Barn-style homes reveal their riverside secrets at Castle Eaton

Homes close to the River Thames have always enjoyed great popularity. And that applies equally whether they are in some grand location in a fashionable part of London or much closer to the world-famous waterway’s Cotswold source.

One of the beauties of living close to water is that it seems to bring enhanced relaxation and this is clearly illustrated by a development called Ettone Barns in the conservation village of Castle Eaton, just to the north of Swindon.

The name is derived by the old word “ettone”, which means farm by the river, and the development consists of just four properties, one of which has already been snapped up, with guide prices ranging from £500,000 to £1.1 million.

They are extraordinary not just for their location but also because of the way they have been designed to blend traditional barn home themes with the ultimate in contemporary living space.

Flexibility is very much the byword and Matt Hobbs, site manager for award-winning Bach Homes, describes it as one of the most exciting projects he has worked on so far.

“The new homes replace disused farm buildings and are modern in concept, with many outstanding architectural features,” explains Matt.

“The living area will not have the traditional forms of division – it will be separated much more subtly though on the upper floors there will be conventionally laid out bedrooms. Added to this, the homes will have the potential to be tailored to individual buyers’ needs with roof space conversions and optional extras.

“It was felt the designs would be entirely contemporary but local people can be assured these homes will still fit perfectly into the village scene.”

Two of the homes will be offered with up to 1.75 acres of additional land while a further 1.5 acres is available for long term rent. All the properties enjoy fishing rights on a stretch of the Thames

Helene Parker-Joel, manager of the Perry Bishop & Chambers’ new homes division based at Cirencester, said the homes were a refreshing opportunity for those who want to live in the country but also enjoy a contemporary lifestyle.

“People will find the location of the development and the choice of materials make a fascinating blend of the old and the new. Already, as the houses take shape, it’s easy to see just how fascinating this development will be and the houses have been drawing strong interest,” she added.

For further information, visit ettonebarns.com.