BEAUTIFULLY REFURBISHED PERIOD COTTAGE IN A GLORIOUSLY PEACEFUL POSITION

An unlisted and deceptively spacious, timber-framed cottage in the rural Bedfordshire village of Melchbourne, with two double bedrooms, one up, one down, looking over paddocks and fields both front and back. On a quiet, no-through lane leading as its name suggests to Melchbourne Park and its Jacobean mansion, the cottage is at the end of a row and has been joined to its lovely, red-brick, old clay-tiled barn to form a larger home than you might expect, with an outside sitting area at the back and a delightful, long garden designed by an RHS-trained gardener at the front, along with gravelled parking for two cars.

Glance at a map of Melchbourne and it seems as if major routes were planned to leave the village in perfect peace, while providing easy access to Bedford, Wellingborough and St Neots railway stations, Rushden Lakes shopping complex and further afield.

Kimbolton’s renowned private school is less than six miles away and there’s an outstanding private pre-school in the village itself. The catchment schools at Riseley and Sharnbrook are a short bus ride away.

Wander up the lane to Sunday service at the medieval, Grade I-listed church, perhaps followed by a bite to eat at the popular village pub, a former hunting lodge with a beer garden and open fire. You’re spoiled for choice for many beautiful walks, in the fields surrounding your cottage and through Melchbourne Woods to Riseley. You can look forward to the feast day held annually at Melchbourne Park at the same time of year as the 13th century Knights Hospitallers held their “annual fayre, vigil, feast and morrow” of St Mary Magdalene, after whom the church is named. Melchbourne was once a village of some importance. It’s now, quite simply, a lovely, friendly, tranquil place to live.

ABOUT THE PROPERTY

It’s impossible not to feel fortunate living on a quintessential English country lane, the ancient church in its glorious setting, sheep grazing in the fields. Push open the picket gate under the apple blossom and wander between beautiful, bee-friendly planting, lavender and rosemary, ceanothus, red currant and sweet-scented wood violet vying for attention in the delightful approach to your cottage home.

Kick off muddy boots in the enclosed porch and step into the achingly beautiful sitting room, with its gorgeous, red brick floor and wonderful wall and ceiling timbers that have been lightened and restored to their natural glory. With floor-to-ceiling books to one side of the exposed, old brick fireplace, logs ablaze in the woodburning stove, it’s difficult to imagine a more perfect room for you and your dog to come home to following a long winter walk through the lovely surrounding countryside.

The cottage tells a story as you move through it, suggesting that former generations stepped out from what is now the central hall into a backyard.

A yard that’s now your oak-floored dining room. Yet it’s also a room to suit your lifestyle, with a light, bright area in which to relax with the newspaper over coffee or adding to the area beneath the stairs, to study, to tickle the ivories, or for a child to play while you’re messing about in the kitchen that’s open to it.

The cottage has been impeccably finished to ensure it’s full of light; nor do you have to worry about height. And it will be a hard choice as to which of the lovely bedrooms to choose. Both have either a bath or shower room close by. Upstairs feels like a suite of rooms, with its peaceful dressing and sitting area on the landing, and with a wonderful view over the garden, and beyond the silver birch trees to lambs gambolling under the watchful eye of the great oak. Yet, through French doors downstairs, you also have an outlook to die for.

Enjoy an early evening glass of wine with the sun setting over the paddocks, and morning coffee front or back. Perhaps lay a little lawn in the front garden for a child to play. Both old and young will love living here.