The Fox, Purton, Swindon, Wiltshire, SN5

An attractive residential pasture farm in an excellent location comprising a detached period farmhouse, a useful range of farm buildings and 107.27 acres (43.41 hectares) of woodland and farmland.

Fox Mill Farm is a delightful small grassland farm, set in a quiet rural position but close to the major centre of Swindon. The farm lies within a ring fence and is approached over a private drive crossing two cattle grids to a gravel parking area to the front of the house. The property is a haven for wildlife and fauna.

The farmhouse is situated in a wonderful, private position bounded by its own gardens, grounds, an ornamental lake and the surrounding farmland. The house is an attractive detached, period dwelling mainly constructed of stone with some red brick elevations under a pitched, blue slate roof. The older element of the house was formerly a mill house known as Purton Mill, which was extended and much improved by the previous owners. A particular feature of the house is the large ornamental lake to the rear of the dwelling which is overlooked by the house.

The house stands in an area of gardens and grounds extending to nearly 7 acres, in a beautiful setting. A stream runs along one side, fed by the ornamental lake through a sluice gate. The lake is a feature of the property and is bounded by landscaped grounds which include stands of trees and shrubberies. Adjoining the house there is a range of three Cotswold stone garden stores.

Beyond the house, on its eastern side, there is a concrete yard bounded on one side by a three bay garage of stone and concrete block construction with three “up and over” doors. Opposite this is a stable building of concrete block and stone construction under a pantile roof containing three loose boxes and a generator room.

The buildings are situated to the north-west of the house and are accessed from the house over a gravel drive. There is a secondary access onto the public highway from the rear of the buildings. The buildings comprise a useful range of contemporary structures which for many years housed a pedigree Charolais beef suckler herd and its progeny. They briefly comprise:

- Cattle building (31.30m x 30.30m) of six bay, steel portal frame construction with lean-tos either side.
- Fodder barn (24.40m x 12.10m) of four bay, steel portal frame construction.
- Storage building (22.80m x 4.30m) of five bay, steel frame mono-pitch construction.
- Storage building (11.30m x 4.37m) of three bay, metal frame construction.
The buildings are bounded by extensive concrete yard areas.

The land lies in a ring-fence bounding the farmhouse and the farm buildings. The farmland extends to 99.92 acres (40.44 hectares) with a further 7.35 acres of woodlands which are scattered across the land in an attractive setting. The farmland is all in permanent pasture. The field enclosures are all in stock-proof condition, mainly fenced with post and wire with well-established hedgerows around the boundaries. Most of the field enclosures are provided with water to troughs from the mains supply. The soils are mainly Grade 3 and are described as lying within the Sherborne Series. The land is situated in a beautiful setting which is gently undulating. It is a haven for wildlife. There are three further points of vehicular access from the public highway.