3 bed barn conversion for sale

Chestnut Cottage, Beenham Court RG19

Chestnut Cottage is a beautiful L-shaped semi-detached barn conversion within the historic grounds of Beenham Court, now the distinguished 100-acre estate of Cheam School. Here you will find character, space and an exceptional Hampshire setting.

Set within the original grounds of Home Farm this single-storey barn conversion offers around 1,500 square feet of genuinely characterful accommodation. The vaulted ceilings are dramatic without being showy, the proportions are generous, and the setting is the sort that people specifically look for when locating to Hampshire. With the addition of two covered car ports, a separate garage with loft storage above, and a location surrounded by some of the county's finest countryside, Chestnut Cottage makes a compelling case for moving here.

It will suit a range of buyers well. Families with children at Cheam will find the idea of living adjacent to the estate itself immediately appealing. Couples looking to downsize or start a family without trading quality for convenience will find everything they need here on one level - with room to spare. Those simply seeking a home with real soul in a beautiful part of England will find it in abundance.

An Idyllic Setting

On arrival at Beenham Court the setting announces itself straightaway. The approach is unhurried, framed by mature trees and open Hampshire countryside - peaceful in a way that immediately signals you are somewhere special. There are four former farm buildings here, Chestnut Cottage, Dairy Cottage, The Granary, and The Old Stables which were converted into homes in 2000. Having rented the cottage for a couple of years, the current owners bought the property when it became available for purchase. They had spent most of the time during those years searching, but without finding, a house that had all the amenities Chestnut Cottage offered.

The current owners told me: “Chestnut Cottage is a unique property. Every day, and throughout the seasons, the views and sunsets are engaging and ever changing. It often feels as if you are on holiday relaxing, taking in the scenes of the surrounding fields and watching the wildlife!”

It is simply one of the finest settings for a home of this size and nature that this part of Hampshire has to offer - rural without being isolated, private with community.

An Arrival That Sets the Tone

The single-storey layout reveals itself as a real strength from the moment you step inside. Everything flows naturally, every room connects easily, and the whole home has an accessibility and generosity of spirit that makes daily life feel genuinely comfortable. The living spaces are separated from the bedrooms, but the whole property centres around its own private courtyard, a tranquil and sheltered spot all day long, all year long.

What strikes you immediately is the scale and quality of the interior. The vaulted ceilings are spectacular - genuinely dramatic in the best possible sense - with many windows and doors flooding the rooms with light and giving the home a sense of volume that is quite unexpected from the outside. The original barn structure has been retained throughout with real integrity: Exposed structural lines, honest proportions, materials that have aged well and a sense of authenticity that no new-build can replicate.

The light shifts beautifully throughout the day and across the seasons. On winter mornings it is low and golden; in summer it fills every corner. This is the kind of home where you become pleasantly aware of the time of day and the time of year - and that is no small thing.

The Sitting Room

The sitting room is the heart of Chestnut Cottage and it is a genuinely impressive space. At approximately 21'8 by 18'5, with a soaring vaulted ceiling and excellent natural light, this is a room with real presence and real versatility which opens out to two different garden areas for entertaining and extending the living space. Screens on all the windows and doors allow not only the fresh air but the sense of bringing the outdoors in, linking the house with the gardens.

With a large family sofa, a dining table for eight, a wood burner in an exposed brick fireplace, and piano - the room accommodates all of it without feeling crowded, because the volume does the work. It is equally well suited to a quiet evening in or a gathering of friends and family, the kind of room that makes entertaining feel effortless because the space itself is so inherently convivial.

Rooms like this - with genuine height, character and scale - are rare in a home of 1,500 square feet. It is one of Chestnut Cottage's most significant assets, and it will not disappoint.

Kitchen, Breakfast Room and Utility

The kitchen and breakfast room is well arranged for the rhythms of daily life - generous preparation space, room for a proper breakfast table with views into the courtyard, and an informal, comfortable quality that makes it a pleasure to spend time in, any hour of the day.

This is a kitchen that works hard and looks good doing it. The separate utility room is a thoughtful addition that keeps the practical business of running a busy household neatly contained, leaving the main kitchen free to be the sociable, welcoming space it is clearly designed to be. A stable door in the utility room takes you out to the courtyard garden with access to and from the drive.

The Home Office

The dedicated home office or family room is one of the most versatile and valuable spaces in the cottage. For those working from home - and the Hampshire countryside provides an extremely agreeable backdrop for a working day - it offers a proper, contained workspace with room to spare.

For families it becomes a snug, a playroom, a library, or a formal dining room. For those who host, it can also serve as occasional guest accommodation. Whatever your stage of life, this room will find its purpose and earn its keep.

The Bedrooms

There are three well-proportioned, characterful bedrooms, each with its own quiet appeal. The principal bedroom benefits from fitted wardrobes and a calm, settled quality - the kind of room where the morning feels unhurried and the evening winds down properly. French doors open out to the side garden and an ensuite bathroom completes the space.

Two further bedrooms are served by a family bathroom, giving the layout real flexibility for families, for hosting, or simply for having the breathing room that a well-considered home provides. The single-storey arrangement means the bedrooms feel connected and accessible in a way that upper-floor rooms don't always manage - there's a cohesion to the whole layout that makes it genuinely easy to live in.

A Barn Conversion With Genuine Character

Not all barn conversions deliver on their promise. Chestnut Cottage does. The original building has not been dressed up or disguised - it has been listened to and converted with care, and the result is a home where the character is entirely authentic.

The vaulted ceilings, the structural lines, the quality and proportion of the rooms - all reflecting a conversion undertaken with skill and restraint. It feels like what it is: A fine old agricultural building that has been made into an excellent home without losing an ounce of what made it interesting in the first place. It is truly unique.

Outside

There are two gardens enjoyed by this property. The central courtyard garden is an enclosed sheltered space accessed from French doors in the living room, a stable door in the utility room and sliding patio door in the bedroom corridor. There is also a further, more open. Low-fenced side garden which is accessed from patio doors in the living room and the principal bedroom - sunsets can be enjoyed across the fields from here, maybe with a sundowner in hand! The neighbours are friendly, so this turns into a sociable space should you wish.

Two covered car ports and a separate garage with loft storage above give Chestnut Cottage an outdoor practical offering that is well above what you might expect. The garage is enclosed with power and lighting and therefore suitable for bikes, storage, or any number of other uses - and the loft above all three adds a further layer of practical value that is increasingly hard to find in a home of this type.

The wider setting within the Beenham Court estate provides a natural and beautiful outlook beyond the cottage's own boundaries. Mature trees, open countryside and the sense of space that comes with being within a well-maintained historic estate are all parts of daily life here - and they are very good parts indeed.

The Area

Headley and the surrounding Hampshire countryside represent a genuinely lovely part of England in which to live. The village is friendly with various activities in the village hall, as well as in everyday essentials provided in the community shop, church and playing fields with a playground. Ashford Hill and Kingsclere Primary schools are nearby. The village of Kingsclere is around 4 minutes by car, and offers two well regarded pubs, including the Bel and Dragon gastropub, several shops, a post office, hairdressers, doctor’s and dental surgery and a great community. Slightly further afield is the acclaimed Wellington Arms Inn and Restaurant in Baughurst and The Watermill Theatre in Bagnor just outside of Newbury. The surrounding area for country walks and riding is excellent, the North Wessex Downs and Watership Down are close at hand, and Greenham Common is not far away.

The choice of schooling in this part of Hampshire is extensive. Cheam School is, of course, a short walk from the cottage. St Gabriels, Thorngrove, Elstree, Brockhurst, Lord Wandsworth College and Downe House are all within reach, as are strong local state options at primary and secondary level. For primary schools Ashford Hill or Kingsclere are closest, with secondary schools including The Clere in Burghclere, Park House and St Bartholomews in Newbury, and a choice of excellent sixth form colleges in Basingstoke (Queen Mary’s) and Winchester (Peter Symonds).

Basingstoke and Newbury are comfortably accessible with both offering Waitrose, Sainsbury's, Tesco, M&S, independent restaurants, good high streets and strong rail connections into London. Fast trains from Basingstoke to Waterloo take around 45 minutes; Newbury to Paddington around 40 minutes. The A34, M3, M4 and A339 make the road network equally convenient.

In Summary

Chestnut Cottage is a very special home - a barn conversion with genuine character, a superb setting, and a layout that will works perfectly for a range of buyers. The vaulted ceilings, exposed beams, wood floors and generous proportions set it apart.

Important Notice: These property details are intended as a guide only and do not form part of any contract. While carefully prepared, Stowhill Estates cannot guarantee total accuracy. Prospective buyers must satisfy themselves by inspection or otherwise as to the correctness of each statement. All measurements are approximate, and no services or appliances have been tested.

EPC Rating: E