Location

The Doles cottage sits beside top lock of the famous Napton flight of the Oxford Canal with its friendly atmosphere and community.

The property is situated in picturesque Warwickshire countryside, close to the Northamptonshire and Oxfordshire borders, with well-regarded local pubs, cycle routes and walks.

The sought-after nearby village of Priors Marston includes a parish church, sports club, public house providing B&B accommodation, village hall and a sought after direct funded primary school and nursery, The Priors School. Napton village also has a village shop.   

The nearby town of Southam (4.3 miles) provides various local amenities, with Leamington Spa (11 miles), Banbury (13.5
miles) and Rugby (14.5 miles) also offering more extensive facilities.

The village lies between the M1 (junction 17 at Daventry ) and the M40 (junction 11 at Banbury). Mainline railway stations at Banbury (Marylebone from 59 minutes) and Rugby (Euston from 55 minutes).   

A wide range of schooling includes The Priors primary school, Southam College (Ofsted rated Outstanding as at August 2024), Lawrence Sherrif Grammar School (boys) Rugby and Rugby High Grammar (Girls), Bilton Grange (Dunchurch), Arnold Lodge (Leamington), Warwick Prep, Winchester House (Brackley), Carrdus (Banbury), Princethorpe (nr Leamington), Warwick (boys) and Kings High (girls) (Warwick), Kingsley (Leamington), Rugby and Bloxham.

Renowned music festivals are run at Cropredy and Napton. Sporting activities in the area include Priors Marston tennis club; golf at Staverton and Hellidon Lakes Country Club (including gym, indoor pool and 10 pin bowling); spa and gym at Fawsley Hall; clay pigeon shooting near Priors Marston; horse racing at Stratford-upon-Avon and Warwick; polo at Stoneythorpe, Southam.

All distances and times are approximate.

Description

The Doles is a charming lock-side cottage, which has been sensitively upgraded by the current owners and retains a wealth of period features.

Originally the lock keepers cottage and a parlour pub; 'Doles Inn Good Stabling' once painted can still be seen - a legacy of the canal and old drovers road it sits beside.

A charming sitting room features a wood burning stove and the original parlour pub hatch. The dining room features two in-built wooden cupboards and a flagstone floor. This leads into the kitchen, which features modern base units, traditional brick floor and stable door looking towards the canal. There is also a utility room, which is set at a lower ground floor level.

The first floor provides three double bedrooms and a family bathroom with separate shower and bath. Above the staircase is an impressive feature wattle wall, which further adds to the character of the property.

An adjoining, two storey outbuilding has planning permission for conversion to a holiday let (ref: 20/01422/FUL) or could be integrated into the main house or used as a potential annexe, subject to any necessary consents, depending on preference.

The property benefits from off street parking and a garage base laid in readiness for a detached double garage, for which there is also planning permission. There is ample lawn garden (approximately 0.25 acres) with bountiful apple, pear and plum trees and a patio overlooking the canal.