Picturesque period country property offering quintessential rural living, with around 16.8 acres in a quiet, idyllic position.
Farm Cottage is a picturesque period country house, located down a no through country lane, providing an immediate sense of seclusion and peace. This is a fine example of quintessential rural living, surrounded by glorious countryside.
Available for purchase for the first time in nearly 40 years, the property is understood to date from the 17th century. The current owners have improved and extended the cottage significantly to create super accommodation suited to modern day living, including double glazed windows and underfloor heating to the kitchen and bathrooms.
Throughout the property there are enviable period features. Approached by a stone path crossing a lawn, there is a Bargate stone wall and gate leading to an open central porch. Internally there is a wealth of characterful features including beautiful oak doors, exposed brick and beams, stone and timber floors. All the additions and alterations have been so carefully constructed, it is hard to know where the original cottage and modern extensions meet. Within the original part of the house there is a snug featuring a log burning stove and a beamed sitting room with a magnificent inglenook fireplace.
The spacious dining room has a feature exposed brick and beam wall and a floor of engineered oak, with lovely views across the garden. These reception rooms flow beautifully, making it ideal for both cosy family living or entertaining. In addition to these reception rooms at the heart of the ground floor, there is an excellent study with fitted desks and book shelving. Onward from here is a vaulted barn, which was combined within the footprint of the house, perfect for a games or party room, with a log burning stove and exposed brick chimney stack.
The wonderful family kitchen has a range of fitted oak units, features a mains gas AGA, Neff built in oven and there is ample space for both cooking and every day dining. Double doors lead to a conservatory, which has been renovated in recent years and offers a wonderful perspective of the garden and fields beyond.
Adjacent to the kitchen is a generous utility room with a range of fitted oak cupboards, silestone worktops and a double butler sink and access to the garden. There is also a cloakroom with shower, which future proofs the property for anyone wishing to ensure they have space for a ground floor bedroom.
Upstairs is a stunning double aspect 24 ft principal bedroom with a vaulted ceiling, exposed roof timbers and a feature exposed chimney stack. There are great views of the garden and at one end there is a dressing area with fitted handmade oak wardrobes. There is an en suite with walk in shower. There is a handsome second bedroom, with an original brick fireplace, exposed chimney stack and built in cupboards. In addition, there are two further characterful bedrooms, of which bedroom three has a vaulted ceiling, exposed beams and excellent storage in the eaves. These bedrooms are served by a family bathroom, which is deceptively spacious thanks to a thoughtful design with a roll top bath and walk in shower.
The grounds are a standout feature to Farm Cottage, surrounding the property on the east and north side providing a glorious outlook, great privacy and big skies.
The garden features a terrace perfect for alfresco dining and entertaining, an area of walled formal garden and an open area of lawn which is interspersed with established planting, many mature trees, including Bramley and Lord Derby cooking apples, damsons and quince. Over the years the owners have planted a vast amount of seasonal bulbs and the gardens have been maintained to a high standard. Further from the house there is an area of garden which has been re-wilded, offering a scenic outlook for the property. There is also a purpose built fruit and vegetable garden producing raspberries, rhubarb, blackcurrants, gooseberries and blueberries.
Beyond the walled garden is a detached barn with a flexible, vaulted garden studio/sun room that looks on to a terrace overlooking a 30ft x 15 ft heated swimming pool enclosed by a mature beech hedge ensuring complete privacy. Complementing the outdoor pool is a shower/pump room.
The detached barn can also be approached from Bealeswood Lane via five-bar gates opening to a spacious block paved courtyard providing parking and a turning area. The barn also comprises two open car bays, one enclosed garage, a large enclosed workshop with ladder to loft storage above, potting shed and machine/garden storage. Furthermore there are two further sections perfect for more storage, a loose box and open stable with storage above, opening to a hard standing area with access to a paddock of around 1.1 acres. Both water and electricity are connected to this versatile barn and there is also an independent, lower barn' for wheelbarrows etc and ample log storage.
Further on from this initial paddock, crossing over a stream, known as Dockenfield Brook, is a full fenced field measuring around 14.6 acres.
View payable Stamp Duty for this property
The house is simply wonderful and the land provides lots of opportunity to create the good life and provides, peace and quiet, considerable privacy and a view of big skies.
Rory McKenzieProperty agent