AS we reported recently in a feature about the quintessentially English village of Sonning, it’s rare for people to move once they’ve bought here. But now, just in time for the new year, one of the village’s most striking period homes has come on to the market.

Manor Barn is a historic village house approached by a gated, southerly walled courtyard garden with a gravel driveway providing good parking and a detached double garage. The property is a beautiful and eye-catching character home, with a welcoming atmosphere. It has been sympathetically upgraded, and renovations include a new extension housing a quality new kitchen and contemporary living area.

The large gardens are a real feature of the property, and include a newly landscaped courtyard, Yorkstone patios and a pretty water garden, as well as shrubs, trees, an orchard and extensive lawns backing on to farmland.

Manor Barn is one of Sonning’s most interesting family homes, full of local history. It was originally renovated by Sidney Paddick and has recently been sympathetically upgraded by the current owners. When you step inside you notice immediately the oak-timbered rooms, full of character and offering real privacy — even though the property is situated in the centre of this popular riverside village. Situated within a conservation area, Manor Barn enjoys picturesque open views across the adjacent University farm land to the rolling valley and the village of Wargrave beyond.

Accommodation includes a reception hall, double-aspect sitting room and dining room, a garden room and a study. There is a new kitchen which is open-plan, leading to the living area as well as a laundry room, cloakroom and luxury shower.


Stairs lead to a galleried landing where on the first floor you will find a master bedroom with dressing room and en-suite shower room, three further bedrooms and a family bathroom. The property benefits from original oak beams throughout, a feature staircase with decorative metal balustrade, two Minster stone fireplaces (multi-fuel stove and gas log fire) and a stylish new oak kitchen with granite worktops, a tall fridge and freezer, dishwasher and wine cooler.

The kitchen/living area has a stone floor with underfloor heating and a curved bay window overlooking the garden.

The property is set back from Charvil Lane behind a gated Moorish-style architectured courtyard, offering real privacy. From this, an arched, floodlit walkway leads to the Yorkstone patio and gravelled areas with shrubs, plants and a variety of trees, including a Robinia Pseudo Acacia.

The landscaped water garden has many flowering plants and shrubs and there is a summerhouse with pool (requiring upgrading), garden store and greenhouse.

There are large, mature lawned gardens with shrubs and trees including eucalyptus, silver birch, pink hawthorn and an orchard area with a variety of fruit trees.

There is a new fence and the gardens back on to farmland.

The property is available through Sara Batting. For more details, call 0118 950 2341.

Published 24/12/12