‘Spacious bungalow on a generous plot in a prime location.’

A well-loved home

Approached directly from either end of the road known as The Ridings, this detached bungalow was the residence of its former owner for over twenty-five years. It bears elements of style characteristic of a home that has been richly enjoyed and holds masses of potential for a future owner to develop it further. The location is highly sought after and the property comfortably neighbours alongside bespoke properties of various styles and ages, creating a leafy, residential area renowned for its prestigious homes on the outskirts of the delightful Leicestershire village of Rothley.

This property is on a plot of 0.42 acres and presently consists of 2,700 square feet of space. From an aerial perspective the bungalow is reminiscent of a capital H, with a hip and valley roof on both the front and rear of the building creating a private, paved courtyard. This design allows a unique layout of rooms. There are four bedrooms – the prime bedroom with en-suite – a family bathroom, fitted kitchen/diner and separate utility, office, integral double garage and open plan dining room and living room. Across the courtyard, a separate annexe consists of a garden room, two rooms for storage – one with double doors opening onto the garden - and a cloakroom.

Initial observations

The bungalow has a distinctive roof, chimney stack, exposed brick, stone and white rendering, white UPVC window frames and a glass porch. A feature street lamp and hedges on the borders of the large paved drive, sweep up in generous fashion to the front of the property from both sides creating a horseshoe shape, for a fluid entry and exit back to the road. There is a double integral garage to the right and ample provision for several other vehicles on the tarmacked drive. The front garden and bungalow have an open aspect, with a backdrop of trees from the private rear garden.

Through the porch, to the foyer and hall

As we enter via the front door, a spacious glass panelled porch provides a tiled and airy entrance space from which the foyer then opens up into the main building, and links to the hall beyond. This provides the channel from which all parts of the property can be accessed.
In the carpeted hall, there are decorative features that will set the design scheme and be repeated in many of the rooms: glass panelled doors, white coving, dado rail and architrave, central light fitting and gold coloured switches and sockets. The neutrality of papered, lightly patterned walls throughout the house further supports the airiness of all the generously proportioned rooms and white painted walls often frame the stone used to add decorative elements

A cloak room positioned on the right, consist of a two piece suite and fitted mirrored cupboards on the hall wall immediately outside, provide generous storage space for outside wear. The internal door from the garage is close by and the home office is next door to the cloakroom, with a window overlooking the side of the property. There is a bar clad with natural stone in the hall: possibly positioned when the stresses of home office work require light refreshment!

A vision of space

The reception rooms and kitchen/diner are separate and within a few spaces of one another. They obviously serve perfectly well as they are but similarly have the potential for redevelopment into a contemporary open plan living space.

The dining area and living room are partially divided by a stone feature wall. Combined, they provide a length of forty feet and have treble aspect windows, looking into the courtyard, rear garden and side. An open fire features a granite hearth and stone mantel, with patio doors at the far end, presenting a wall of light that gives a commanding view of the grounds.
Through the hall and turning into the kitchen/diner, we now find the centrally positioned kitchen that also overlooks the courtyard. There are laminate worktops and tiled splashbacks on three sides of the room, with cupboards above and below in white and dark oak trim providing a generous amount of display space and storage. It has integrated appliances that include a double oven, induction hob, fridge freezer and dish washer. The kitchen also has space for a separate table and chairs for informal dining, and leads to a back door through the utility room. This room has appropriate plumbing fixtures in position and cabinetry for storage purposes.

Ground floor bedrooms

The prime bedroom is particularly striking, as this room has patio doors to the courtyard, windows to the side and is the entire width of the main building. With white fitted furniture, a dressing area, carpets and an en-suite comprising of a step in spa bath, a double vanity unit, toilet and heated towel rail. The master suite is beautifully designed to incorporate privacy and luxury.

All fixtures and fittings in all the bathing areas of the house have been equipped with white suites, fitted and maintained to high specifications. The family bathroom is similarly fitted with additional cupboards, tiled walls, bath, basin, double vanity unit and walk in shower.
The three remaining bedrooms are spacious and carpeted throughout. Two of them are fitted with white integral wardrobes, while presently the fourth bedroom is being used as an additional reception room; the sitting room.

The gardens and exterior rooms

This home has the luxury of space, inside and outside. On the other side of the courtyard and separate from the main bungalow, a separate building consists of a garden room with patio doors, two rooms for storage – one with double doors opening onto the garden - and a cloakroom. If a separate guest suite with bedrooms, gymnasium or office space is needed, this building certainly provides options.

The mature gardens have been landscaped to provide a collection of trees, shrubs and an expanse of lawn. Around the patio area the plants reveal the sunny aspect of the courtyard and a winding path leads the eye to discover the furthest parts of the plot, where native trees create shade and calming places to sit and reflect.

Rothley

Rothley is a large village in central England, a region referred to as the East Midlands. It was once dissected by the A6, which accounts for why the village has two greens – Cross Green and Town Green - but now it is bypassed by it. The parallel new A6 links with the motorway system of the Midlands, primarily the M1 and M69. The M1 is met at junction 21, towards Leicester Forest East. Therefore, Rothley is in a key central position to gain access to all major road and rail networks that expand across the whole of England. There are railway stations in Leicester, Hinkley and Narborough, where the Midland Main Railway Line runs trains to London – Leicester to St Pancras - regularly. There are normally 70 trains running daily to London, the fastest taking approximately an hour. Rothley is ninety-three miles south-south-east from London and the closest airport is in Castle Donnington, the East Midlands Airport.
The village of Rothley is probably described as Rodolei in the 1086 Domesday Book, a Saxon word meaning ‘meadow in a clearing.’ Evidence of its Saxon ancestry can be found in the church graveyard, where there is a large cross dating to the period. Owned by the Crown at the time of King William I, it is also known for the manor occupied by the Knights Templar in the Middle Ages. Presently, the Rothley Court Hotel occupies the building.
Today, the village has a medical centre, pharmacy, a variety of shops, post office, library and recreational amenities such as parks but as Rothley is centrally located and within easy reach of major towns, the amenities on offer are extensive. These towns have edge of town super stores and uniquely bespoke shops, restaurants, sports venues, public houses, cafes and parks. For an even greater variety of entertainment including theatres, the cosmopolitan city of Leicester with its diverse cultural influences is on hand. There are many public houses including ‘The Woodies’ and ‘The Bluebell Inn’ which serve locally brewed ales and food. Some venues provide a takeaway service. For a comprehensive understanding of the local services in the area it is advisable to visit rothleyparishcouncil.org or discovercharnwood.co.uk/rothley.

Rothley’s post code is LE7 and dialling code is 0116. It is part of the United Kingdom’s parliamentary division of Charnwood, in the county shire of Leicestershire. Nearby villages include Mountsorrel, Sileby and Barrow upon Soar, and it is actually half a mile west of the River Soar itself. There are many countryside based attractions nearby including a cricket club, riding schools, golf clubs, the Ivanhoe tennis club, bowling and country parks. Local days out could be enjoyed in such places as Belvoir Castle, Bradgate park or Twycross Zoo. There are four churches in the village: the Methodist Church, The Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church, The Rothley Baptist Church and the Anglican parish church of St Mary and John the Baptist.
The majority of primary aged children attend Rothley Church of England Primary School but within the locality, there are many schools offering educational provision across the whole age range; nursery, primary, secondary, including private establishments offering bordering facilities. The Office for Standards in Education - OFSTED – is best researched to provide a comprehensive review of currently rated standards of practice.