The Dovecote, Southrop, Gloucestershire GL7 3PD - £3.95million

A Grade II listed barn converted to an extremely high standard, The Dovecote sits in the heart of Southrop, a very popular village on the eastern side of Gloucestershire and just over the border from West Oxfordshire.  With a strong sense of community, the village thrives around its village hall, Norman church and primary school, with The Swan pub and Ox Barn at Thyme the places to meet kindred spirits.

Dating from the late 18th century, the barn is beautifully presented throughout, fusing elegant interiors with original features and period character such as exposed lime washed beams and timbers, open fireplaces, stone flooring with underfloor heating, superb ceiling height and three levels of pigeonholes to the front elevation.

Suitable for formal entertaining or more relaxed family living, at the heart of the house is an impressive, vaulted drawing room with galleried landing.  There is a library/sitting room, garden room, kitchen/dining room with fitted units, a central island, two under counter fridges, electric 4-door Aga with a 4-ring gas hob, two dishwashers, built-in microwave and a Belfast sink.  There is also a cloakroom, laundry room and store.

The main bedroom suite comprises a dressing room, wet room and bathroom, there is a dressing room/bedroom, galleried landing with mezzanine study, bedroom with en-suite bathroom and the fourth bedroom with adjoining shower room.  There is also a separate self-contained guest cottage which features an open plan living room with kitchen and two double bedrooms, both en-suite.

The property is tucked away in a private position behind a Cotswold stone wall with a tall screen of pleached hornbeams and electrically operated gates.  It is surrounded by walled landscaped gardens divided into separate rooms including a parterre to offer an extension to the house for summer entertaining, and a private walled swimming pool.

The towns of Lechlade, Burford and Fairford are all nearby, while the M4 & M40 motorways and railway stations at Swindon and Oxford Parkway are easily accessible for convenient travel to London.

https://www.butlersherborn.co.uk/southrop/nid3317

Guide price: £3.95million

Butler Sherborn - Cirencester - 01285 883740

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The Old Rectory, Lighthorne, Warwick, Warwickshire CV35 0AR - Guide Price £2.65million

On the market for the first time in 65 years and dating back to the 17th century, this impressive equestrian property comprises an attractive eight-bedroom Grade II listed rectory, a two bedroom detached bungalow, two bedroom flat, stabling and other equine facilities with land.

Providing comfortable and well-proportioned accommodation, The Old Rectory makes for perfect family living and entertaining, while also a great opportunity to update a substantial yet welcoming and comfortable home in the centre of the country.

With some 8,000 sq ft of family living accommodation, The Old Rectory offers a reception hall, drawing room, dining room, sitting room, kitchen/breakfast room, a conservatory, cloakroom, utility room, boot & workroom plus a cellar.

On the first floor are found the main bedroom with en-suite bathroom, two en-suite guest bedrooms, three further bedrooms, family bathroom and cloakroom, while on the second floor are two more bedrooms and four attic rooms.

Outside are beautifully maintained south-facing formal gardens, a walled kitchen garden, lawns, an orchard, swimming pool with pool house and garaging.  The Old Rectory Bungalow features a sitting room, kitchen, study, two bedrooms and shower room, while the Garage Stable Flat has a sitting room, kitchen, two bedrooms and a bathroom.

The equestrian outbuildings and facilities comprise eight traditional stables and tack room, steel portal framed agricultural buildings, horse walker, lorry store and stores.

Located in prime rural Warwickshire, Warwick and Leamington Spa are 8 miles away, with Stratford-upon-Avon, Birmingham and Oxford within easy driving distance, as are railway stations for trains to London and Birmingham, the M40 motorway and Birmingham Airport.

https://www.butlersherborn.co.uk/warwick/nid3296

Guide price: £2.65million 

Butler Sherborn - Stow-on-the-Wold - 01451 830731

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The Close, Well Hill, Minchinhampton, Gloucestershire GL6 9JE - £2.6million

Designed for elegant living, The Close is an attractive seven-bedroom Grade II listed Queen Anne town house with large and idyllic walled gardens of just under an acre in the highly appealing small town of Minchinhampton.

They say first impressions count, and with its imposing Queen Anne frontage and charming country house rear elevation, this delightful property is sure to make an impact.  Inside, period details include flagstone flooring, sash windows with working shutters and window seats, original cornices, fine panelling, picture rails and an oak staircase.  Sympathetically re-modelled, it now provides a gracious family home with well-proportioned accommodation.

The headline numbers are seven bedrooms, seven reception rooms and four bedrooms making up over 6,000sq ft of accommodation, and it comprises a reception hall, drawing room, library, sitting room, family room, dining room, large kitchen/breakfast room and larder, a boot room, laundry room, shower room, extensive cellar and wine store.  The first floor accommodates the main bedroom with en-suite dressing room and bathroom, guest bedroom with en-suite shower room plus three further bedrooms and a family bathroom, while there are two further bedrooms, a studio/sitting room and two attic storerooms on the top floor.

Outside there is a tranquil walled garden with lawns, mature trees, a paved terrace for al fresco dining and a summer house, private parking and garaging and space for a tennis court.

Conveniently located in the centre of town but with the sense of quiet country living, it is close to beautiful countryside including the much-admired Minchinhampton Common with its free-ranging cattle in summer, livery stables and golf course within walking distance, and an ideal location for those with children or grandchildren at Beaudesert School.

https://www.butlersherborn.co.uk/minchinhampton/well-hill/nid3315

Guide price: £2.6million

Butler Sherborn - Cirencester - 01285 883740

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The Dower House, Barnsley, Gloucestershire, GL7 5EF - £2.6million

Just a 10 minute drive northeast of Cirencester, The Dower House dates from the late 1700s and backs onto Barnsley Park.

This beautiful Grade II listed village house has five bedrooms, five reception rooms, three bathrooms, delightful south-west facing gardens with idyllic rural views and sits in just under an acre.

Retaining many period features including stone mullions, window seats and shutters, exposed beams, and an attractive stone chamfered doorway with a semi-circular stone hood, the property was renovated to a high standard in the early 2000s and has been further improved and well maintained since.

A light and spacious family home with a sociable layout, at its heart is the kitchen/breakfast room fitted with a bespoke range of units that include a large breakfast peninsular, cream coloured four oven Aga, integrated fridge/freezer, dishwasher and a boiling/filtered water tap.

Outside is a double garage with studio above and exquisite traditional landscaped lawn and woodland gardens.  Fully enclosed by Cotswold stone walls and carefully illuminated, they provide an idyllic haven for children and pets and a wonderful backdrop for entertaining.

Barnsley is an unspoiled traditional Cotswold village, a close-knit community with an active farm at its centre, a church, Barnsley House, formerly home to renowned gardener Rosemary Verey and now a premium hotel, and The Boot pub.

https://www.butlersherborn.co.uk/barnsley/nid3289

Guide price: £2.6million

Butler Sherborn - Cirencester - 01285 883740

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July Market Comment on the Cotswold residential property sector - Sam Butler, partner, Butler Sherborn

Despite a general flattening of the market caused most recently by the increase in interest rates, sellers are demonstrating their wish to get on with life with an almost unprecedented number of quality, high-end properties being launched.

Some prospective sellers are choosing to test the market by placing their properties with us privately, and we have a number of these, while both buyers and sellers are fully aware of current market conditions and accepting the need for price sensitivity and realistic expectations.  We anticipate this will remain the case until inflation starts to come down and interest rates follow.

We have a healthy stock of good properties at different price points and are fortunate that the Cotswolds remains an attractive and sought after place to live.