The ancient village of Twyford, on the banks of the River Itchen, three miles south of Winchester, is one of Hampshire’s loveliest villages, heir to a monastic and scholarly tradition dating back to the 7th century, when it was part of the Hundred Hides of Chilcomb granted to the church at Winchester. These days, it boasts a highly regarded prep school and easy access to London by train from Winchester or via the nearby M3 motorway.

At the time of the Domesday survey, there were two manors of Twyford, one belonging to the Bishop of Winchester to the north and one held by the Prior of St Swithun’s to the south, both of which were surrendered to the Crown following the Dissolution.

The Priory, in the south of the village, was a self-contained farm holding run by monks from St Swithun’s Benedictine community, who were housed in The Monastery, originally a medieval hall house typically surrounded by a variety of domestic and farm buildings, such as a dairy, a brew house, a bakery, a smithy, pigeon lofts, hen houses and sheds for pigs, cattle and sheep. Traces of such buildings can be found in the gardens surrounding today’s much-altered Monastery and its adjoining Manor House—previously one building which was divided vertically in the 1960s. Both houses will come to the market shortly through Knight Frank’s Winchester office (01962 850333), each at a guide price of £1.35m.

The Monastery.

The Monastery, listed Grade II, is an Elizabethan house of chequered flint and stone with red-brick gables, built in the 1660s by Sir Henry Mildmay, a successful lawyer and High Sheriff of Hampshire. Surrounded by immaculate walled topiary gardens, The Monastery has more than 3,000sq ft of light and spacious accommodation, including three reception rooms, a kitchen/breakfast room, five bedrooms and three bathrooms.

The Manor House, also listed Grade II, was built of red brick over existing cellars during the late Queen Anne/early Georgian period, with inner walls of stone, and a tiled roof. Both houses retain parts of earlier roof frames.

The Manor House stands in its own pretty garden, with an outdoor pool and lovely views of the Itchen Valley. It has two main reception rooms, a kitchen/breakfast room, a conservatory, four bedrooms and two bath/shower rooms.

The guide price for each property is £1.35m. For further information please contact Knight Frank on 01962 850333.

* Country houses for sale in Twyford

* More property news