Historic Witney house with striking new extension for sale

Rock House has a contemporary extension designed by a RIBA award winning architect but also has a history linked to the wool trade, including the Early family, founders of Witney’s famous blanket company.

The elegant Georgian home understood to date from c.1800 which, not listed, sits in Puck Lane, a conservation area right in the middle of Witney.

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The house is thought that to have been owned by a wool merchant called Henry Salmon, before passing during the 19th century to members of the Early family who founded Early's of Witney.

The house is well set back from the largely pedestrian lane and has a handsome stuccoed façade with French and sash windows and a modern two-storey extension in zinc and chestnut, designed by RIBA Manser Medal winners Robert Dye Associates which was added by the current owners in 2012.

A double front door with blue stained-glass fanlight above, opens on to the entrance hall, which runs from front to back of the house, with the original staircase and the back door, again with stained-glass panels, leading to the driveway at the rear of the property.

The property retains many classic Georgian architectural features such as deep skirting boards, original fireplaces, working shutters and sash windows but has been completely remodelled to create spacious living and dining spaces.

There is underfloor heating throughout the ground floor with reclaimed teak parquet flooring in the original part of the house.

The stylish extension houses a light kitchen/breakfast room, with sliding doors leading to a south facing terrace, a home office with bamboo flooring and a utility room.

The kitchen, with a large Corian work island, is equipped with Bosch and Miele appliances including steam and convection ovens, induction hob, a gas ring for wok cooking, fridge, freezer and dish washer.

With four double bedrooms on the first floor, the main bedroom has been extended to add a balcony, a dressing room and en-suite bathroom.

As part of the renovation programme, renewable energy and low environmental measures were installed to make the property as energy efficient as possible given its age.

There are 12 solar-PV panels, which generate a Feed-In-Tariff payment, a solar-thermal unit generating hot water, a mechanical ventilation heat recovery (MVHR) system and a rainwater harvesting system.

Although currently on a gas boiler, the central heating system has been plumbed to accept an air source heat pump in an effort to future-proof the system.

Outside, gardens to the front are mainly laid to lawn, with mature trees and vegetation and a pedestrian gate to Puck Lane.

To the rear of the house there is a vegetable garden, greenhouse, parking for several vehicles, a double garage and store room.

Vehicle access is from Mill Street on a private drive, owned by Rock House.

The guide price is £1,350,000 through Savills Summertown +44 (0) 1865 339 700.