7 bedroom detached house for sale

A FINE EXAMPLE OF A FORMER RECTORY WITH ADDITIONAL DETACHED COTTAGE SET WITHIN PRIVATE GARDENS OF HALF AN ACRE ADJACENT TO THE VILLAGE CHURCH.

The Old Rectory is an elegant and historical property dating from the 16th Century with later additions in the 18th Century. The house enjoys a prominent and private south facing position in the heart of the village and set with a delightful backdrop of St. Luke’s Parish church.

In our clients’ ownership the house has been carefully restored and The Old Rectory has a timeless charm with light, well-proportioned rooms, the majority of which take full advantage of views over the half acre gardens.

Many of the original features remain including a superb reception hall with balustrade staircase, ribbon panelled and boss ceiling, flagstone flooring, original fireplaces, fresco painted ceiling, shuttered sash windows and secret doors revealing a Priest Hole. The accommodation is arranged over three floors with formal reception rooms perfect for entertaining and family living with seven bedrooms over the upper two floors, all of which can be arranged to suit your lifestyle.

Accessed from the main drive the detached cottage offers 1,936 sq ft of living space and is an ideal independent annex for an extended family, nanny, Air BnB income potential or the much in demand home office complex.

Completing the property, the house stands in a delightful part walled garden with its own gated access to the church and parking for ten vehicles or more.

For the commuter, access to London Euston is from 30 minutes via Leighton Buzzard station just 4 miles away and the M1 and A5 are all within easy reach. Independent schooling is available at Swanborne, Akeley Wood, Stowe and lies in the catchment area for the well-regarded Grammar schooling in Aylesbury and Buckingham.

A viewing is highly recommended to appreciate the endearing qualities and location on offer at The Old Rectory.

ACCOMMODATION

A portico surround flanks a pair of solid wood doors which enter into an inner porch and further doors to a most impressive reception hall. A fine balustrade staircase rises to the first floor and the ceiling is panelled with ribbon and boss detailing along with flagstone and quarry tiled flooring which flow to the living room, cloakroom and a second staircase lies at the rear of the hall.
To left of the hall, the sitting room is dual aspect with a tall bay window to the front and a part glazed doors lead to the west facing garden terrace. The room has a marble fireplace with open grate and hearth along with an original corniced ceiling. A double door and a secret bookcase fronted door provide access to the study/family room which features a quality range of bespoke bookcases and shelving. A central fireplace houses a log burner stove and echoing the sitting room the ceiling has fine cornicing and frieze detailing.
With a pleasant view to the front the dining room has a fine multi-paned bay window allowing light to flood into the room and is full of character including a fresco painted ceiling, a period fireplace surround and grate with a glazed mirror panelled wall, one of which conceals a secret doorway to the family breakfast room. With the relevant consents the dining room and breakfast could create a large kitchen if required.
Dating from the 16th Century the rear portion of the house provides more intimate living with the breakfast room having an original inglenook fireplace with exposed brick and beam work, log burning stove, quarry tiled flooring and an oak corner cupboard. Flowing from here, the kitchen and breakfast area have a door to the courtyard garden and cottage. The kitchen is fitted with a range of base and wall units, plate rack with a Villeroy and Boch sink unit and work surfaces over and an under-counter dishwasher. A Nobel oil fired range provides cooking facilities and is supplemented by a built-in electric hob and oven. Beyond the kitchen a most useful utility room has a further range of base and wall units with washing machine space, a Worcester gas boiler and a walk-in pantry has original ‘cold’ shelf and game/meat hooks.

FIRST FLOOR

The landing mirrors the reception hall with a super ribbon and boss ceiling with pediment scroll work. There is a seating area with useful cupboards and book shelves and a tall sash window offers a pleasant elevated view over the garden. A staircase also rises to the upper floor and there is an airing cupboard which houses a Megaflow hot water cylinder.
The principal bedroom is a delightful light and well-proportioned room with views to the front and features decorative panelling, an original fireplace and ceiling bosses. A door leads to the ensuite which has a free-standing bath, wash basin, wc and a window to the side. The ensuite has an interconnecting door to the second bedroom to provide a Jack & Jill facility if required.
Bedroom two is set to the northern corner and has a cast iron fireplace, ceiling frieze work and a range of shelving. There are three further double bedrooms on this floor – all of which enjoy views over the church or gardens and are served by two shower rooms. From the rear stairs and landing there is a walk-in linen cupboard and a book case opens to reveal the entrance to a ‘Priest Hole’ which has steps up to a similar disguised mirror entrance in the fourth bedroom.

SECOND FLOOR

The upper floor offers a large landing area with two further double bedrooms and a bathroom comprising bath, wash basin and wc.

THE COTTAGE

The cottage has its own independent access from the drive coupled with a cathedral door and external staircase leading down to the courtyard garden for the main house.

On the ground floor there is an entrance hall which flows to a sitting room, kitchen and utility and there are two bedrooms and a bathroom.

The kitchen is a good size dual aspect room with ample space for table and chairs and is fitted with a range of base and eye level cupboards and a double sink unit with mixer taps. A cooker housing features an oil-fired Nobel range and a cupboard houses the boiler. Providing extra useful storage, the utility room has assorted cupboards, a sink unit and a pantry.
From the sitting room a staircase rises to the first floor. Here there are two large living areas – one of which is currently a games room and the other a second living room which features a ‘cathedral door’ and access to the courtyard staircase and sliding picture doors open onto a useable balcony which offers a pleasant seating area and views over the garden.

THE GROUNDS

The property is approached via double entrance gates which lead to a large gravel driveway providing ample parking and the gardens. With shaped lawns set to the south of the house the garden is walled and is stocked with many mature shrubs and trees including Scots pine, silver birch, laurel and yew all creating a good degree of privacy. A secluded west facing terrace offers an ideal area for a late evening drink whilst there is a walled courtyard connecting the house and the cottage which has the private gate to the church. A brick store conceals the oil tank for the house.

Within the garden there is a large timber workshop which could provide the space for a garage (subject to consents) along with a garden shed and children’s Wendy House hidden amongst the trees.

The cottage itself also has a garden and seating area to the front with clipped privet hedging and planted flower beds.

LOCATION

The village of Stoke Hammond provides local facilities including a village shop with post office and public house. In addition, there are recreational areas which also include a sports club. The world-renowned Woburn Golf Club with its three championship courses is only six miles away. A bus service runs to High Ash School and the village is in the catchment area for the renowned Buckinghamshire Grammar schools. There is also a selection of public schools within the area including Swanbourne, Akeley Wood, Stowe and the Harpur Trust schools in Bedford. Milton Keynes is close by providing extensive shopping and leisure facilities together with mainline railway station providing a link to London. Train services are also available from Leighton Buzzard to Euston from only 30 minutes and the A5 provides access to the M1 motorway. Air travel is available locally at Luton, with Heathrow, Stansted and Gatwick further afield.

PROPERTY INFORMATION
Services:
House: Mains drains, water, electricity and LPG central heating – oil-fired range.
Cottage: Mains drains, water, electricity, electric central heating and oil-fired range.
Listed Grade II: Reference 1291470
Local Authority: Buckinghamshire Council.
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Outgoings: Council Tax Band “H”
Tenure: Freehold.
EPC Rating: Exempt
Viewing: Strictly by appointment through the sole agents Jackson-Stops. 1 Market Place, Woburn, MK17 9PZ. Tel -[use Contact Agent Button]