View to a thrill: Woodleys
On the edge of the Cotswolds, Woodleys is a regal Georgian country manor with acres of space and a unique view of a famous neighbour
It’s been 141 years since Woodleys, a superb Grade II* listed Georgian country house on the edge of the Cotswolds, was last on sale. Lying two miles northwest of the quintessential English market town of Woodstock, the house has been owned by just three families since its establishment in the 1780s.
“While this is a genuinely remarkable property, inside, there’s a lovely family feel to it,” says Will Matthews, Knight Frank’s Head of Farms and Estates. “Immediately, you can sense it’s a happy place where families have entertained on a grand scale for many years.”
With over 30 species of trees on around 230 acres, Woodleys lives up to the meaning of its name: a field in the woods, and is the embodiment of a classic English country manor. Several additions have been made over the years, notably its east wing and charming front hall, built shortly after its last sale in 1881. The house now extends over 12,800 sq ft with 13 bedrooms.
It also enjoys a unique position: Blenheim Palace, birthplace and home of Sir Winston Churchill, is an illustrious neighbour and the house enjoys a spectacular, uninterrupted view of Blenheim’s principal façade that is especially stunning at sunset. “You’re spoilt for beautiful scenery in the area,” says Matthews, “but the view from the property really is something quite extraordinary.”
The study commands the prize aspect through a stunning bow window that looks straight up Blenheim Drive to the nearby Palace.
With elegant entertainment space, and plenty of charm, it’s the vistas of the surrounding parkland that make Woodleys exceptional
The rest of the house also has plenty of charm: the drawing room is a supremely elegant entertaining space, as is the grand dining room, which can seat up to 20 guests and is lined with William Morris willow bough wallpaper. Upstairs are the aforementioned 13 bedrooms and eight bathrooms, with an exceptional principal suite overlooking the grounds. Within Woodleys’ acreage you’ll also find beautiful walled gardens, three cottages and a farmyard with extensive outbuildings and stone barns.
The current occupier is a fourth-generation owner who took over in 2000, and this sale marks only the third time in 240 years that Woodleys has been on the market. While it is undoubtedly impressive in its current form, the sale also represents an exciting opportunity for its subsequent owner.
“You could live in it tomorrow, but ultimately, for the right people, it will be a fantastic project,” Matthews says. “It’s an unbelievably charming property, and really, I don’t think it could be anything other than a wonderful family home.”
Woodleys has a guide price of £16,000,000.
