A chocolate-box cottage immortalised in an iconic Mars bar advert is for sale in a sought-after pocket of Wiltshire.
Bachelors Mead provides the backdrop to a 1960s TV ad for Mars, where roof thatcher and bell ringer Sid Grant shares the famous chocolate bar with his two young nieces.
The ad features the catchy slogan, ‘A Mars a day helps you work, rest and play’. Now that may not be considered the best health advice. But why let that get in the way of a nationwide advertising campaign?
The five-bedroom cottage in the pretty village of Horton, near Devizes, is on the market with Hamptons for £1,250,000.
Bachelors Mead dates back, in part, to the 14th century. This family home oozes rural charm: think thatched roof (famously tended to by Sid), exposed timber beams, and deep brick fireplaces.
Thankfully though, it has been brought up to date since the 1960s Mars bar advert.
It has a light and airy feel, with roughly around two thirds of the footprint downstairs dedicated to just two rooms: an open-plan kitchen and a vaulted sitting room.
At the heart of the modern kitchen is a large island and a striking blue AGA, an essential in any country home, surely. And the star of the show in the spacious sitting room is a large Victorian school house window.
Elsewhere on the ground floor is a dining room, snug, study, utility room, loo and boot room. Head up one of the two staircases and you’ll find five tasteful bedrooms and two bathrooms.
With a neutral colour palette throughout, this is a warm and welcoming home that you could move straight into.
The double garage next to the house features a first floor loft, which would make an ideal set-up for a separate home office or all-important storage space.
Bachelors Mead sits in a 1.4 acre parcel of land, with a garden that wraps around the house.
It may have a peaceful setting in the North Wessex Downs National Landscape but it’s still well-connected. The train station in nearby Pewsey has a circa one-hour direct service to London Paddington. Perfect for commuters tied to an office in the Big Smoke.
It’s also close to a handful of well-known schools, including Marlborough College, Dauntsey’s, St Francis Prep, Stonar, and Bishops Cannings.
'Bachelors Mead is an enchanting period home that offer a prospective buyer a unique opportunity. Not only will you own a piece of British popular culture history, but you'll be acquiring a handsome, welcoming home with an ideal blend of rustic charm and contemporary comforts,' says Johanna Cole, sales director at Hamptons in Marlborough.
'Light-filled and airy rooms, like the lofty sitting room with its striking Victorian school house window, exemplify the property's appealing character. The property is in a wonderful semi-rural setting within walking distance of the Kennet and Avon Canal, offering spectacular views with a good degree of privacy.'
Bachelors Mead is on the market for £1,250,000 via Hamptons — see more details and pictures.
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
20 wonderful homes, from clifftop cottages to cosy medieval dwellings, as seen in Country Life
Take a look at some of the best homes to come to the market via Country Life in recent days.
Credit: Lillicrap Chilcott
Lose yourself in nature in the heart of Truro at the former home of D.M. Thomas
Four bedrooms, half an acre of beautiful woodland gardens, and only a quarter of a mile from the town centre.
-
'The watch is Head Boy of men’s accessorising': Ginnie Chadwyck-Healey and Tom Chamberlin's Summer Season style secretsWhen it comes to dressing for the Season, accessories will transform an outfit. Ginnie Chadwyck-Healey and Tom Chamberlin, both stylish summer-party veterans, offer some sage advice.
-
Lewis Hamilton, Claude Monet and the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse: Country Life Quiz of the Day, April 29, 2025Tuesday's Quiz of the Day looks back at Lewis Hamilton's first win and ponders on the meaning of greige.
-
About time: The fastest and slowest moving housing markets revealedNew research by Zoopla has shown where it's easy to sell and where it will take quite a while to find a buyer.
-
A wisteria clad hall built by one of the founders of the Bank of EnglandCome for the history of Old Hall. Stay for the interesting interiors.
-
A gorgeous Scottish cottage with contemporary interiors on the bonny banks of the River TayCarnliath on the edge of Strathtay is a delightful family home set in sensational scenery.
-
Six rural properties with space, charm and endless views, as seen in Country LifeWe take a look at some of the best houses to come to the market via Country Life in the past week.
-
380 acres and 90 bedrooms on the £25m private island being sold by one of Britain's top music producersStormzy, Rihanna and the Rolling Stones are just a part of the story at Osea Island, a dot on the map in the seas off Essex.
-
A home cinema, tasteful interiors and 65 acres of private parkland hidden in an unassuming lodge in KentNorth Lodge near Tonbridge may seem relatively simple, but there is a lot more than what meets the eye.
-
A rare opportunity to own a family home on Vanbrugh Terrace, one of London's finest streetsThis six-bedroom Victorian home sits right on the start line of the London Marathon, with easy access to Blackheath and Greenwich Park.
-
A tale of everyday life as lived on Britain's most expensive streetWinnington Road in Hampstead has an average house price of £11.9 million. But what's it really like? Lotte Brundle went to find out.
