Charming and beautifully presented former lodge house with landscaped garden and ancient bluebell woodland.
Shortbridge Lodge is a delightful late Victorian former lodge house, believed to date from about 1850 with later additions. The property has classic red brick elevations under a tiled roof, and a substantial rear extension with wood cladding; it is beautifully presented, with well-proportioned light rooms, stripped wood flooring and stylish décor.
The house offers plenty of space for family life, and has a pleasing and versatile layout. The hall opens to the snug, which has a bay window with a fitted seat, and a wood burning stove.
The snug leads to the rear hallway, which has space for a desk and chair; there is a separate study, which is fitted with bespoke cupboards and could be used a playroom.
In the centre of the house is the superb sitting room, a spacious yet comfortable room with a wood burning stove. It is open to the kitchen/dining room, a contemporary, triple aspect room with two sets of French doors to the terrace. It is well-equipped with a good range of wall-hung and undercounter units, with Corian worktops; there is a central island with a Neff induction hob with extractor over and integrated microwave and double oven.
To the rear of the kitchen is a utility room; a cloakroom lying off the entrance hall completes the ground floor.
On the first floor, the impressive principal suite has a vaulted ceiling and tall doors opening to Juliet balconies, framing the views over the gardens and grounds to the ancient woodland beyond. It has a modern en suite with a walk in shower. Bedroom two has an en suite shower; there are three further bedrooms and a family bathroom.
Outside
Shortbridge Lodge is set back behind laurel hedging, and approached via a gravelled driveway, which opens to offer a parking area in front of the house, and leads on to the static caravan Westmoreland, which shares services with the main house, the double garage with attached log store, and the greenhouse. The greenhouse has PV solar panels which generate c.£1000 pa under a feed-in tariff scheme. There are two timber storage sheds.
The formal gardens lie mainly to the east and south. There is a spacious brick paved terrace to the rear of the kitchen, with a built-in barbecue area and plenty of space for table and chairs; steps lead up to the lawns, which are flanked by well-stocked beds planted with a variety of flowers and shrubs.
The driveway leads up to a track through the beautiful bluebell coppice wood, where there are two ponds. In all, about 7.7 acres.
View payable Stamp Duty for this property