Home with heart and garden that receives good reception

NOVEMBER Cottage is a charming four-bedroom home that perfectly balances privacy with the warmth of village life.

Tucked away on a tranquil corner plot in the friendly village of South Stoke, this individually designed detached house enjoys peaceful surroundings and sweeping country views with access to nearby Goring and Wallingford.

Built in the late Fifties by one of the village elders, the property has been lovingly transformed over the past three decades by its current owners, Tony and Sue Grundy.

Tony, originally from Manchester, moved to the area for work with Radio 210 which became Radio 2-Ten FM and is now known to most as Heart FM.

When he became managing director of the station 36 years ago, he and Sue discovered November Cottage and fell instantly for its magnificent garden, a true testament to Sue’s passion for gardening and years of dedication in between working at the Goring and Woodcote surgery for 24 years.

Now in their 70s and embracing the next chapter of life with excitement, the Grundys are preparing to move to Perth, Australia, to be closer to their daughter and her family.

“It’s a big adventure,” says Tony, a keen golfer and marathon runner. “We’ve loved our time here and would happily stay but the chance to be with family in Australia is something we can’t pass up.”

Set back from the road with a private hedged entrance, the house offers just under half an acre of beautifully maintained gardens, filled with flowering borders, a kitchen garden, greenhouse, fruit trees and raised beds with fruit cages.

The property backs on to open fields and woodland, making it a peaceful and secluded haven for anyone who appreciates nature or enjoys outdoor living. The expansive driveway easily accommodates four cars and the attached double garage — converted by Tony into a home gym — adds further versatility.

The house itself spans about 2,475 sq ft and features light-filled rooms throughout. The ground floor opens into an airy entrance hall leading to a spacious dining room, large dual-aspect sitting room with working fireplace and a thoughtfully designed kitchen-breakfast room.

A bright conservatory makes the most of garden views year-round, while the sizeable utility room is ideal for families, muddy boots and pets. Upstairs, the main bedroom offers built-in wardrobes and an en suite with a claw-foot bath. Three additional bedrooms and a family bathroom complete the layout, offering plenty of space for family life or visiting guests.

The property is in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, with direct access to countryside walks and the Thames towpath. South Stoke itself is a quintessential English village with a rich heritage dating back to the 16th century.

It remains largely unspoilt, with amenities including a village shop, a church, a well-loved pub called the Perch and Pike, a primary school and a recreation ground.

Tony himself once helped save the school from closure through his work at the radio station, underlining the family’s longstanding commitment to village life.

For commuters or those seeking access to wider amenities, Goring is 1.5 miles away, offering a mainline train station with fast services into London Paddington, along with shops, cafés, a health centre and riverside restaurants. Wallingford is nearby, as are the larger hubs of Reading, Henley and Oxford. Road connections are excellent with easy access to both the M4 and M40 motorways.

l November Cottage has a guide price of £1,195,000, freehold and is offered with no onward chain. For more information and to arrange a viewing, call Warmingham & Co on (01491) 874144.