An idyllic country home with a breathtaking 17th century interior, plus pool, stables and an indoor arena
A house that has one of the of finest 17th century interiors in Britain has come to the market – a place which offers everything, but which will have horse lovers in particular wide-eyed with excitement.


Anyone on the lookout for a classic Cotswold country house set within magnificent grounds will be hard pushed to find a better example than the nine-bedroom, Grade II-listed Ampney Park at Ampney Crucis.
It's a superb small estate, two and a half miles from Cirencester, which is on the market a guide price of £9.5 million through Savills and Strutt & Parker.
The core of the present house is believed to date from 1628 and the Grand Hall, which boasts wonderful oak panelling and a beautifully moulded Jacobean ceiling, has been described by country-house historian Nicholas Kingsley as ‘one of the most perfect early 17th century interiors in the country’.
Approached through imposing wrought-iron gates along a picturesque winding drive, Ampney Park stands amid terraced lakeside gardens, surrounded by 25 acres of lovely Cotswolds countryside.
The main house itself has some 15,000sq ft of accommodation, including a reception hall, six fine reception rooms, a large family kitchen, nine bedrooms, seven bathrooms, an indoor swimming pool and extensive cellars.
The house is just the start, however: the equestrian facilities are mouth-watering. There’s an immaculate stable yard, paddocks, a fine outdoor manège and also an indoor eventing arena.
Beyond that are lakes, rivers, woodland, tennis court and further dwellings and buildings. The Stone Barn is a converted barn with a gym and two-bedroom flat, while there is also the two-bedroom Stable Cottage.
Exquisite houses, the beauty of Nature, and how to get the most from your life, straight to your inbox.
The manor of Ampney Crucis was granted to John Pleydell in 1562 and remained in his family – who built the house – until 1724, when the estate passed by marriage to the Yorkshire Dawnays.
In 1765, Ampney Park was sold to Samuel Blackwell of Cirencester, whose family added the long Georgian north wing.
In the 1890s, the Blackwells sold it to Edmund Cripps, who added a billiard room – a particularly special spot, with stained glass windows depicting the coats of arms of the Cripps, Radcliffe and Brydges families – and extended the east end of the house.
Ampney Park is for sale via through Savills and Strutt & Parker at £9.5 million – see more details and pictures.
Dreamy Cotswold farmhouse complete with excellent equestrian facilities and a party barn
Bosmere Farm is a wonderful family house in a stunning rural setting.
Credit: Alamy
The best things to add to to your house to increase its value, from party barns to dressing rooms
A sublime Georgian estate for sale that was once the residence of the Duke of Buckingham
The Abbey at Aston Abbotts has the potential to become the perfect small country estate.
A complete one-off for horse lovers: House with stables, manege... and a racetrack
In the countryside between York and Harrogate you'll find a curious and extraordinary property which has just come to the
-
Five British gardens have a starring role on the New York Times's list of 25 must-see gardens — here are the ones they forgot
Multiple British gardens have topped a New York Times list.
By Lotte Brundle Published
-
Country Life 16 July 2025
Country Life 16 July 2025 is our sustainability special, looking at the animals who are saving our landscape, solar power, and the best of the Proms.
By Country Life Published
-
The architect who created the MI6 building only designed a tiny handful of houses — and one of them is now up for sale in one of London's most bucolic spots
Sir Terry Farrell designed the beautiful, light-filled, T-shaped Drum House in Petersham, with gardens laid out by John Sallis Chandler, who has won multiple RHS Chelsea Flower Show gold medals.
By Toby Keel Last updated
-
'True waterfront homes are finite... miss one and it could be years before you see another like it again': Why the best waterfront property always hits the spot
There’s no denying the appeal of waterfront property, which now sells for some 51% more than its inland equivalent, finds Knight Frank. Annabel Dixon explores the shore.
By Annabel Dixon Published
-
19 charming homes for sale, from picture-perfect cottages to beachside retreats, as seen in Country Life
This week's selection of some of the best homes to come to the market via Country Life this week.
By Toby Keel Published
-
Tim Burton is selling the house he shared with Helena Bonham-Carter, a sublime home on the Thames that comes with three private islands
Mill House in Sutton Courtenay, Oxfordshire, might just be the perfect English country home.
By Rosie Paterson Last updated
-
A spectacular tower for sale that's a blend of Victorian folly, architectural marvel and 21st century family home
Hadlow Tower has space, and a back story of love, jealousy and intrigue.
By Toby Keel Published
-
A spectacular, light-filled home on the Isle of Wight where you can see the water from practically every window
Penny Churchill takes a look at the grand and impressive Fishbourne Quay House.
By Penny Churchill Last updated
-
The former stables — and recording studio for the Pet Shop Boys — transformed with a magical blend of city and country aesthetic, now seeking a new owner
In the heart of Clerkenwell, what was once a Victorian industrial unit is now a beautiful home.
By Toby Keel Last updated
-
The Good Life 2025? A development promising 'Britain's greenest homes' blends zero carbon, organic allotments and a touch of luxury in the Kent countryside
Hartdene Barns, sitting on a disused dairy farm in Kent, is a vision of what sustainable living one day mean for all of us.
By Annunciata Elwes Published