Property Blog
5th December 2023
After another busy year, Butler Sherborn is delighted to wish all their clients and friends A Very Happy Christmas.
We look forward to working with you in 2024.
If in the meantime, we can provide advice on any of your property matters, please do contact us:
cirencester@butlersherborn.co.uk 01285 883740 stow@butlersherborn.co.uk 01451 830731 or bur@butlersherborn.co.uk 01993 822325
Our Offices will be closed from 12 noon on Friday 22nd December to Monday 1st January inclusive.
5th December 2023
George Butler, reportage and war artist, founded the charity ten years ago in response to the Syria conflict, which he covered. As the eldest son of Sam Butler, it seems apposite to include George’s short item.
“Where does the money go?” A question we are asked regularly, and rightly so. Ten years ago when we started Hands Up, the few minutes we had to try and explain when meeting someone never felt like enough. It felt complicated and there was too much to say.
A decade into Hands Up’s work helping Syrians, it is the answer we feel most proud of and it is uncomplicated; the money goes to Syrian people in areas of greatest need, to make sure they have medical care and education. For many, a... more
1st December 2023
Proper pizzas & Well pulled pints – The Stump, Foss Cross, Nr Cirencester, GL54 4NN
The Stump has a great buzz, with a young enthusiastic team welcoming you into this traditional pub building. The atmosphere is fun, cosy and relentlessly happy, with large roaring fires, plenty of places to chatter and a selection of ten beautifully presented rooms.
The Stump is locally famous for it’s superb hand thrown pizzas, fresh breads and salads with an Italian flavour. The ingredients are well sourced and the menus are colourful and imaginative, as well as good... more
23rd November 2023
There were no measures which directly relate to property. No changes to Inheritance Tax allowances nor Stamp Duty.
The buying and selling of houses, and both the desire and ability to move, are of course driven by a household’s financial considerations i.e. the cost of mortgages, affordability and whether the house being bought is going to be worth more tomorrow than today. However, confidence is a major factor and it will be interesting to see how the market reacts to the 2% reduction in National Insurance and no increase in small business rates. Equally, the lack of further increase in interest rates... more
16th November 2023
Perfect for a cosy dinner for two or a big Sunday lunch with family or friends, The Castle at Edgehill, lies in a hamlet on the edge of the most northerly point of the Cotswolds escarpment in Oxfordshire and 300m from the Warwickshire border, with incredible views over an unspoilt rural landscape.
The fields below are famous as the site where Charles 1 once stood and watched the first major battle of the English Civil War in 1642.
The Castle also offers the perfect bolthole for a romantic escape, family staycation (one room sleeps 4-5) and get-togethers. Built as an extravagant folly in the 1740s and converted to a pub in 1822, this little castle has five guest bedrooms in its two castellated towers, all overlooking those views, an extensive selection of local ales and great... more
9th November 2023
Getting cosy around a real fire is high on the list of requirements for winter living in the countryside, especially at Christmas. Whether you are returning home for the holiday season, after a long walk or midnight mass on Christmas morning, there’s nothing quite like thawing out in front of your own roaring fire.
The need for an open fire or wood burner is one of the ‘must haves’ for those looking for a property in the Cotswolds, and as the leading property specialist in the region, one that Butler Sherborn is frequently tasked to find. Butler Sherborn has a number of properties currently on the market with welcoming fireplaces, including these four homes ranging from £895,000 - £3.75million.
Beauchamp House, Bloxham, Oxfordshire, OX15 4NB - £2.5million
A Grade II Listed house... more
6th November 2023
It’s that time of year when we want to cosy up for the cold winter months and take refuge from the dark nights. Open fires, hot chocolates, gatherings for a Sunday roast and that lovely feeling, when you open the door at home, of warmth and comfort.
Achieving this environment and ambiance is not just about turning the AGA on or the central heating up. Whether your home is a formal residence, a sprawling country farmhouse or cosy cottage, here are some ideas from Country home interior designer, Lisa Burdus, for creating warmth and cosiness this autumn and winter, whatever your interior style.
Layer up
“The most wonderful way to create an inviting sense of warmth is with layers. We naturally dress ourselves in warm layers for... more
31st October 2023
The Bell, Charlbury has recently been refurbished to offer a traditional 17th Century pub at the heart of the local community, together with a selection of beautifully appointed rooms for those wishing to stay for a night or a few days in the Cotswolds.
The chefs have created a modern British menu serving seasonal dishes that celebrate produce from Daylesford Organic, the sister farm. The bedrooms have been restored with considered attention to detail, drawing on the skills of local artisans and artists. From crackling log fires to a huge orchard garden for families to drink in the sunshine, The Bell provides an escape from the bustle of everyday life.
The menus are seasonal and use the best ingredients supplied by local... more
31st October 2023
Whenever one thinks of ghosts in the Cotswolds, Prestbury, just outside Cheltenham springs to mind, as it is reportedly home to more than a dozen wandering spirits. One of the most infamous is the Black Abbot, who is regularly spotted in the church and churchyard, always walking in the same direction.
The Cotswolds, and especially the north of the area from Stow-on-the -Wold to Tewkesbury, was a focus of much of the fighting during The English Civil War. Royalists, under Charles I, were desperately trying to retain their hold on as much of the country as possible in the face of sustained and growing opposition from Cromwell and his puritan Roundheads. Many battles were fought in the local villages and as a result there are tales of hauntings, and executions.
In Shaw Green Lane,... more
26th October 2023
The start of the Christmas season, these days, is signalled by Christmas markets, followed by Advent Carol Services. The Cotswolds have plenty of Christmas Fairs and Markets in the various beautiful villages and market towns from Cirencester to Chipping Campden, and even at Blenheim Palace.
The delicious aromas of cinnamon and ginger spices float through the crisp cold streets whilst one browses stalls offering many locally produced artisan designed items to place beneath the Christmas tree. Fuelled by mulled wine and mince pies, these markets are fun and a great way to start the Christmas season.
Advent and Carol Services – these services frequently offer some of the best music in the ecclesiastical calendar. To be sure of being able to attend, it is worth looking at... more
20th October 2023
Wet, windy and winter weather … the nights are closing in and the temperatures are beginning to drop.
We are now facing another challenging winter, with energy prices remaining strong and war in both the Ukraine and the Middle East having a direct impact on the cost of energy bills. It is important for home owners and tenants to efficiently heat their properties, to prevent damp, mould, cold draughts or rot, as well as related health issues. With these concerns, for many, comes the worry of cost implications, with ever spiralling energy bills. At the moment, there is no indication that the... more
9th October 2023
Perfect for an Autumn break, The Crown at Church Enstone in West Oxfordshire, was recently taken over by experienced hospitality stars, Matt and Katie Beamish, who also run acclaimed foodie pub with rooms, The Kingham Plough and dining hub, The Hare at Milton.
The couple bought The Crown in September 2022, following on from the success of the Kingham Plough, which Matt and Katie took over from chef patron and Great British Menu winner, Emily Watkins, in late 2019. Matt and Katie also own and run village dining pub, The Hare at Milton-under-Wychwood, on the Oxfordshire /Gloucestershire borders, and which they acquired in August 2020.
The husband-and-wife team had been on the lookout for a suitable third pub site in the local area for... more
5th October 2023
Beech, chestnut, oak, hazel – it’s a great autumn for trees and rural property. Four fine autumnal additions to the Cotswold country house market from Butler Sherborn - £1million - £2.95million. Sam Butler comments on the Cotswolds Residential Property Market Comment.
Sweet chestnuts, acorns, cobnuts, conkers even walnuts, there is something very grounding and reassuring about having a nut tree in your garden or nearest hedgerow. And at this time of the year seeing them still maturing on the trees, falling to the ground or busily harvested by squirrels for their winter larder helps put life into context when out and about in the countryside. With beautiful gardens and in delightful bucolic locations, Butler Sherborn has added several fine period country... more
3rd October 2023
Ben Way, Head of Butler Sherborn Equestrian, comments on the 2023 Season……
‘We are now coming towards the end of our 2023 eventing season. I have just returned from a trip competing two young horses in France, where we made the most of the Autumn sunshine. Quite a few of the other horses have gone out on holiday after their runs at the bigger Autumn international events, notably Cornbury and Blenheim. I think that Bicton International in Devon will be our very last event towards the end of this month.
Looking back, 2023 has been a really good season, with... more
2nd October 2023
A handsome and stylish six bedroom Cotswold house with extensive gardens in the desirable market town of Cirencester - Firwood, Cirencester, GL7 1TX - Guide Price £2,875,000
This well presented house is located in the highly desirable residential area of Somerford Road in grounds of in all about 0.8 acres. Built in the 1920’s to a traditional design and in Cotswold stone, Firwood has been sympathetically restored over the years to provide a lovely family home, combining the style of a country house with the convenience of a town location.
The house retains many original details and features including stone mullions, window seats, fireplaces and... more
28th September 2023
For Sale By Public Auction – Old Puesdown Inn, Compton Abdale, Gloucestershire GL54 4DN - 6pm on Wednesday 11th October 2023 at Russells Barn, The Stump, Fosse Cross, Chedworth, GL54 4NN
Butler Sherborn is instructed to sell, by Public Auction, the imaginative conversion of this historic, Grade II Listed, former coaching inn, Old Puesdown Inn. The necessary consents were granted to enable the creation of a distinctive, gated property, providing four stylish attached Cotswold houses in this convenient location between Burford and Cheltenham.
Old Puesdown Inn is a handsome property constructed from Cotswold stone in the mid 19C, with period features including sash... more
14th September 2023
A Classic Grade II Listed five bedroom Cotswold stone farmhouse
Pound Farm occupies a lovely position on the edge of the hamlet of Eastcourt. Together with a granary, stables, gardens, small arboretum, a swimming pool and paddocks, it is a complete family home, with in all about 10.22 acres.
Pound Farm is believed to date from the late 17th or early 18th Century, with traditional outbuildings, a large walled courtyard and delightful gardens. The house retains original features and has been in the same ownership for over thirty years. This much... more
8th September 2023
Four new additions to the Cotswold country home market with land and fruit trees from £1.15million - £2.875million
With early mists forming overnight, the first leaves starting to turn, blackberries in the hedgerows bursting to be picked and the first over-ripe apples and plums hitting the ground, now is a wonderful time to be out and about in the Cotswold countryside.
10 Taynton, Burford, Oxfordshire OX18 4UH - £1.5million
10 Taynton sits on the edge of one of the most attractive small villages in the Windrush Valley, and with four bedrooms, three reception rooms and two bedrooms... more
8th September 2023
The Sherborne Arms is an historic pub situated in the beautiful market town of Northleach in the heart of the Cotswolds.
It is run by Peter Creed and Tom Noest and focusses on good simple pub food with a straightforward wine list and a good selection of spirits. There is a large bar area with lots of seating to have a quiet drink, open fires, a separate restaurant, and an outside courtyard.
Situated in the centre of the Cotswolds, Northleach is an excellent place from which to explore this beautiful area. It is within easy reach of the market town of Cirencester and the Roman villa in Chedworth, and is... more
14th August 2023
Set in the heart of the Cotswolds, Sugarboo Extraordinary Cakes is owned by Lyanda Alder, a multi award winning cake artist.
Lyanda designs bespoke cakes and creations at the 'Sugarboo studio' in Milton-under-Wychwood.
Specialising in larger than life cakes and unique creations, Lyanda loves a challenge! The cakes are all cake- slice through them with a knife if you can bear to, and you will see the astonishing layers of cake just beneath the icing. These cake creations are superb works of art.
Sugarboo is also home to the infamous 'cookie pie' and gooey chocolate brownies, all made by Lyanda herself... more
