish. Across the hall is a dining room of similar proportions, which lends itself to entertaining on a grand scale, but also opens onto the kitchen in a way that somehow breaks the formality and makes it a room that encourages everyday use.

The large family kitchen is in contrast to the period style of the rest of the house, with stainless steel work surfaces and appliances giving the room a contemporary feel. An Esse oven lends a further stylish addition to the space.

The lower ground floor follows a similar layout to the ground floor with a large hallway with Doric columns, off which there is a large library sitting room, office, wine cellar and WC. The ceiling heights are suitably high.

One of the many joys of Daisy Green is the easy layout and highly efficient use of space. The first floor is arranged with five bedrooms, each with either an en-suite or private bathroom, one of which has a wonderful painted tiled scene by Priscilla Kennedy. The impressive principal suite also has a charming mezzanine dressing or snoring room with an exquisite chinoiserie metal balustrade.

A staircase leads up to the roof, which has been partly decked and offers some of the most inspiring views from the property, ideal for the morning salutation or evening sundowners.

The Studio and Annexe

Across a cobbled courtyard from the main house is a substantial second building that is used as an artist's studio and design space with a feature fireplace and terracotta tiled floor. Full-length glazed doors ensure excellent natural light. The room also lends itself to functioning as a second entertaining space.

The annexe makes for a self-contained guest suite with living room, bedroom, full kitchen and shower room.

Outside

The planting around the house reflects the keen design in the house with a plantsman’s knowledge of shrubs and herbaceous borders.

To the rear of the house, and in the traditional manner, there is a large sitting area that is approached via a long flight of stone stairs. This area is bordered by an attractive pond that is home to abundant wildlife, giving all year-round interest and then meets the rolling rural landscape that drifts up the hill towards the Tyndale monument on the skyline.

A charming modern interpretation of a gothic summer house is used as an all-year-round greenhouse.

Farmland

The circa 90 acres of grass farmland is farmed with the assistance of a local sheep farmer, who runs his own sheep on the land and looks after the flock of 150 Herdwick Sheep. Daisy Farm is the recipient of the declining BPS payments and Countryside Stewardship grants for the 90 acres. There is a private water supply where spring water is pumped from a solar and wind-powered pump by a windmill to a reservoir, distributed to all fields via gravity.  There is an agricultural access from the road.

Daisy Farmhouse

This substantial detached four-bedroom house, built in 1980s with two-bedroom annexe and large garden is currently let on AST. While a good house in its current form it could benefit from refurbishment and may represent a development opportunity with planning permission (now lapsed) granted circa 2015 for a replacement dwelling with separate access. 

Daisy Barn

On the other side of the road is the separate and detached two-bedroom Daisy Barn, recently fully converted and extended from a redundant farm building to create stylish secondary accommodation with vaulted oak ceilings and terracotta floors currently let on an AST. 

Living in The Cotswolds

Daisy Green enjoys an idyllic position on the edge of the Cotswolds hills just under the Tyndale monument. Set down a peaceful no-through country lane just north of the historic market town of Wotton-under-Edge, surrounded by mature woodland, offering spectacular views.

Wotton-under-Edge itself offers a mix of traditional charm and modern convenience, with handsome period buildings, independent shops, and cafés. For more extensive boutique shopping and dining, the Georgian town of Tetbury lies to the east, renowned for its antique shops. Similarly, Stroud is within easy reach and is fast becoming a new destination with a growing number of well-regarded restaurants, along with the bustling farmer’s market every Saturday.

Kemble Station has direct rail connections to London Paddington in under 80 minutes. By car, you are also within easy reach of nearby M4 and M5 junctions.

The countryside surrounding Daisy Green is a patchwork of woodlands and bridleways ideal for walkers, cyclists, and riders. The Cotswold Way National Trail runs close by, offering picturesque walks.

Country sports are a key part of the local lifestyle, with hunting available with the Berkeley and Beaufort Hunts. Cheltenham Racecourse, home of National Hunt racing, is well under an hour away, while polo followers are superbly catered for at Beaufort Polo Club and Cirencester Park, both offering summer fixtures. Aside from all things horses, there are also excellent local golf clubs at Minchinhampton and Cotswold Edge.

There is a fine selection of country inns and restaurants, including Juliet and The Woolpack in Stroud, Calcot Manor and Lola & Co in Tetbury, all offering refined dining.

Families are well-served by a choice of highly regarded independent schools, including Beaudesert Park and Westonbirt and the Cheltenham schools.