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Sands Home Search are independent buying consultants specialising in finding and acquiring prime country houses & estates, farm & equestrian property and waterside homes for retained private & corporate clients.

For further information about our service use the menu at the top of this page.

About The Midlands
(For a list of all the prime country estate properties sold in the Midlands recently, scroll down the page to find this information at the end of each particular county section)

COUNTY BY COUNTY INFORMATION - THE MIDLANDS, ENGLAND

Please scroll down the page for detailed information by county:

About the County of Gloucestershire
(For a list of all the prime country estate properties sold in Gloucestershire recently, scroll down to the bottom of this page)

Cheltenham, Gloucester, Stroud, Cirencester, Stowe-on-the-Wold, Bagendon, Moreton-in-Marsh, Forest of Dean, Cotswolds and the Vale of Evesham and surrounding areas of Gloucestershire.

One of the most sought-after counties in England, Gloucestershire is given added appeal by the fact that both the Prince of Wales and Princess Anne have made their homes there.

A very rural county which is split in two by the Severn Vale. To the west is the Forest of Dean and across the other side of the M5 lie the Cotswolds and South Gloucestershire. Most of the county to the east is designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Cirencester is the centre of this region.

To the north/north-west of Cirencester – out towards Painswick and Birdlip – the countryside is a myriad of deep wooded valleys. Houses here tend to be remote, rural and isolated. The area is popular with the weekend buyer looking to 'get away from it all'. Prices remain sensible as this is beyond reasonable commuting distance from London. However, this area – like many parts of west Gloucestershire – is now much more accessible thanks to the opening of the A419 dual carriageway from the M4 to Cirencester which takes 15 minutes off the journey time from Swindon. Cirencester can now be reached from London in 1 hour 45 minutes, trains from Paddington to Kemble (just west of Cirencester) take between 1 and 1 1/2 hours.

Stroud to the west and the surrounding villages of Woodchester, Nailsworth and Amberley have unfortunately developed into an industrial sprawl. Many attractive houses were built by wealthy wool-mill owners but these usually suffer from a lack of land and views can be blighted by factories and other development. Inevitably this development brings with it some degree of road noise. The guide prices usually reflect this.

The land south of Cirencester is flat. As a consequence of the topography, it is dominated by a large RAF base at Fairford and the flight path of RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire. This, together with the ongoing gravel extraction around the Cotswold Water Parks and the new dual carriageway between Cirencester and Swindon, rather blights the area for the country house buyer.

North-east of Cirencester lies the high Cotswolds with pretty market towns, villages and attractive rolling countryside. Unfortunately, these villages do pay a price for their beauty and can be swarming with tourists in the summer. Stow, Broadway, Bourton-on-the-Water and Burford are particularly popular. Transport links to London are focused on Kingham station, south of Stow, with journeys to Paddington taking about 1 1/2 hours. This is prime Gloucestershire. The houses are predominately Cotswold stone and, as the county is so rural, there is always a shortage of good-quality country houses.

This lack of supply coupled with the best transport links to London within the county means that buyers will often have to pay a premium here.

South Gloucestershire, sandwiched between Stroud and Bristol, is the least attractive part of the county and is largely residential and industrial. Many of the Government's target of new homes to be built by 2016 will be accommodated in this area.

In medieval times, Gloucestershire grew rich on wool, and handsome churches were built in almost every village. Its fortunes fluctuated, however, and during the 18th century, the county was seen as a bleak and poor outpost.

Nothing could be further from the truth today; Gloucestershire is one of the most sought-after counties in England, and is given added appeal by the fact that both the Prince of Wales and Princess Anne have made their homes there.

Communications to London are good, and as planning controls are strict, much of the countryside remains unspoilt. Essentially, there are two parts to Gloucestershire, which has now reclaimed the northern section of the former modern county of Avon. To the east are the Cotswolds, where the stone houses and pretty villages are popular among locals and tourists alike. To the west is a rich landscape of orchards and dairies, bordering the Forest of Dean, once described as 'the most beautiful assembly of trees in England'.

In the Cotswolds, houses are typically built of mellow stone with stone slate roofs; to the west, brick is more common. Prices reflect the county's desirability and popularity with both commuters and weekenders.

Major towns

Gloucester, Cheltenham, Cirencester, Burford, Stow on the Wold, Moreton in Marsh, Tewkesbury, Stroud, Dursley, Wootton-under-Edge.

Transport links

Train: Paddington Cheltenham, 2hr 10min, £38.70 for a Saver return; Paddington to Bristol, 1hr 30min, £41.50 for a Saver return.
Car: Cirencester is 92 miles from central London via the M4 and A419; Cheltenham 120 miles, via the M40 and A40); Bristol 119 miles, via the M4.

Public schools

Cheltenham College (01242 513540). Co- educational, age range 13-18, day and boarding. Associated preparatory school. www.cheltcolls.sch.uk

Cheltenham Ladies' College +44 (0)1242 513540. Girls only, age range 11-18, day and boarding. www.cheltladiescollege.org

Dean Close School, Cheltenham +44 (0)1242 522640. Co-educational, age range 12-18, day and boarding. Associated preparatory school. www.deanclose.co.uk

St Edward's School, Cheltenham +44(0)1242 526697. Co-educational, age range 2 1/2-18, day. www.stedwards.co.uk

Rendcomb College, Cirencester +44 (0)1285 831213. Co-educational, age range 3-18, day and boarding. www.rendcombecollege.co.uk

The King's School, Gloucester +44 (0)1452 337337. Co-educational, age range 4-18, day and boarding. www.thekingsschool.co.uk

Wycliffe College, Stonehouse +44 (0)1453 822432. Co-educational, age range 12-18, day and boarding. Associated preparatory school. www.wycliffe.co.uk

Westonbirt School, Tetbury +44 (0)1666 880333. Girls only, age range 11-18, day and boarding. www.westonbirt.gloucs.sch.uk

Bredon School, Tewkesbury +44 (0)1684 293156. Co-educational, age range 5-18, day and boarding.

Leisure

Golfcourses: Cirencester (01285 653939); Cotswold Hills, Cheltenham (01242 522421); Minchinhampton (01453 832642); Painswick, (01452 812180).

Hunts: the Beaufort,the Berkeley, the Cotswold, the VWH, and the North Cotswold.

Yacht clubs : rivers Severn, Windrush, Coln and Churn.

THE BEST GLOUCESTERSHIRE COUNTRY HOUSES FOR SALE IN 2004
(A breakdown of what was for sale & purchase prices)

Paulton Fields Farm, Cirencester (737 acre estate, 8 bed manor, farmhouse, 5 cottages, stabling): £6m

The Manor, Clifford Chambers, Sapperton (classic manor, formal gardens, stabling, 57 acres): £6m

Foxhill, Hawling, Stow-on-the-Wold (5 bed house, coach house, stabling, 52.9 acres): £3m

Quarwood, Stow-on-the-Wold (classic Cotswold country house, 5 cottages, 42 acres): £3m

The Garden House, Westonbirt (polo pitch, stabling): £4m

Kemble House, Kemble (8 bed edge of village Manor, stabling, 7 acres): £2.75m

Parsonage House, Chedworth (18th century Cotswold House, garden, 5 acres): £2.25m

Fairford House, Fairford (Georgian 7 bed house, 3 acres, fishing on River Coln): £2.4m


Country Life - June 2005

About the County of Herefordshire

Leominster, Eardisley, Hay-on-Wye, Bodenham, Kingstone, Hereford, Ross-on-Wye, Bromyard and Ledbury areas of Herefordshire.

A remote, agricultural county, Herefordshire has recently been discovered by country house buyers.

A primarily agricultural county, Herefordshire has always seemed remote from London and possesses an unspoilt rural charm which is only now being discovered by country-house buyers. Banded together with its neighbouring county, Worcestershire, for many years - a universally unpopular fact little acknowledged by inhabitants of both - it is now once again a county in its own right.

Rich, flat farming country makes up much of Herefordshire, bounded by the Black Mountains to the west, the Malvern Hills to the east and the Forest of Dean to the south. The scenery along the river Wye in the south is some of the most beautiful in England.

Many of the houses are situated away from the few main roads, although the M50 to the south and the M5 to the east ensure that communications to London, Birmingham and Bristol are good. One of the least densely populated parts of England, the county is little marred by light or noise pollution, and has a rural feel that is lost to much of the rest of the country.

Houses are typically built of sandstone or brick; slate roofs are the norm. There are also many half-timbered black and white houses from the 17th century and earlier. Some large estates still exist, but there is usually a good supply of substantial farmhouses and Georgian houses, many of which come with some land and have been altered little over the years.

Prices are beginning to rise as the county's popularity increases. The most sought-after area is the Ledbury-Ross-Hereford triangle, which is closest to London; the most beautiful countryside, however, is in the north-west of the county, round Leominster.

Major towns

Hereford, Ledbury, Bromyard, Ross-on-Wye, Hay-on-Wye, Leominster, Kington, Eardisland.

Transport links

Train: Paddington to Hereford 3hr 5min; Waterloo to Leominster (direct service), 4hr 10min.

Car: Hereford is 135 miles and Leominster 150 miles from central London, via the M40, A40 and A49. Leominster is 156 miles from London via the M40, M42, M5 and A44.

Public schools

Hereford Cathedral School (01432 363522). Co-educational, age range 11-18, day and boarding. Associated preparatory school. www.cathedralschool.hereford.sch.uk/

St Richard's, Bromyard (01885 482491). Co-educational, age range 7-13, day and boarding. www.st-richards.co.uk/

The Pilgrims' School, Winchester (01962 854189). Boys only, age range 7-13, day and boarding. www.pilgrims-school.co.uk/

The Margaret Allen School, Hereford (01432 273594). Girls only, age range 3-11, day.

Somerleaze Preparatory School, Lucton (01568 780473). Co-educational, age range 3-12, day.

Leisure

Golf courses: Kington (01544 230340); Ross-on-Wye (01989 720267); Herefordshire, Wormsley (01432 830219).

Hunts: the North Herefordshire, the South Herefordshire, the Radnorshire and West Herefordshire, the Ledbury.

Fishing rivers: Wye, Lune, Monnow and Arrow.

[Back to Coverage page]

About the County of Oxfordshire
(For a list of all the prime country estate properties sold in Oxfordshire recently, scroll down to the bottom of this page)

Henley, Oxford, Wantage, Witney, Banbury, Wychwood, Marston, Wallingford, Didcot, Faringdon, Kidlington, Woodcote and Bicester areas of Oxfordshire.

A prosperous county within easy reach from London, Oxfordshire boasts a good supply of cottages and farmhouses and a smaller number of manor houses.

Oxfordshire is one of the most popular counties in southern England. It is far enough from London to have its own identity; it has excellent communications and Oxford is one of the very few cities in England, outside the metropolis, which offers beauty, culture and quality of life.

Oxfordshire falls into four main parts from a residential point of view. The first is the Chilterns and M40 corridor, the second is Oxford itself, the third is the Thames Valley and fourth is the Cotswolds. Each attracts a different sort of buyer who is looking for different things.

The Chilterns and the M40 corridor, which runs up to Banbury, is very commutable, both by rail into Marylebone and Paddington, and by the M40, which gives it the best road link into the West End of London. The Chilterns are probably the first real countryside you come to outside London and the valleys and villages are both very pretty, with brick and flint houses and expensive properties. Though much of the countryside is flat from the edge of the Chilterns up to Oxford, it is much in demand as the road system means that it is possible to access more of southern England from here than almost anywhere else. It is good commuting country.

Oxford itself is probably the only city in England, other than London, where properties regularly sell for in excess of £1m. The university is an obvious draw bringing in wealthy foreign academics, older students remembering their university days, and families looking to be near some of the best schools in the country. Houses within a 15-minute radius of Oxford with an easy school-run command a premium. Residential Oxford is predominantly Victorian with few of the Georgian terraces similar to Cambridge and Bath. What a lot of people forget is that the outskirts are now home to a thriving business, science and medical community. The Cowley car-works and its housing cover much of south-eastern Oxford.

The Thames Valley and the Vale of the White Horse take up most of South Oxfordshire, much of which is flat until it rises into the Ridgeway and the Berkshire Downs. Didcot is the focus for commuting with fast trains running into Paddington in 45 minutes. Unfortunately, most of the surrounding area is visually dominated by the cooling towers of Didcot Power Station. However, this ease of commuting keeps prices higher than the natural beauty of the landscape would warrant, though many of the villages are pretty and unspoiled.

The prettiest part of the county is the Cotswolds, centred on Chipping Norton. This is outside comfortable commuting range but has all the cachet of the Cotswolds with their pretty stone villages, rolling landscapes and pretty market towns like Burford and Woodstock. This is classic English countryside with stone-walls and large manor houses but suffers like many beauty spots from an excess of tourists and antique shops.

Bounded by the Chilterns and the Cotswolds, two spectacular upland Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Oxfordshire is a prosperous county within easy reach of London. Communications have been improved further by the M40, which runs from London to Birmingham to the east of the county.

In the centre of Oxfordshire is the flat countryside of the Vale of the White Horse, over which there are far-reaching views from the surrounding hills. This is where the county and university town of Oxford lies, on the banks of the river Thames, known here as the Isis.

The vale has many tracts of ancient woodland, marshland and water meadows, but relatively few villages. Although cottages and farmhouses are in good supply, there are a smaller number of large manor houses with spacious reception rooms.

Building materials vary from stone in the west to brick and timber in the east and south: there are also a number of early timber-framedhouses, often thatched. The most sought-after areas in which to live include the Chilterns, regarded by many as the nearest good countryside to London, and the Hambledon Valley.

Major towns

Oxford, Banbury, Henley-on-Thames, Didcot, Bicester, Witney, Abingdon, Burford, Charlbury, Wallingford.

Transport links

Train: Paddington to Oxford 1hr, day return £30.00; Marylebone to Banbury, 1hr 10mins, day return £41.80; Paddington to Henley-on-Thames 56min, £10.90 day return.

Car: Oxford is 57 miles from central London and Banbury 81 miles, via the M40. Henley-on-Thames is 28 miles, via the M4 and A423.

Public schools

Abingdon School +44 (0)1235 521563. Boys only, age range 11-18, day and boarding. www.abingdon.org.uk

Bloxham School, Banbury +44 (0)1295 720206. Co-educational, ages 11-18, day and boarding. www.bloxhamschool.com

Cherwell School, Oxford +44 (0)1865 558719. Co-educational, age range 13-18, day. www.cherwell.oxon.sch.uk

Dragon School, Oxford +44 (0)1865 315400. Co-educational, age range 3-13, day and boarding. www.dragonschool.org

Headington School, Oxford +44 (0)1865 741968. Girls only, age range 3-18 (boys, 3-4), day and boarding. www.headington.org

Magdalen College School, Oxford +44 (0)1865 242191. Boys only, age range 9-18, day. www.magdalen.oxon.sch.uk

Oxford High School (01865 559888). Girls only, age range 3-18 (boys, 3-7), day. www.gdst.net/oxfordhigh/

Radley College, Abingdon +44 (0)1235 543000. Boys only, age range 13-18, boarding. www.radley.org.uk/

Summer Fields, Oxford (01865 554433). Boys only, age range 7-13, boarding. www.summerfields.oxon.sch.uk/

Tudor Hall School, Banbury +44 (0)1295 263434. Girls only, age range 11-18, day and boarding. www.tudorhall.oxon.sch.uk/

Leisure

Golf courses: North Oxford (01865 554415); Southfield, Oxford (01865 242158); Chesterton, Bicester (01869 241204)

Hunts: the Heythrop; the Bicester and Whaddon Chase; the VWH.

Fishing: rivers Cherwell, Thame, Windrush and Thames.

THE BEST OXFORDSHIRE COUNTRY HOUSES FOR SALE IN 2004
(A breakdown of what was for sale & purchase prices)

Buckland Park, Faringdon (Grade II* Palladian mansion, 20 acres): £3.95m

Bolney Court, Lower Shiplake (Thameside Arts and Crafts house, 11.49 acres): £7.5m

Lock End, Shiplake (6 bed mansion, 6.25 acres): £4.5m

Cherbury House, Kingston Bagpuize (traditional 7 bed farmhouse, 105 acres, stabling): £3.75m

The Old Rectory, Longworth, Abingdon (Grade II* manor with lordship, 31 acres): £3.25m

Cote House, Bampton (7 bed, Elizabethan/Jacobean manor, 5.5 acres): £3m

Shilton Manor, Burford (edge of village manor, 5.5 acres): £2m


Country Life - June 2005


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About the County of Warwickshire
(For a list of all the prime country estate properties sold in Warwickshire recently, scroll down to the bottom of this page)

Stratford-upon-Avon, Royal Leamington Spa, Warwick, Southam and Rugby areas of Warwickshire.

Located at the centre of England, Warwickshire isn't particularly favoured by buyers from the South East, but it is very popular with West Midlands buyers

The Forest of Arden was always associated with the centre of the English world, and even now has a sense of mystery; this is also Shakespeare country, and visitors flock to the poet's birthplace, Stratford-upon-Avon, in their thousands each year.

Despite its central location and good communications, especially the new part of the M40, which passes through the middle of the county, and a fast mainline rail service, Warwickshire is not particularly favoured by country-house buyers from the South-East. It is perennially popular with West Midlands buyers, however, pushing up prices for houses close to good road and rail links to the conurbation.

The county has some superb scenery, particularly to the south, where it contains part of the Cotswolds. Prices are cheaper in less favoured areas, round Nuneaton and Rugby, and in the Vale of Evesham.

Houses are typically built of Cotswold stone in the south, ironstone in the south-east and brick elsewhere; thatch, slate and clay-tiled roofs all feature. Good village houses and farmhouses can be found throughout the county.

Major towns

Warwick, Rugby, Nuneaton, Leamington Spa, Alcester, Kenilworth, Henley in Arden, Stratford-upon-Avon.

Transport links

Train: Euston to Rugby 1hr, £27.50 for a Saver return; Euston to Coventry, 1hr 10min, £30 for a Saver return; Marylebone to Leamington Spa 1hr 30min, £30 for a Saver return.

Car: Warwick is 90 miles from London, via the M40; Coventry 92 miles, via the M6 and M1.

Public schools

Twycross House School, Atherstone (01827 880651). Co-educational, age range 8-19, day.

St Joseph's School, Crackley Hall, Kenilworth (01926 514444). Co-educational, age range 3-11, day

New College, Leamington Spa (01926 424058). Co-educational, age range 2-18, day.
Princethorpe College, Rugby (01926 634200). Co-educational, age range 11-18,
boarding and day. www.princethorpe.co.uk/

Rugby School (01788 543465). Co-educational, age range 12-18, boarding and day www.rugbyschool.net/

Warwick School (01926 492484). Boys only, age range 7-18, day and boarding www.warwickschool.org/

Leisure

Golfcourses: The Belfry, Wishaw (01675 470301); Kenilworth (01926 854296); Leamington & County (01926 425961).

Hunts: the Warwickshire, the Atherstone and the Croome and West Warwickshire.

Yachting clubs: Mid Warwickshire Yacht Club.


THE BEST WARWICKSHIRE COUNTRY HOUSES FOR SALE IN 2004
(A breakdown of what was for sale & purchase prices)

Ashbourne House, Ashorne (5 Bedroom manor, cricket field, 26.4 acres): £2.8m

Frankton Manor, Frankton, Nr Rugby (9 Bedroom Georgian Manor, 16 acres): £2.25m


Source: Country Life

[Back to Coverage page]

About the County of Worcestershire
(For a list of all the prime country estate properties sold in Worcestershire recently, scroll down to the bottom of this page)

Worcester, Great Malvern, Evesham, Kidderminster, Bromsgrove and Stourport-on-Severn areas of Worcestershire.

Despite having a few sprawling towns,Worcestershire remains deeply rural. Its beautiful scenery and reasonable property prices have long attracted Midland buyers, but the county is now becoming popular with Londoners too.

Stretching from the Cotswolds in the south to the Clee Hill in the north, Worcestershire is a large and often beautiful county. It has always been favoured by Midlands dwellers, thanks to its scenery, reasonable prices and easy access to Birmingham. Now, local buyers face competition from London purchasers deterred by the high prices of Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire.

There are two sides to Worcestershire: the urban, including towns such as Worcester, Kidderminster, and Bromsgrove, which tend to sprawl as there has historically been little pressure on land; and the rural.

Many of the county's former urban areas, such as Stourbridge and Dudley, have now been incorporated into the county of the West Midlands; much of the rest of Worcestershire is still deeply rural. The flat and fertile Vale of Evesham to the south is renowned for its fruit and vegetables, and the Malvern Hills in the south are visible for many miles.

Communications to London and elsewhere in Britain are surprisingly good, as Worcestershire is well placed to take advantage of the motorway network. The M40 extension brings the capital within easy reach, and the M5 and M42 run through the east of the county.

The most valuable areas of Worcestershire are east of the Severn, within easy reach of Birmingham; however, the most beautiful and sparsely populated areas are to the west of the county.

There is little local stone in Worcestershire, so traditional houses are usually brick, brick and timber, or if older, timber-framed with wattle and daub infill.

Few pre-19th century cottages survive, as they were rarely built to exacting standards, but there are substantial farmhouses and a number of Georgian houses.

Major towns

Worcester, Kidderminster, Bromsgrove, Redditch, Droitwich, Malvern, Evesham, Stourport, Bewdley, Tenbury Wells.

Transport links

Train: Paddington to Worcester 2hr 10min; Paddington to Evesham, 1hr 45min.

Car: Worcester is 120 miles from London via the M40, A40 and M5; 135 miles from London via the M40, M42, M5. Tenbury Wells is 149 miles from London via the M40, M42, A442 and A456.

Public schools

Bromsgrove School (01527 579679). Co-educational, age range 13-18, day and boarding. Associated preparatory school. www.bromsgrove-school.co.uk/

Holy Trinity School, Kidderminster (01562 822929). Girls only, age range 3-18, day. http://www.holytrinity.co.uk/

Malvern College (01684 892333). Co-educational, age range 13-18, boarding and day. Associated preparatory school. www.malvern-college.co.uk/

Malvern Girls' College (01684 892288). Girls only, age range 11-18, boarding and day. www.mgc.worcs.sch.uk/

The Alice Ottley School, Worcester (01905 27061). Girls only, age range 3-19, day. www.thealiceottleyschool.co.uk/

The King's School, Worcester (01905 23016). Co-educational, age range 7-18, day and boarding. www.ksw.org.uk/

Royal Grammar School, Worcester (01905 613391). Boys only, age range 7-18, day and boarding. www.rgsw.org.uk/

Leisure

Golf courses: Droitwich (01905 770129); Evesham (01386 860395); Habberley (01562 745756); Kidderminster (01562 822303).

Hunts: the Worcestershire, the Clifton-on-Teme, the Ludlow. Yacht club: Stourport.

Fishing: river Severn and its tributaries.

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