Cinema room among features of former village post office

AN opportunity to own a charming piece of village history has just come on the market with Savills of Henley.

Oakley Barn in Gallowstree Common was once the village shop and post office. To one side of the property is an old red-brick well with its original mechanism for drawing water and to the front are allotments with a view of mature trees lining the horizon.

By the front gate in The Hamlet, a mature flowering cherry tree welcomes visitors with its flood of pink blossom every spring.

Chris and Helen Norris, who have owned the property since 2004, were first attracted by the unusual layout and the fact it had been modernised by the previous owners.

This delightful 1700s barn has been transformed over the centuries into what is now a very cosy four-bedroom home with three bathrooms and two reception rooms arranged over 2,264 sq ft.

The old shop was situated where the family room is now.

Mr Norris says: “We renovated the family room into a very snug cinema room which doubles as a playroom for the children and we added plenty of understairs storage so that it became a flexible and practical space.”

This room, with underfloor heating, could also be turned into a home office or even a guest room as there is a shower room adjacent to it. There are original exposed beams throughout the older part of the house and the sitting room has a brick fireplace with a woodburning stove.

The kitchen/breakfast room has a country feel and the smart, beamed dining room opens on to a terrace.

On the first floor, two double bedrooms, a single bedroom and a family bathroom can be found off the galleried landing.

The fourth bedroom is on the top floor and it has a useful dressing room/study. The principal bedroom is ensuite and has views across The Hamlet. Views from the first and second floors are across green spaces and trees.

Outside there is off-road parking for three cars and a single garage which could be converted into more accommodation or from an extension from the kitchen and utility area.

The south-west facing garden is mainly laid to lawn with mature borders and is accessed from the kitchen and dining room. The Hamlet is shaped like a horseshoe and there is access to wonderful woodland walks as far as Stoke Row.

The nearest amenities are a 20-minute walk away in Sonning Common, which has a health centre, shops and restaurant.

The owners have decided to move due to Mr Norris’s work.

He explains: “I work in Dubai and it is turning out to be a longer commitment than we originally thought and we don’t know when we will be returning to the UK.

“Oakley Barn is a lovely comfortable home and the location is idyllic.

“The Gallowstree Common community is very supportive and we watch out for each other.”

Oakley Barn is on the market at a guide price of £995,000 with no onward chain. For more information or to arrange a viewing, call Savills Henley on (01491) 843024.