Buyers looking for a property with a difference should look at Chapel House, in Winslow, Buckinghamshire: this five-bedroom house, which is on the market with Knight Frank at an asking price of £1.5 million, was originally a chapel.
Converting a chapel is a tricky job: how much do you keep the original feel? How much fo you make the new place feel like a home? In this case, they've veered towards the latter, and we have to say this conversion is one of the cosiest converted churches we've ever seen — yet they have still kept intact many original features, including the former belfry.
The 4,400sq ft interiors are arranged across three floors. The main rooms are all on the ground floor, which harbours a magnificent open-plan kitchen, dining and living area.
There is also a separate sitting room and five bedrooms, including the large master suite with its dressing room and fine bathroom — not to mention leaded, stone-mullioned windows highlighted with stained glass elements.
The first floor is entirely taken up by a striking family room, while the top floor houses a study and enjoys long views across the surrounding countryside from all four sides.
The gardens — very private, which is unusual for a property set in the middle of a market town — are arranged into two courtyard areas, with paved terraces and a small lawn.
Chapel House is for sale at £1.5 million via Knight Frank — see more pictures or enquire with the agent for further details.
Winslow: What you need to know
- Location: Winslow is situated 6.4 miles from Buckingham, 11.1 from Aylesbury and 28.5 from Oxford
- Atmosphere: A market town, Winslow combines period thatched houses, the market square (there's still a weekly market) and cattle markets with a good selection of shops, restaurants and pubs.
- Things to do: Walking, cycling and riding routes abound in the glorious countryside that surrounds Winslow, while Buckingham and, a little farther, oxford, provide a huge range of culture and entertainment opportunities.
- Schools: There is plenty of choice, both locally and a little further afield, with the Royal Latin School in Buckingham, Aylesbury High for Girls, Aylesbury Grammar School for Boys and The Sir Henry Floyd Grammar School in Aylesbury, plus Akeley Wood and Stowe and, in Oxford, Lynehams, The Dragon School, Oxford High School, Ashfold Preparatory School and St Edward’s. Find more properties in the area.
Credit: Strutt and Parker
Best country houses for sale this week
An irresistible West Country cottage and a magnificent Cumbrian country house make our pick of the finest country houses for
-
Will Hosie: I'm bored of West End remakes — risky business should be the norm, not the anomalyIs the West End becoming a broken record?
-
The Swan at Fittleworth review: The 500-year-old inn that’s as popular now as when Turner stayedThe Swan at Fittleworth's previous guests include Kipling, Turner and J. M. Barrie.
-
Location, community and charm: the enduring desirability of London's mews housesFrom birds, to horses, to beautiful family homes, the mews of London are some of the nation's most sought-after homes. But why?
-
The distinctive and historic home that might just be 'one of Dorset’s most picturesque'Grade II*-listed Manor House, set in just under eight acres, dates from the 16th century.
-
A 17th century farmhouse in Surrey with one of Britain's oldest squash courtsFords Farm is on the market for the first time in over half a century.
-
The 15 best-value commuter towns for people working in London, according to new research from one of Britain's top estate agentsSavills have released their list of the best-value commuter towns in Britain. But do the sums add up? Toby Keel takes a look.
-
What everyone is talking about this week: Where are the new Cotswolds?The appearance of American Vice President J. D. Vance in the Cotswolds is a sure sign that they're saturated, but where else can you escape to that has the same charm?
-
19 outstanding country homes, from £450,000 to £20 million, as seen in Country LifeA spectacular country house in Yorkshire and an enormously impressive Channel Islands retreat are among the stand-out homes on the market this week.
-
Three homes down by the Thames, perfect for those who love messing about on boatsThis summer’s scorching temperatures will no doubt have endorsed the perennial appeal of Thames-side houses with frontage and private access to the river. Penny Churchill and Toby Keel pick out some prime examples.
-
A pavilion, pool and pleasure gardens at this Devon country house 'with not another building in sight'Ebberly House is a majestic country house in Devon built by one of John Soane's pupils — and as it comes to the market, it's a place Penny Churchill knows well.
