8 Bed Detached House, Church Lane, RG23

THE OLD RECTORY

Basingstoke 3 miles - Newbury 15 miles - Winchester 18 miles - London 40 miles - London Waterloo 45 minutes

Reception Hall - Drawing Room - Dining Room - Study - Kitchen - Family room/Breakfast room - Utility Room - Boot room - Conservatory - Cloakroom - Cellar

Master Bedroom with Dressing room and Shower room - 7 further bedrooms - Children's Den/bedroom 5 - 2 further bathrooms

Indoor Swimming pool with Jacuzzi and Shower room - Pool Plant room - Garaging with storeroom/workshop above

Delightful mature gardens and grounds

THE HOUSE
Grade II listed former rectory dating from the end of the 18th century.  It has an interesting history and used to be visited by Jane Austen who was briefly engaged to the vicar's son.  The house was occupied at the time by the Rev Blackstone and his wife and they are known to have visited Jane and her family many times at their home in the nearby Steventon.
Electric wrought iron gates lead to a carriage sweep at the front.  Internally the house has many original features, with fireplaces in all the reception rooms and most bedrooms.  The drawing room and master bedroom have a Regency curve, which was copied from nearby Worting House.  Ornate cornicing and dados are to be found throughout, as well as shutters in the main reception rooms and master bedroom.  The Tuscan pillared entrance opens into the reception hall/sitting room where there is an open fire.  The attractive and spacious drawing room is also approached from the reception hall.
The dining room is a lovely room with ornate cornicing and a ceiling rose, a cast iron fireplace with a glazed chine cabinet to the side.  Doors open from the dining room to the terrace.  There is also a three roomed cellar and a study with an extensive range of shelving.
The Kitchen has a two oven gas fired Aga and range of cupboards wit built-in-ceramic hob and electric oven.  There is a walk-in ladder and separate pantry which houses the water softener.   The kitchen leads to the family/breakfast room which has doors to the terrace and gardens.  A part glazed door opens t the boot room with the conservatory at one end and utility at the other.  A cloakroom completes the ground floor accommodation.
On the first floor, a half landing with large sash window overlooks the pond with koi and gold fish and fountain in the centre of the garden. On the landing there are airing, linen and hanging cupboards. The master bedroom, which is above the drawing room, has the regency curve, faces south with a door to a walk in wardrobe and adjoining door to the shower room.
There are three further bedrooms and a fifth bedroom or children's den which is a delightful split level room. The bedrooms are served by a large family bathroom which has a roll to bath, shower, WC and basin.
On the second floor are three bedrooms with fitted cupboards and original fire places, a recently fitted beautiful bathroom with bath, shower, WC and basin.
GARDENS
The beautiful and established gardens are particular feature of The Old Rectory and surround the house.  At the western side, a garden door leads to the walled garden, within which is the heated indoor swimming pool, Jacuzzi with separate shower room and WC.  A brick terrace leads from the family room with a built-in barbecue for summer dining.  At the centre of the walled garden is an ornamental fishpond and fountain. There are a number of pergolas, arches and trellises adorned with climbing roses and shrubs, as well as topiary *****, box hedging and lavender. The herbaceous beds are well stocked with perennials and there is a further sheltered terrace off the dining room with herbaceous beds.  An area of woodland has a number of mature trees, including a copper beech and sycamore.  At the front of the house is a board expanse of lawn with specimen trees which include a monkey puzzle and silver birch.
OUTBUILDINGS
There is a large garage for at least 4 cars with electric up/over doors with workshop/store over.
SITUATION
The Old Rectory occupies a delightful setting opposite the church in Worting, west of Basingstoke.  The original church is mentioned in Domesday Book and was probably built in Saxon times with the present church dating back to 1847.  Within Worting is the Farm Shop which has an excellent butcher and a wide range of delicatessen.
Basingstoke is within 3 miles with extensive retail including John Lewis at Home and Waitrose, leisure facilities, as well as the mainline station with fast rail access to London.  The M3 motorway provides access to London (within 40 miles) and the South.  There are many excellent schools in the area, notably Cheam, Daneshill, Farleigh School, Lord Wandsworth and St Swithuns.
SERVICES  mains water, electricity and drainage.
LOCAL AUTHORITY  Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council.  Council Tax Band H
DIRECTIONS    RG23 From Basingstoke proceed west on the B3400 towards Whitchurch and Overton.  Proceed through Worting until you see the sign for the church.  Turn right into Church Lane and the entrance gates to The Old Rectory will be found on your right.