In these uncertain times, it's not been unusual for country houses — or houses of any type, for that matter — to appear, then relatively quickly disappear, from the market. And it's usually only a matter of time before they re-emerge, as is the case with Poundon House in Oxfordshire, for sale at £6m via Knight Frank.
This charming Edwardian country house first came to the market for a while in the autumn of 2021 (at the same asking price) before going under the radar, only to receive a fresh push in the market in the last couple of weeks of 2022.
It's just as beautiful today as ever, a fine house set in more than 10 acres of gardens and grounds in unspoilt open countryside, was built in 1908 by Eton-educated gentleman cricketer John Heywood-Lonsdale.
If this looks a rather grand house for a cricketer to have built, John had his father to thank. Arthur Heywood-Lonsdale inherited £1.25 million in 1877 upon the death of an uncle — a sum which he had to change his name to inherit. That amount of money equates to £144 million in 2023 terms.
The large and impressive formal gardens, which include a lime-tree avenue, parterre, ornamental pond and walled garden, were designed by Thomas H. Mawson, widely regarded as the leading landscape architect of his day.
Poundon House remained the Heywood-Lonsdale family home until the outbreak of the Second World War, when it was requisitioned by the government to house evacuees from London and as a base for Sir Winston Churchill’s crack espionage unit, the Special Operations Executive.
Poundon House was Station 53b, used as a top-secret radio and training base when, in 1942, SOE's radio communications were were moved away from nearby Bletchley Park.
It continued to be used by the intelligence services until the late 1970s. The property changed hands a couple of times before the Roscoe family acquired it a decade later and lovingly restored it to its original splendour.
Built by local firm Lewis Penn of golden Eydon stone in the Classical Queen Anne style, Poundon House offers 13,263sq ft of grand living space on three floors, including three fine reception rooms.
There is a library, study, family room and kitchen on the ground floor; a master-bedroom suite, seven further bedrooms and three bathrooms on the first floor; plus four more bedrooms, a family bathroom and kitchen on the second floor.
Further accommodation is available in the three-bedroom garden wing and the two-bedroom garden cottage; sporting amenities include a large, Roman-style swimming pool within a hedged garden, a hard tennis court, former croquet lawn, paddock, and traditional red-brick stable yard with 12 stables, four flats and extensive garages.
Bicester: What you need to know
Location: North East Oxfordshire, approximately 15 miles North of Oxford. Bicester Village and Bicester North are two local train stations which run on the Chiltern Main Line Services and link to London Marylebone and Birmingham. There is also easy access to the M40 which links London, Birmingham and Banbury.
Atmosphere: The town is most well known for Bicester Village — a large shopping district which is home to a huge number of outlet designer shops.
Things to do: There are over 160 boutique shops at Bicester Village which draw in crowds from all over the UK and are well worth a visit. There are also numerous cafes and restaurants within the shopping district. The surrounding countryside is the perfect playground for those who love to get outdoors, with numerous walking and bridle routes to explore.
Schools: Bardwell School (ages 2-19) and Brookside Primary School are both rated 'good' by Ofsted. Further schooling options can be found closer to Oxford with Headington School, Magdalen College School and The Cherwell School.
See more property for sale in the area.
Additional writing by Penny Churchill
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
-
How to make Eton mess strawberry blondiesOur kitchen garden cook Melanie Johnson shares a mouthwatering recipe bringing together two of the greatest foodstuffs on the planet: strawberries and meringue.
-
The deaths of Romeo and Juliet: Country Life Quiz of the Day, June 12, 2025A Rolling Stone and a familiar-sounding place find their way into Wednesday's Quiz of the Day.
-
The reality of 20 years of house price rises in Britain, from the places that have had a charmed life to the spots where it's a struggle to move back homeAt first glance the ups and downs of the property market seem to even out over time — but dig in to the numbers and you'll see wild regional variations which paint a very difference picture. Annabel Dixon analyses new research which tells the story.
-
A historic Yorkshire hall, meticulously restored to its former 18th-century magnificenceWomersley Park is a masterpiece and one of Yorkshire's great historic houses. And it could be yours.
-
Rowing past dreams: An idyllic riverside home with a boathouse, croquet pitch and Olympic pedigreeThe Manor in Long Wittenham is a perfect Thames-side getaway. Comes with a free boat.
-
A bucolic Sussex home that's 'like stepping into a fairytale', yet just 30 minutes from central LondonFelmere House is a playground for nature and only 30 minutes from London.
-
Magnificent mansions across the Home Counties, from £3 million to £14 million, as seen in Country LifeA waterside dream home and a house and estate with over 1,100 years of history make our round-up this week.
-
Vibrant colours and exquisite taste make this three-bedroom London townhouse singOn Kennington's West Square, this Grade II-listed home is a monument to the discerning eye.
-
Lawns, glorious lawns at this Grade II-listed home in Hampshire where a sustainable future meets a storied pastThere are 'old rectorys', and then there's The Old Rectory.
-
'A monument to Edwardian excess' that was built by the millionaire industrialist who founded Pinewood StudiosBents House is a classic Peak District mansion which shows that good taste and deep pockets can coexist very happily.
