3 bedroom detached house

The property: Brook Cottage is a very pretty house, formerly a pair of estate cottages, which were converted into one property about 60 years ago by the celebrated poet, Charles Tomlinson, who lived here until his death just a few years ago. The cottages are believed to have been built in the late 18th century as part of the Ozleworth Park estate and is now listed Grade II as a representative example of vernacular building in the area and for its historic associations. Built of stone with colour-washed lime rendered elevations under a traditional natural Cotswold stone tiled roof, the historic layout as two cottages can still be read, including the two open-fronted porches on the front and there is good survival of period features including timber-framed windows with metal casements with leaded lights, spiral staircases and bracketed square-section lead gutters and decorative hoppers. Internally, the living accommodation is charming but fairly basically presented and is arranged over two floors with attics above. On the ground floor, there are two reception rooms, a kitchen, a utility room and a bathroom, and where possible period features have been retained including stone flag and quarry-tiled floors, ceiling beams and fireplaces. The fireplace in the sitting room is particularly striking, with a decoratively carved and painted timber surround with floriated columns and frieze. All the internal doors and cupboards are timber ledge and plank, with hand-made wrought-iron fittings, including thumb latches and strap hinges. On the first floor, there are three bedrooms with exposed beams and elm-planked floorboards and a large landing area/study with a timber stud wall.

Brook Cottage is sold with full planning permission (Planning reference: 22/02093/FUL) and listed building consent (Application reference: 22/02094/LBC)

Gardens and grounds: To the north of the property a gravel drive leads through a pair of timber gates to a car parking space in front of a timber garage. A gravel path then leads from the parking area along the front of the house to the two porches and beyond. The front garden has a lovely southwest aspect and is subdivided into two areas by a dry stone wall. There are areas of lawn flanked by well-stocked flower and shrub borders and twin pedestrian gates give access back on to the no-through lane. To the rear of the property, there are two further areas of lawn, again with a central dividing wall, a former vegetable garden and two original stone privies, one of which still retains its wooden seat. There is a fine view to the rear along the valley. The garden extends around to the south of the property and running along the boundary is the Marlees Brook, another lovely feature.

Situation:
Brook Cottage occupies an enchanting setting on the edge of the Cotswold Hills between the unspoilt village of Alderley and the hamlet of Ozleworth within the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The local market towns of Wotton-Under-Edge (2 miles) and Tetbury (10 miles) have an excellent range of shops and services for everyday needs. Education in the area is outstanding with private schools including Beaudesert Park, Westonbirt and Wycliffe and excellent grammar schools including Stroud High, Marling and Pates.
With diverse sporting opportunities, there is much going on, including golf at Cotswold Edge and Minchinhampton; horse racing at Cheltenham and Bath; eventing at Badminton and Dauntsey; polo at Westonbirt and Cirencester. Delightful pubs and restaurants such as Williams Kitchen, Calcot Manor and Spa, and Wotton Farm Shop are all worth visiting.

Local centres include Nailsworth, Stroud, Bath, Bristol, Cirencester and Cheltenham which are all within daily commuting. Junction 18 M4 and Junction 14 M5 are both about 20 minutes drive. There are direct rail services to London Paddington from Kemble, Stroud or Bristol Parkway stations.