So you want to live... in a bakery

I'm guessing that it stopped baking bagels some time ago?

I'm guessing that it stopped baking bagels some time ago?

That's not quite true. The Old Bakery was still churning out dough products as recently as 1978 and apparently served the small hamlet of Kineton for over 300 years, providing products ranging from country loaves and buns to mini baguettes.

What can I expect to see now?

A solid, traditional five-bedroom country manor, with a gravel courtyard, manicured grass paddocks suitable for grazing, and wild woodland, set in five acres of rural Gloucestershire. Accompanying the principal property is a detached Cotswold-stone cottage and a stand-alone barn which, according to the agents, was where all the baking took place.

Sounds like quite an idyllic retreat. But what's the asking price?

Rather a lot - a guide price of £1.5m has been set, with the current level of interest likely to push up the price even further.

Not exactly cheap then. So what are the must-have attractions?

The agents are keen to point out that there are a host of unique and highly desirable aspects to the property. The first floor of the separate cottage has an elegant "long room", which is ideal as either a games area, or even as a venue for entertaining. There is also an outdoor pool enclosure, a sun terrace and the barn contains a substantial first-floor office.

What about the surrounding area?

Kineton has historically been a small farming hamlet, with a basic but essential level of public amenity, ie, a pub. The nearby village of Guiting Power is better equipped, with a village store, post office and operational bakery. The nearest town, Stow-on-the-Wold, is eight miles away and offers a more extensive range of services.

Who would it suit?

According to Susan Allan, quite a wide (but wealthy) range of people, including a growing family, someone looking for a bit of tranquillity, or anyone wanting to run a business from home. Interested parties should call the agents, Butler Sherborn, on 01451 830731 or email stow@butlersherborn.co.uk.