Newington House, Wallingford, Oxfordshire

Newington House is without doubt, one of the most beautiful houses in Oxfordshire. Since it was constructed in the 17th century, it has been greatly admired for its elegant scale and symmetry and its history tells a story of romance and a passion for Italian architecture. It was built as a gift for a homesick Italian princess by her aristocratic English husband. Constructed of square limestone and ashlar, the facade is believed to be modelled on Rubens’ collection The Palaces of Genoa and is thought to be a copy of the Pallavicini Palazzo.

There have been careful alterations over the centuries, including the addition of a second floor in 1777, but the house remains faithful to its original design and it more than deserves its Grade II* listing. In the early 20th century, it became a hub for England’s cultural elite. Influential writers and artists would meet to exchange creative ideas including Walter Sickert, Henry James and Virginia Woolf. It’s easy to imagine those sophisticated gatherings in Newington’s great rooms with their extraordinarily high ceilings, huge windows and grand fireplaces.

Today, in the 21st century, the house is filled with the everyday sounds of busy family life and the original features like the open fires and wooden shutters are still in daily use. The property has been fitted with a modern biomass boiler which continues to benefit from government tariffs. The whole estate offers several options for ancillary or rental accommodation. But whatever the use or occupation, the heritage and impression of grandeur at Newington is undiminished.

The grand central entrance at Newington House boasts a Corinthian porch and huge double doors which open into a spacious hall. Upon entering, viewers will be immediately struck by the height and scale on offer. An open oak staircase with cantilevered treads sweeps to the left, whilst the first of many stunning marble fireplaces lies to the right.

Light floods through the full height sash windows setting off the exquisite deep triglyph frieze and mutule cornicing. One can imagine a concert piano looking very ‘at home’ in the space and it would be a fabulous spot for a large tree at Christmas time.

The entrance hall leads squarely into the drawing room where the wonder continues. This really is a small stately home from the elegant panelling, elaborate door casing and classical French wallpaper murals to the fine wooden parquet flooring and carved marble fireplaces.

This elegant estate sits on the edge of the unspoilt and picturesque Oxfordshire village of Newington, between Wallingford and Oxford. Set back from the road, high above the River Thame, the main house can be glimpsed through stately wrought iron electric gates, impressively positioned at the end of a gravelled carriage driveway. The Manor House (Lot 2) and Coach House (Lot 3) are situated to the right with their own vehicular access and gardens.

The larger village of Stadhampton, about a mile away, has two pubs including the well known Crazy Bear Hotel and a petrol station with an M&S food shop. Everyday shopping is well catered for in the nearby historic market town of Wallingford with supermarkets, independent shops, delis and cafes, and weekly markets.

There is a wide choice of highly acclaimed schools in the area, both state and private, including Moulsford Preparatory and Cranford which is a co-educational day school for 3-18 year olds. The numerous and much sought-after schools in Oxford and Abingdon, for instance The Dragon and Radley, are also within comfortable reach.

All the principal reception rooms at Newington are west facing towards the gardens and all feature the huge full height sash windows. There is a lovely flow between the reception rooms which lends itself to entertaining and the drawing room’s central sash opens fully to allow direct access to the beautiful stone terrace with its stunning countryside views. The overall feeling is one of light and serenity.

As one would expect, the property boasts a large cellar but unusually, Newington’s has been fully converted into a chic basement with a Kitchenette, Reception Room, Gym, Store Room, Games Room and Gun Room. There is also huge potential for controlled wine storage in this area. A boot room by the cellar entrance connects the main house with the courtyard flat making it ideal for staff accommodation. The ground floor is completed by a good sized kitchen, study and cloakroom as well as a side staircase for convenient access to the laundry room and second floor.

Back in the main entrance hall, the sweeping staircase leads to a huge galleried first floor landing, showing off the height and scale available. But it’s the principal bedroom suite that takes centre stage. Overlooking the gardens, its grandly proportioned rooms have the same vast sash windows as the ground floor and the unspoilt views are even better. There are a further two double guest suites on this level.
The second floor offers another four bedrooms and two bathrooms currently set up as the children’s rooms and a playroom. Again, they have unusually large windows and high ceilings maximising the spectacular views.

The gardens at Newington House are landscaped for style, practicality and entertainment. The large front and rear lawns perfectly show off the house and its stunning facades and the stone entertaining terrace runs the full length of the house. The walled garden, topiary trees, rose gardens, fruit trees, greenhouse and woodland add form and privacy. The outlook from the main house extends over the easterly land, opposite the principal entrance, which includes a fountain and orchard, enhancing the setting and providing additional privacy. The woodland provides a mature backdrop to the formal gardens, with a variety of British native broadleaf trees. It offers shade and amenity, and contains paths and clearings that allow for walking and practical management of the area. The woodland not only enhances the setting of the house and gardens but also provides habitat for wildlife and contributes to the overall privacy of the estate.

Sports fans and equestrians will enjoy the stables and paddocks, hard tennis court, air source heated swimming pool and the boating lake. The estate is framed by the low lying River Thame at the westerly boundary complete with an island.
There are three vehicular entrances to the estate including a separate driveway to the stables, ensuring the grand formal carriage driveway is always clear. Planning permission has previously been granted for a horse riding arena near the stables.