The first thing to always ask when purchasing a house with a thatched roof is: ‘has it been recently re-thatched’. In the case of Michaelmas Cottage, in the village of Upavon, near Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire, the answer is a resounding yes.
The spacious Grade II-listed property — for sale at £575,000 with Fine & Country — offers four bedrooms within its white-wash walls, and is set over two floors. Upon entering the property, it becomes immediately apparent that the home is one of great character and history; indeed, the building supposedly dates back to the 1600s and that air of Old English charm seems to fill every room.
Exposed beams are on display throughout, while the reception rooms and kitchen area are laid out so that not an inch of space is wasted.
Outside, recent works have led to a two-tiered garden space, which includes a bothy that has been turned into a home office, giving the new owner the chance to ‘leave their work behind’ at the end of the day should the indulge in home working.
The village of Upavon itself imbibes a sense of community, with two pubs, doctor’s surgery, post office, hairdressers and a golf club, all within walking distance, as well as a ‘plethora of characters’ according to the current owner.
Further afield, wild and wonderful paths extend across the downland of the Vale of Pewsey, all accessible on foot. If this all-out assault on countryside living gets too much, Pewsey train station is only three miles away, with London 1hr and 20mins away by train.
The Country Life Podcast
Listen to all the episodes of the Country Life Podcast.
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
Credit: Seend Park, Wiltshire
The sprawling Wiltshire house that ‘grows on you each time you walk through the door’
In the heart of Wiltshire and enjoying beautiful views over Salisbury Plain is this glorious house with a fascinating history.
Credit: Savills
A Georgian gem on the fringes of the Salisbury Plain that is on the market for the first time in nearly 80 years
Forming just one of 17 houses within the village of Fittleton, Fittleton House is an elegant home where good taste
-
Merlins: Britain's smallest bird of prey is a 'swerving, zigzagging, 240mph weighted missile' that's gutsy enough to chase off a golden eagleSize doesn’t matter when it comes to the fighting spirit of the tiny merlin, a fierce parent and favoured hunting accessory of Mary, Queen of Scots.
-
The greatest moment in the life of Jessie Owens: Country Life Quiz of the Day, June 13, 2025Breathtaking athleticism and Shakespeare's birthday are among the questions in the final quiz of the week.
-
Soft tones and a sense of place: A Mayfair duplex that breaks the modern mouldA new designer-led residence at 60 Curzon in Mayfair reminds us that everything new doesn't necessarily have to look it.
-
'The very best North Yorkshire has to offer': The £25 million Kirkham EstateWith 1,103 acres and on the market for the first time in a century, we've got a new frontrunner for the sale of the year.
-
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.
