We set up The Country House Department because we felt the traditional estate agency model was selling some exceptional properties short. We know what matters when you’re moving and we’re determined to move things forward.
With us, you’ll deal exclusively with professionals who have years of experience selling the finest country homes. We’ll bring you deep local knowledge and immersive property presentation, to showcase the world beyond your walls. Better still, we’ll do all this without resorting to the opaque commission model that treats sellers unfairly.
We know what matters when you’re moving and we’re determined to move things forward.
With us, you’ll deal exclusively with professionals who have years of experience selling country homes in your market. The Country House Department are not hand-cuffed by the costs and care-taking demands of high-street offices. That means we can spend more time on you, on your buyers and on getting your home noticed.
We also believe there’s a more powerful way of presenting property. Combining deep local knowledge with immersive marketing methods, we showcase the lifestyle – inviting buyers into the world beyond your walls.
We do all of this without resorting to the opaque commission model that treats sellers unfairly. In this way, we can finally do justice to the finest country homes.
Ben and Andrew are country home specialists with years of experience selling houses in Oxfordshire, Berkshire and The Cotswolds. Both senior property professionals, they met whilst working for one of the country’s leading national estate agents, where they discovered they shared similar ideas on the service that sellers should receive.
Andrew Russell was formerly based in Mayfair, where he handled the sale of properties across the home counties. In 2017, he moved to Oxfordshire with his young family, to head-up a regional office. Here he oversaw the sales of some of the most beautiful country homes in Oxfordshire and Berkshire. Seriously proactive in his approach, Andrew is an estate agent who brings energy to his client relationships and a keen focus on achieving the best possible results.
Ben Bentley was formerly based in Cirencester where, from 2014, he focused on selling properties in some of the most desirable addresses in the Cotswolds, an area he has deep expertise in, having now lived there for well over ten years. Ben is a personable and highly effective estate agent, with meticulous attention to detail and a passion for presenting properties in the way they deserve. In 2020, they founded The Country House Department, because they believed in a better way…
We are country home specialists with years of experience selling houses in Oxfordshire, Berkshire and The Cotswolds. Both senior property professionals, we met whilst working for one of the country’s leading national estate agents, where we discovered that we shared similar ideas on the service that sellers should receive.
Our emphasis is on client care and a proactive approach. Without the high cost of high street offices, we can choose to focus on fewer properties and to spend more time on the things that matter. On you, on your buyers and on getting your home noticed. In this way, we can finally do justice to the finest country homes.
Ben Bentley is a country house specialist, based in the Cotswolds, where he has operated for a number of years having previously worked for one of the country’s leading national estate agents, Strutt & Parker. Here, he focuses on selling properties across some of the most desirable addresses in the Cotswolds – an area he has deep expertise in, having now lived there for well over ten years. Ben is a personable and highly effective estate agent, with meticulous attention to detail and a passion for presenting properties in the way they deserve. In 2020, Ben co-founded The Country House Department alongside Andrew Russell.
Andrew Russell is a senior property professional based in Oxfordshire. Andrew comes with a huge amount of experience having previously worked in Mayfair, where he handled the sale of properties across the home counties for one of the country’s leading national estate agents, Strutt & Parker. In 2017, he moved to Oxfordshire with his young family. He oversees the sales of some of the most beautiful country homes in Oxfordshire and Berkshire. Seriously proactive in his approach, Andrew is an estate agent who brings energy to his client relationships and a keen focus on achieving the best possible results. In 2020, Andrew co-founded The Country House Department alongside Ben Bentley.
Ian Daniels is a highly experienced prime country house specialist having worked in the Cotswolds and Wiltshire for a number years for highly regarded estate agents Butler Sherborn and Strutt & Parker. Ian grew up, and was educated in Wiltshire before moving to the Cotswolds in 2004 after a career as an Officer in the British Army. Ian prides himself on being able to adapt to the challenges every sale poses with a high level of tenacity and professionalism, having sold charming country cottages to sprawling country estates ensuring every sale goes as smoothly as possible.
Nick Loweth is an immensely experienced agent. Having formerly worked for Strutt & Parker and more latterly 16 years with Knight Frank, there would be few agents who have such a firm hold on the prime country house market. Nick focuses on selling houses across West Berkshire, North East Wiltshire, North Hampshire & South Oxfordshire, an area he knows well having lived in and brought up his family there. Nick prides himself on excellent client care. He is a forthright and pragmatic negotiator and has a passion for dealing with the top-end of the market and the care and attention required for the role.
Liz McLean is a highly experienced agent who has lived and worked in the area for over 25 years. Liz managed and owned the consortium/franchise for Jackson-Stops in Newbury for 15 years before latterly taking on the role of Head of Residential for Savills in Newbury specialising in all types of prime country property. Liz is driven by her passion for client care and goes the extra mile to achieve the best possible results for her clients. She is known for her calm and measured negotiating skills.
Holly Murray is an extremely dedicated property professional with over 10 years experience. Having worked for a top UK house builder and a global estate agency, Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL), she understands the importance of customer service and prides herself on delivering the very best for her clients. Whilst in London she worked on some of the most exclusive developments in prime central locations and now, living in Oxfordshire with her young family, she can pursue her passion for country houses.
Kirsten Maclaurin is an operations professional with expertise in property, administration and marketing having previously worked for one of the country’s leading estate agents, Knight Frank. Leading our central functions, Kirsten works closely with the team to ensure they can devote undivided attention to our clients and their properties. Kirsten is incredibly conscientious and ensures that buyers and sellers receive the highest level of service, allowing for the process to run as smoothly as possible.
We spend more energy on what matters. You won’t find The Country House Department on the high street, so you won’t suffer traditional inefficiencies. Instead, you’ll deal exclusively with our Founding Directors, who can invest more of their time into getting your country home noticed and who will conduct every viewing personally.
Bring your country home to life with virtual tours, drone footage, lifestyle photography and immersive social content. With The Country House Department, you’ll work with experts who know your area intimately and can give buyers the full experience.
Commission is a dark art. Two quotes are rarely the same and it’s impossible to tell exactly what you’re getting for your investment. So, The Country House Department uses a simple, transparent fee structure instead. No double standards, no hidden costs.
We spend more energy on what matters. You won’t find The Country House Department on the high street, so you won’t suffer traditional inefficiencies. Instead, you’ll deal exclusively with our Founders and Regional Directors
Bring your country home to life with virtual tours, drone footage, lifestyle photography and immersive social content. With The Country House Department, you’ll work with experts who know your area intimately and can give buyers the full experience.
Commission is a dark art. Two quotes are rarely the same and it’s impossible to tell exactly what you’re getting for your investment. So, The Country House Department uses a simple, transparent fee structure instead. No double standards, no hidden costs.
We spend more energy on what matters. You won’t find The Country House Department on the high street, so you won’t suffer traditional inefficiencies. Instead, you’ll deal exclusively with our Founding Directors, who can invest more of their time into getting your country home noticed and who will conduct every viewing personally.
Bring your country home to life with virtual tours, drone footage, lifestyle photography and immersive social content. With The Country House Department, you’ll work with experts who know your area intimately and can give buyers the full experience.
Commission is a dark art. Two quotes are rarely the same and it’s impossible to tell exactly what you’re getting for your investment. So, The Country House Department uses a simple, transparent fee structure instead. No double standards, no hidden costs.
The Country House Department has depth of expertise in some of the UK’s foremost prime property markets. This nuanced local understanding informs our valuations and property presentation
From the riverside glamour of Henley in the South to Banbury’s glorious golden sandstone in the North and the dreaming spires of Oxford in between, Oxfordshire is a classic English county with a wealth of beautiful country homes.. With much of the county easily commutable to London, there are hundreds of picture-perfect country villages to choose from. You never have to look far for a good pub and the county also lays claim to some of the country’s finest restaurants and retreats, including Raymond Blanc’s two Michelin starred Le Manoir aux Quat’Saison and the renowned Soho Farmhouse. Lovers of the outdoors are spoilt for choice with three AONBs (the Cotswolds, Chilterns and North Wessex Downs) and magical walking along the banks of the Thames, which winds its way through the heart of the county.
Famous for its quintessential market towns and honey-coloured cottages, the rolling Cotswolds are bursting with character and charm. Here you’ll find a whole host of award-winning hotels, pubs and world-class restaurants as well as some of the country’s most unique property. Lose yourself amongst a constellation of picturesque villages – with a variety of quirky and independent shops, restaurants and farmers markets – or soak up the amazing atmosphere of one of the many sporting events, such as horse racing at Cheltenham or eventing at Badminton, to name just two.
The Royal County of Berkshire is the jewel in the home counties crown. It’s no surprise that a county fit for a Monarch is one of the most attractive locations for those making the move out of London, with a wealth of exceptional schools and fast commuter links to the capital. There’s no shortage of leisure activities either, with racing at Windsor, Ascot and Newbury as well as polo at The Guards Polo Club, Cowarth Park and The Royal Berkshire Polo Club. Fine dining is a particular highlight and Bray is the county’s worthy epicentre, with the Roux Brothers’ Waterside Inn and Heston Blumenthal’s Fat Duck and The Hind’s Head.
For sheer variety, few counties rival Hampshire. Here, attractive countryside, vibrant port cities and excellent commuting hubs live side-by-side. At Hampshire’s historic heart lies England’s leafy ancient capital – and supposed seat of King Arthur’s round table – Winchester. From here, two National Parks offer strikingly different propositions, with the chalky trails of the South Downs lifting Eastwards and The New Forest to theWest, offering acres of enchanting scenery and wildlife. Hampshire’s coastline offers another treasure trove of beautiful country homes in standout locations. Lymington – on which the international sailing fraternity descends for CowesWeek – is a classic case-in-point, with its Georgian centre offering smart shopping and a thriving food scene.
Home to iconic manors, storied independent schools and a WorldHeritage landscape (that includes Stonehenge and the Avebury Circle), Wiltshire is a setting with a sense of the historic. Little wonder, then, that it boasts so many characterful country homes and period properties. The county is bisected by the Kennet and Avon Canal – where stretches of picturesque waterside are punctuated by charming market towns like Marlborough and Devizes. To the North lie the Wiltshire Cotswolds, and small villages no strangers to the big screen.Whilst to the south, Salisbury and the Cranborne Chase AONB provide lush backdrops for broad highstreets, welcoming pubs and great independent shopping.Wiltshire homes are perfectly poised; you’ll be in London in under two hours but within striking distance of the Southwest coast.
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