The Conservation Area

In October 1975 an area of particular architectural and historical significance within the centre of Syston, a town within the Midlands county of Leicestershire, was deemed worthy to be awarded conservation status. To qualify for this listing, buildings had to be notably important to maintain their cultural assets, being recognisably still in their original form. Into this category Garden House occupies a prominent position along High Street and plays its part in the historical provenance of an area occupied over many centuries. It is a Grade II listed Georgian property, possibly built in the late eighteenth century and has been officially registered, bearing a plaque on the exterior wall. Consisting of four bedrooms, three reception rooms, a family bathroom, two separate cloakrooms, and a large breakfast kitchen with separate utility and a cellar, this is a property that has been preserved and well maintained. It was and continues to be, a lovely, bespoke home of character and substance.
The original village of Syston is believed to have spread out from the location of the parish church and village green, and Garden House is within a short walk from each, nestled amongst other properties of historical note and commanding a position within the story of the town’s development. This property has all the benefits of being centrally located for services, amenities and entertainment, while views of the surrounding countryside provide an alternative and attractive dimension. This is an ideal location for those who appreciate the diversity of living within a conservation preserve while also being within a short distance away from the many delights of rural Leicestershire, the richly cosmopolitan centre of the city itself or wider afield, with easy access to an array of national and international transport networks.

Tastefully Georgian

Garden House reflects the elegance and sophistication of the Georgian influence - essentially 1714 to 1830 - apparent in its architectural proportions and symmetry. It is a red brick, two storied house with a Swithland slate roof, chimney stacks at the end of the gables and sash windows. The windows are divided into sixteen panes with broad architraves and an ornate central front door, with six panels, clustered shafts and consoles, and an over light, shielded above by a flat canopy. The house is directly entered from the pavement and has a gated drive leading to a garage and second entrance to the side, with downstairs cloakroom immediately to the right upon entry.

Reception rooms and kitchen

The central hall has an original feature staircase in mellowed oak, with darkened newel post, handrail and balusters. It is carpeted and rises above the contrasting parquet wooden flooring that runs into the sitting and living room. In expertly fitted swaths of blocks or herring boned patterns, these smooth hard wood floors create a rich background to reflect white painted woodwork and neutrally painted walls. The interior doors are panelled and made from naturally stained and varnished wood.

Below the staircase, the cellar steps lead to a large storage area below the first floor that has been fitted with work tops and cupboards.

There are three reception rooms. They are equally well proportioned and are easily interchangeable for purpose or function, depending on household needs or straightforward preference. The first door on the left leads to the sitting room. This room is airy and light, with a rustic brick fireplace and a three quarter wall height period mantelpiece, with a coal effect gas fire in the open hearth. A picture rail, cornicing and exposed beam add decorative elements to this room that looks to the road and has two interior doors at either side of the fireplace leading into the dining room. There is an exterior door with access to the rear patio and garden.

The dining room is a later addition to the original structure and has duel aspect windows to the front and rear. The ceiling here is tongue and groove, with cornicing, plainly painted walls and parquet flooring. It is presently being used as a living room. The door directly opposite the front door in the hall leads to the living room. Here, the present owners have maximised the space to create a dining area closer to the kitchen while having enough room to have a cosy sitting arrangement of furniture around the log burner, set within the open fireplace and chimney. This is a lovely room with exposed beams, arched window recesses and a double door allowing access to the Victorian style glass orangery: a perfect place to enjoy the outside inside and enjoy exotic plants. It leads to the utility room tucked out of sight towards the rear of the house. This provides a separate sink with cupboards and all the electrical and plumbing requirements for laundry, in easy reach of the garden.

Crossing the living room, the characterful white Shaker style breakfast kitchen provides another place to eat in, with a window looking towards the road this time. The arrangement of floor and wall units provides ample storage and working top space. White wooden wall panelling contrasts with the engineered pine floorboards, splash back tiling around the black range and plainly painted walls. An antique pine larder cupboard, wine rack and integrated appliances. The kitchen has another door which opens into the lobby with the outside side door to the drive. This practical arrangement means that once a car has been parked on site, the house can be entered from the side. The remaining door in the kitchen opens into the entrance hall.

Bedrooms

There are four bedrooms in this property, one towards the rear with countryside views, three towards the front and they all have floor to ceiling integrated Moir Wade white fitted wardrobes. The three largest are double rooms. All of them are similarly carpeted and decorated to a high standard, with blinds fitted to all the windows.

The family bathroom has windows to two sides, a large bath with middle taps, ceramic tiles on the floor and walls, a walk-in shower unit, toilet and basin. As with downstairs, there is a separate cloakroom consisting of toilet and basin. The bathing facilities, plumbing and tiling have been fitted with quality furniture and accessories and maintained to a high standard throughout the property.

A private retreat

The beautiful rear garden has a greenhouse, a shed and a building supplied with mains electricity and is presently used as a studio. There is access to the garage further along the patio, which has a large window at one end and easily houses a work bench.
Closest to the house, a courtyard area with low walling and bedding create a lovely patio and from here, views of the established walled garden with trees, a lawn, flower beds and shrubbery can be appreciated. The spire of St Peter’s is distinguishable, rising above the trees and distant roof tops, and it does not take a strong imagination to realise how this beautiful Georgian house gained its name.

Syston

Syston is a town in a region known as the East Midlands, in the county of Leicestershire. The Midlands are essentially central to everything in England: airports, motorways and train stations are easily accessible. For example, the East Midlands airport is only 20 miles away, London is approximately 107 miles away and it is possible to visit the seaside for a day trip! The M1, M69 and M6 maximise the potential for travel by road from this central location. The villages of Thurmaston, Birstall, Wanlip and Thurcaston are close by. Syston is well served by several bus companies and is one of many settlements in the Wreake valley between Leicester and Melton. It lies just north of Barkby Brook and close to the confluence of the Rivers Wreake and Soar. The Fosse Way – an old Roman highway – is half a mile to the west.
Situated five miles north-east of Leicester city centre, with an LE7 postcode, Syston is in the civil parish of Charnwood and due to its popularity and subsequent growth, officially changed from being a village in 1987. To retain its cultural assets, a conservation area of special architectural and historical interest was designated around the core of the original settlement area to preserve Syston’s character and appearance. The original settlement is believed to be Anglo-Saxon due to the nucleated shape of the village around the Anglican Church, (St Peter’s is Grade I listed), the pattern of streets and the inclusion of the village green which is still present on High Street. The conservation area includes the historical buildings on either side of High Street, bounded by Melton Road, Grade II listed.
In the 1086 Domesday survey there were 30 people living in Syston or Sitestone, as it was identified then, and the area had a priest in attendance and a working mill. The light sandy soil allowed farming to flourish and an open field system plus large areas of meadow and communal grazing on Great Moor, to the north-east of the village, was the main occupation until the arable land became more profitable to be used as pasture for livestock, which was then sold in markets held locally in such places as Leicester. By the late seventeenth century the population in Syston had grown and continued to increase as the Soar Navigation canal opened in 1792 and then the railway line and station in 1840.
Today, the town continues to thrive and offer its residents an array of amenities with national chains and many independent traders creating a bespoke retail community. It can also boast many eateries and public houses. The Syston & District Social Club was featured in the 2019 CAMRA Good Beer Guide while there are many others like the Dog and Gun, the Gate Hangs Well and the Beer Pharmacie. The Continental Café, Occasions Rea Room or Hobby Horse Farmhouse are among establishments providing non-alcoholic treats while an array of international restaurants provide a wonderful selection of food.
Syston’s town council operates from the community centre and looks after parks, football pitches, a sports pavilion, a skate park and BMX track to name but a few. contains a wealth of information about services, community news and national events. In 2019 the council was awarded a silver medal in the East Midlands in Bloom competition. Syston offers medical services: the Jubilee Medical Practice and Syston Health Centre. There are several dental practices in the vicinity too. The Post Office is located on High Street and the library is near to the local primary school, St Peter and St Paul’s Church of England Academy. There are a number of additional educational facilities in the area offering provision for all ages including Eastfield Academy and Wreake Valley. The Office for Standards in Education - OFSTED – is best researched to provide a comprehensive review of currently rated standards of practice.