British Vogue - 09.2019

T

he Cotswolds is rightly prized

as one of England’s prettiest

regions, thanks to its rolling

pastures, chocolate-box villages

and spellbinding country houses. An Area

of Outstanding Natural Beauty, it stretches

south of Stratford-upon-Avon to just below

the city of Bath, and has long been a popular

choice for those seeking to move out of

London or purchase a weekend retreat. ‘The

Cotswolds attracts lots of tourists and social-

media infl encers because it is unbelievably

beautiful, arguably more so than any other

part of the country,’ says Charlie Wells,

managing director of the buying agency

Prime Purchase, whose family have lived

and farmed in the area for more than 300

years. ‘But it is also fraught with hidden

pitfalls, problems and blights that can easily

be overlooked if you are looking through a

fi ter on your phone.’

While Wells is right to advise caution,

it’s hard not to be captivated by some of

the bucolic properties that are currently on

the market. Pictured above is Hills Farm in

Gloucestershire, eight miles from the market

town of Cirencester and eleven miles from

Cheltenham. Surrounded by its own land

and with a long, private drive, it’s located in

a conservation area on the edge of the village

of Chedworth. Built from honey-coloured

local stone and substantially remodelled, it

still retains the feel of a traditional Cotswold

house, but the interior is wonderfully airy

and light-fi led. Bifolding doors make the

most of the spectacular views along the

valley, while the 41.33 acres include a two-

bedroom guest house and a swimming pool.

Another Gloucestershire property is

Todenham Hall, a Grade II-listed former

rectory close to the small town of Moreton-

in-Marsh, which has a direct train service

to Paddington. There are plenty of

local attractions too – Daylesford, Soho

Farmhouse and Hidcote are all within a

short drive. The six-bedroom, Georgian

property was extensively refurbished in

2006 – along with the coach house, which

was extended and converted into ancillary

accommodation. There are formal gardens,

with clipped yew hedges and specimen

trees; a Japanese ornamental water garden;

fruit cages brimming with strawberries,

raspberries and gooseberries; and even a

vine house. Beyond the gardens are two

large fie ds – perfect for keeping a pony.

A short drive west lies Green Close,

a quintessentially charming Cotswold

INTO THE HILLS

From modern masterpieces to traditional country piles,

Rosemary Brooke is captivated by the wealth of properties

to be found in the Cotswolds

BRITAIN PROPERTY

HILLS FARM, GLOUCESTERSHIRE

Situated at the edge of the pretty village of

Chedworth, Hills Farm is a perfect hybrid of

traditional and contemporary – the period stone

farmhouse conceals contemporary, light- lled

interiors, created by Yiangou Architects. The main

house has  ve bedrooms, and there’s a separate

two-bedroom cottage. £3.5 million.

Knight Frank: 020 7861 1707

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