Rooms

History and Heritage
There has been a dwelling on the site since the 13th century but the current property was constructed in 1535 of coursed squared limestone with some ironstone and ironstone dressings. It was built for Sir Francis Tanfield on a cruciform plan orientated approximately on the cardinal points and it is thought it may originally have been built as a hunting “lodge, perhaps with detached kitchen”. The house faces south and is symmetrical with 3 storey gables with bay windows to the front and side. The central wing is flanked by two storey porches in angles either side with Tudor arched doors. The rear wing, which houses the main staircase, is slightly shorter and has no bay windows. Sir Francis died in 1558 and his wife Bridget in 1583 and both are buried in the adjacent church. The couple had 18 children and existing Queen posts indicate that the first floor was originally built as a single room providing a large dormitory for the family. The house was sold out of the (truncated)

Ground Floor
A path from the drive leads to the front door which leads into a hall which has a door to the drawing room. There is also a door to a side hall which has access to the garden, stairs to the playroom and a door to a large cloakroom which is also used as a wine store. A second entrance door from the rear courtyard leads into a hall with doors to the kitchen and utility room. The inner hall has double doors to the drawing room, and the original Oak staircase which has turned balustrades and octagonal newel posts.

Principal Reception Rooms
The original hall is now used as a drawing room. It is an impressive spacious room with a double height ceiling with exposed beams, and a large Tudor arched stone fireplace housing a multi-fuel stove. Plenty of natural light is provided by a double height mullioned window to the side with a window seat, and a window to the front. The room is overlooked by a small minstrels’ gallery and there is lapsed planning permission to extend this gallery across the full width of the room to create a reading/study area. The dining room is panelled in Oak and has wood flooring, dual aspect windows, and a fireplace with an ornate overmantel. There is also a decoratively carved ceiling beam.

Other Reception Rooms
A door from the drawing room leads to steps down to the original kitchen which has been re purposed as a play room. A TV unit with a range of fitted cupboards and display shelves spans one wall and there are also two built-in cupboards; one housing the boilers and one with shelved storage. There is a staircase from the playroom to the hall above. The snug has triple aspect windows, two with deep window seats, and a fireplace housing a log effect electric fire. The office has a built-in desk and storage, and access to a cloakroom.

Kitchen/Dining/Family Room
This open plan room is part of the extension added by the vendors. The kitchen is in the main house and has a range of bespoke, hand made full height, wall and base units, including display shelves, pan drawers and a bin drawer. One door leads to a walk-in shelved pantry. The large central island has additional storage and incorporates a breakfast bar with seating for two. There is an inset sink, a four oven electric Aga, an integrated dishwasher, a larder fridge and a freezer. Tiled flooring with underfloor heating continues into the dining and family areas. The dining area is in the glazed link which has a vaulted ceiling, doors to both sides and ample space for a dining table to seat eight. The family area has a vaulted ceiling with exposed beams, French doors to a paved terrace in the garden, and windows overlooking a courtyard garden on the other side. The fireplace houses a multi-fuel stove and there is a door to the adjoining office.

Utility Room
This room was the kitchen when the vendors bought the property and still has a range of storage units, including a dresser style unit, a cooker, a sink, and space and plumbing for a washing machine and tumble dryer.

First Floor
The main staircase leads up to a lower landing which has a built-in cupboard and stairs to the second floor. Steps lead up to a central library which has a range of fitted cupboards and bookcases, and doors to three double bedrooms. One of the bedrooms is over the snug and has the same triple aspect windows, two with window seats. The bay window to the front has views over the church and fireplaces either side, one of which is the dummy installed to maintain the symmetry of the room. There is plumbing in place to add an en suite to this room if desired. The other two bedrooms both have dual aspect windows, fireplaces, and exposed ceiling beams. One of the bedrooms has a dressing room with hanging space and shelving, and an en suite which has a WC, a vanity wash basin, a bath and a separate shower cubicle. The other bedroom has an en suite with a ball and claw footed bath with a shower attachment, a WC and twin vanity washbasins. There are two built-in cupboards.

Second Floor
The lower landing on the second floor has a window to the rear, a built-in cupboard, space for a seating area, and access to a three piece bathroom. Steps up lead to a central vestibule seating area with access to the loft which has a window and potential for conversion into additional accommodation if desired and subject to planning and listed building consent. Arched doors from the vestibule lead to three further double bedrooms which all have vaulted ceilings. Two of the bedrooms have views of the church and one has far reaching views over farmland. One of the bedrooms is accessed via a dressing room which has a range of fitted wardrobes spanning one wall. This room has space for a bed and could be used as an additional bedroom if required.

Outbuildings
When the vendors bought the property in 1997 there was a double garage. The vendors got permission to double the size of the garage which now easily accommodates four cars with space for storage or a workshop area. Over the garage there is an office which has a range of fitted cupboards and electric heating. The space could alternatively be used as a games or hobby room and has a cloakroom. On the other side of the drive from the house there is a stone built stable block which has three loose boxes and a tack room. A gate next to the stables gives access to an orchard which leads to the paddocks. External stairs lead to an apartment over the stables. It has an open plan sitting/dining room, a kitchen, a three piece bathroom with a shower over the bath, and two double bedrooms. It would make suitable accommodation for staff or extended family. There is also a greenhouse which is accessed from the drive.

Gardens and Grounds
The property has a plot of approximately 4.42 acres which includes formal gardens, an orchard and paddock land. There is a level area which has been used as a tennis court in the past. The property is set well back from the road with a walled boundary and is accessed via remote controlled gates to a gravel driveway which has a turning circle with a dovecote. The drive provides extensive parking and access to the main house and outbuildings. The front garden is laid mainly to lawn with shrub borders and mature trees interspersed. The lawned garden continues around the side of the property where there are gravel and paved seating areas and a sunken garden which is sheltered by shaped hedges and has an ornamental pond. A raised bank bordering the lawn on one side still has the original stone steps in place to allow the Lord of the Manor to get to a private path on top of the bank which would at one time have continued beyond the property to the church. There is also a (truncated)

Gayton
The property is within 10 minutes’ walk of the village C of E Primary School which is rated outstanding by Ofsted and the property is in the catchment for Sponne School which is also rated as outstanding. Other local schools include Quinton House, Northampton School for Girls, Northampton School for Boys, Campion School, Bugbrooke, Beachborough School and Winchester House School. The property is also walking distance from the Eykyn Arms Public House and Restaurant. There is also a village hall, and mobile services visiting the village include a fishmonger, library, butcher, greengrocer and hairdresser. For other amenities the village is with 6 minutes’ drive of Blisworth or Milton Malsor and is only 15 minutes’ drive from Northampton which has a wide range of shops and leisure facilities and commuter trains to London.

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