Perched on the edge of the hilltop village of Aynho, Friars Well is a Grade II listed country house surrounded by formal gardens and 17 acres of untouched walled Capability Brown parkland.

Built in 1763 by the Cartwright Family of Aynhoe Park, it was retained by the family until the mid twentieth century when Lady Elspeth Cartwright moved to Iford Manor. The house was substantially remodelled by Lady Cartwright in the 1950’s, who instructed renowned architect Raymond Erith to enhance the Georgian proportions and reorder the interior. The current custodians, Sophie & Alexander Stevenson, are only the fifth owners of the house since its construction. 

The formal gardens were originally laid out by John Fowler of Colefax & Fowler, to include a box edged peony garden, pleached hornbeams and a half moon ha-ha. The west lawn terrace has recently been re-designed by Emilie Bausager & Amelia Bouquet.