A small corner of the Cotswolds will forever be north Oxford, thanks to the whim of a 19th century classics don.

Fowlers House was built in the village of Kingham near Chipping Norton in 1879 for William Warde-Fowler, a fellow at Lincoln College.

Fowler asked his architect brother to design it in the style of a north Oxford town villa, even though it was in the middle of the countryside.

The Victorian house, which still has many original features such as sash windows, shutters, fireplaces and high ceilings, is on the market at a guide price of £1.4m.

Current owner Professor Nicholas Emler, former head of psychology at Oxford University, has lived there with wife Angela, also a renowned academic, for 17 years.

Professor Emler, now Dean of Faculty of Arts and Human Sciences at the University of Surrey, explained: “I am getting near retirement and don’t need to live in the area so have decided to put it up for sale.”

When he looked into the history of the seven-bedroom house, he discovered the story of Fowler who lived there with his sister.

He added: “The conditions governing college fellows in those days meant they had to live within five miles of Carfax, so Warde Fowler could only be in Kingham at weekends and during the holidays.

“Ancient Roman religion was his main field of expertise but he also wrote a number of books about bird watching.

“When he died in 1922, he was buried in the church yard in Kingham. He left the house and surrounding land to Lincoln College who sold the house but kept some of the land. In fact, the field in front of the house is still owned by the College.

“The house was designed for a gentleman and his sister and still has many characteristics such as a row of bells that were used to summon servants and two staircases, a front stairs for the family and guests and back ones that would have been used by staff.

“I knew nothing about any of this when I bought the house and it is just a coincidence that my wife and I are academics too.

“It has been a great family home. When we were looking for a house, having moved from a manse in Scotland, we were used to high celings and large rooms.

“We did not expect to see that in a country property, so were amazed to find this place.”

Harry Gladwin, of agents Knight Frank, said: “This property is unusual because it is a town house located right in the middle of the Cotswold countryside.

“It is the only one in the village with a red-tile roof, rather than slate like most of the surrounding properties.”

The house has four reception rooms including a drawing room, dining room, study and large kitchen/breakfast room plus four bathrooms, one of which is en suite.

Other features include a garage, swimming pool and grounds of approximately three quarters of an acre.

For more information about Fowlers House, or to arrange a viewing, call 01865 790077.