Alresford, Hampshire

Occupying one of the Itchen Valley’s most sought-after settings, this elegant 19th-century manor house sits within five and a half acres of gardens and wildflower meadow. Despite its peaceful atmosphere and unobstructed views, the house is within easy reach of Alresford and Winchester, with direct rail connections to London in under an hour and outstanding independent schooling nearby. The house has been beautifully refurbished by the current owners, with a carefully judged palette of materials and colours to complement the impressive proportions and high ceilings. The main house has five bedrooms and generous reception spaces, and there is a self-contained annexe with two further bedrooms. The gardens are exceptional, with sweeping lawns, richly planted borders, a heated swimming pool and secluded areas for dining and entertaining.

Setting the Scene

Located on the northwest edge of the South Downs National Park, Itchen Stoke Manor sits within one of Hampshire’s most beautiful stretches of countryside, where chalk streams, rolling farmland and ancient woodland define the landscape. The surrounding area is well known for walking, riding and fishing, while the coast and the New Forest are both within easy reach.

The house sits at the Alresford end of the highly sought-after Itchen Valley, with some of the best views in the entire valley. The immediate area offers stunning country walks straight from the front door, a riverside pub and a local farm shop.

The Grand Tour

Itchen Stoke Manor is entered from a private road, with a gravel driveway and a large parking area for several cars. Inside, a distinguished entrance hall provides access to the primary reception rooms. Directly ahead is the kitchen, with Plain English units, Derbyshire fossil-stone countertops, a floor of reclaimed Staffordshire-blue quarry tiles, an electric AGA, and a woodburning stove.

To one side of the kitchen is a utility room and larder, with a laundry area behind a glazed partition with handblown glass. To the other is a flower room with elegant original built-in joinery, a guest WC, and an atmospheric west-facing snug.

The large primary reception room is a refined space with original floorboards and three pairs of French doors opening to the garden. These frame long views across the grounds and the valley beyond. Adjacent is the dining room, a more intimate space centred around a dark marble fireplace, with ochre-toned walls that take on a warm glow under candlelight.

Upstairs are five bedrooms, each with its own character, created through thoughtful paint colours, bespoke joinery and original fireplaces. All have large sash windows overlooking the gardens and surrounding countryside. Two of the bedrooms share a Jack-and-Jill bathroom, while the others have use of a family bathroom and walk-in shower.

The principal suite is especially impressive. A substantial bedroom with windows on three sides and outstanding views leads into a bathroom with a freestanding bathtub and a marble-lined shower. Beyond lies a dressing room concealed behind a hidden door.

The two-bedroom annexe has its own entrance and parking area, making it well-suited to multi-generational living, guest accommodation, or as an independent area for older children. It includes a well-equipped kitchen and a dramatic double-height sitting room with a log-burning stove.

The house also has a large cellar, providing excellent full-height storage space.

The Great Outdoors

The gardens extend to approximately 2.2 acres, with a further 3.4 acres of paddock – previously used for horses but now planted as a wildflower meadow. The planting has been carefully designed to provide year-round interest, while also attracting a rich variety of wildlife. Pleached limes and soaring beech hedges provide the structure.

The heated swimming pool sits within a mature orchard, with generous space for outdoor dining and lounging. There is also a productive vegetable garden with a potting shed, and a further outbuilding alongside an in-ground trampoline. There is planning permission in place for the construction of a triple garage.

Out and About

Itchen Stoke Manor is a short drive from the elegant Georgian town of Alresford, which is known for its independent shops, cafés and restaurants, including the well-regarded Pulpo Negro. It has everything from butchers to delis, a doctor’s surgery, gym and yoga studios.

The nearby cathedral city of Winchester, the original capital of England, is consistently voted one of Britain’s best places to live, and offers a broader cultural and culinary scene.

West Lea farm shop provides local seasonal produce, including watercress from their own watercress beds, local trout, farm eggs, asparagus and strawberries.

The Bush Inn in Ovington is accessible via a beautiful walk along the river, and there are several more excellent pubs within a short drive, including the Tichborne Arms, the Three Horseshoes in Bighton, and the Ship in Bishops Sutton. Artisan coffee, homemade gelato and supper clubs can be found at The Yard in the Candover Valley, and Dummer Down Farm offers a taproom and seasonal events.

The surrounding area is particularly well regarded for outdoor pursuits, with chalk stream fishing on the Itchen and Meon, riding, cycling and extensive walking routes across the South Downs. The Grange at Northington, known for its opera festival and vineyards, is also nearby. There are golf courses in Avington, Alresford, Winchester and Basingstoke.

The area is renowned for its excellent schools, including Pilgrim’s, Winchester College, St Swithun’s, Twyford, Prince’s Mead, Bedales and Peter Symonds Sixth Form College.

A regular railway service runs from Winchester to London Waterloo in under an hour. Southampton Airport can be reached in under 25 minutes by car, and Heathrow Airport is about an hour away.

Please note that this house is owned by an employee of The Modern House Ltd.

Council Tax Band: H