Das Haus Der Sarazenen

A delightful Georgian house in the popular village of Corton, Saracens House perfectly combines traditional English charm with relaxed elegance.
Located within the Wylye Valley this spot boasts both the uplifting qualities of a picturesque rural location and the practicality of a hassle-free commute to London.
The house dates back to the 18th century with a wonderful array of unspoilt period detailing, whilst also having the advantage of not being listed. The current owners have undertaken a substantial programme of improvements which have greatly enhanced the house, including creating an ensuite bathroom for the principal bedroom, new water tank, new septic tank and drainage, an overhaul of the roof, updates to electrics.
The interiors have been beautifully re-decorated with new carpets, upgraded bathrooms and new bespoke cabinetry. The generous accommodation is well suited to family life and entertaining friends to stay in comfort, with a practical layout throughout which allows great flow from day to day.
Downstairs
Doors flow off from the welcoming entrance hall with period flagstone floor and adjoining downstairs loo/cloakroom. The generous dual aspect drawing room includes a period fireplace and parquet floor, inbuilt bookcases and a large bay window overlooking the gardens. There is also a separate dual aspect family sitting room/playroom painted in warm Sudbury Yellow with a cosy logburner.
The dining room is the oldest part of the house and retains fantastic period features including an open stone fireplace, half panelling and oak floor, strawberry gothic windows and a glazed door with attractive porch leading onto an outdoor dining terrace. The room is regularly used day to day as well as for hosting by the current owners, who have re-papered the walls in Soane Britain’s timeless Scrolling Fern wallpaper.
The lovely family kitchen/breakfast room next door and serves as a warm and generous hub to the house. To one end it is fitted kitchen with painted cabinetry, traditional AGA, separate Neff electric ovens, island with electric hobs, and double butler sink. The other end of the room has a fireplace with logburner and a large breakfast table. The room has a classic stone floor and charming wall niches perfect for displaying china and cookbook collections. There is also a tardis-like adjoining walk in-pantry and a proper utility/boot room with fitted cabinetry and a flower room with butlers sink. A conservatory, currently used as a gym completes the ground floor.
Upstairs
The main staircase and the back stairs, both with galleried landings, offer access to the six bedrooms and three bathrooms on the first floor. The principal bedroom is situated at one end with large south facing window giving views onto the garden, new fitted wardrobes, and a spoiling ensuite bathroom installed by current owners with marble tiled walk-in shower and marble vanity counter. Five further airy bedrooms and two family bathrooms fan off from the landing. All have been redecorated to an excellent standard. Both of the family bathrooms include pretty painted panelling rolltop cast iron-baths and separate showers.
Timber-Framed Carport/Annexe
Built in 2018 this attractive structure comprises a carport and several storage rooms on the ground floor, one of which is used as a studio. There is also expansive accommodation on the first floor which is currently used as a home office. The current owners have obtained planning permission to install a loo, washbasin, and a bath so that the space has potential to function as additional guest accommodation (Planning Application Reference PL/2025/08103).
Glorious South Facing Garden
A real highlight of this home is its expansive landscaped garden, which extend to just over an acre.
The house with its handsome covering of wisteria is set behind a neatly clipped hedge and accessed via a new set of electric gates leading onto a large, gravelled yard with extensive parking in front of the Timber-Framed Carport/Annexe.
The wonderful south-facing garden was laid out with the assistance of the award-winning garden designer, Catherine Thomas. It has been configured as a series of ‘rooms’ divided by immaculate clipped yew hedging. A York Stone dining terrace abuts the house and serves as a suntrap. Perfect for long summer lunches, it overlooks deep herbaceous borders planted with roses, lavender and thousands of assorted tulip bulbs with expansive lawns spreading out beyond. A formal rectangular lily pond has stepping stones across the centre and is fed by a small circular pond with a rill. (Ponds currently fitted with safety feature for young children).
The orchard is under-planted with an abundance of snowdrops and daffodils. At the end of the garden is an additional West-facing York Stone terrace, positioned to catch the evening sun. This includes a Hartley Botanical greenhouse with cold frames, a fruit cage planted with raspberries, strawberries and gooseberries, and several productive vegetable beds.