5 bedroom character property

HISTORIC HOUSE ON THE CELEBRATED GAYHURST ESTATE - WITH MAGNIFICENT CENTRAL LIVING SPACE

This impressive family home is probably the largest of the beautiful stone mews homes within the grounds of Gayhurst House, the magnificent Grade I-listed Elizabethan country manor. With use of the tennis courts and surrounded by wonderful parkland and lakes, No. 10 has its own walled garden and over 3000 square feet of space, with five bedrooms, lovely bespoke kitchen and spectacular sitting and dining room, not to mention double garage and parking for numerous cars - all in an historic, peaceful, stately home setting that cannot fail to inspire adults and children alike.

Built on the site of a Roman villa, Gayhurst House was given by Elizabeth 1st to Sir Francis Drake as a reward for his Armada triumph, was later home of the Digby family of Gunpowder plot infamy and has variously been a satellite of the Bletchley Park codebreakers and a school, before becoming exclusive apartments. The influence of the esteemed architect, William Burgess, can be seen throughout, not least at No. 10 in the turrets at either end.

Within a short drive of Milton Keynes, its fast trains to London and elsewhere, as well as its shopping centre and leisure facilities, and just a cycle ride or footpath walk away, across the beautiful River Great Ouse, to Newport Pagnell, Gayhurst Court Mews has every amenity close by, while enjoying the most wonderful parkland, pond and immaculately maintained communal gardens, the grounds originally having been laid out by the great English landscape designers, Capability Brown and Humphry Repton.

Wander to the monthly Sunday service at the splendid Georgian church of St Peter, fish in the lakes (fishing club membership needed), play tennis on the courts or, with agreement, host a major family function within the grounds – all with the perfect backdrop of one of the finest houses in the Country. The 18th century poet, William Cowper, who lived in the nearby market town of Olney, felt privileged to be allowed to walk with friends in “…the prettiest place in the country.” Imagine living here.

ABOUT THE PROPERTY

Pootling past the lakes along the private drive, sheep grazing to either side, horses gambolling in the paddocks; passing the beautiful church and magnificent manor house, before pulling through electric doors into your garage and wandering across the mews past the stone barn you share with a couple of others, you can’t help basking in the beauty all around you, not least of your own, stone and old clay-tiled home. You’ve arrived - in every sense. Such is the future for the fortunate new owner of No. 10.

One word can never be far from the lips of anyone who passes through the impressive, porcelain-tiled, entrance hall, before stepping through one of the wonderful, unusually wide, original doors into the breathtaking, central living space: Wow! Beautiful beams, arches, niches, ceiling detail spectacularly echoing the manor’s parterre, light dancing through stone mullion windows onto the wooden floor, the striking, lofty, curved window from where the chef used to watch over what was once the kitchen for the main house, and later the school refectory. Dinner parties here - any parties – are extra special.

Cooking is a joy, using top of the range Siemens appliances built into handmade, in-frame, painted furniture, topped by beautiful quartz. This is a kitchen as perfect for guests milling around the island, glass of wine in hand, display cabinets lit up, as for family get-togethers around the breakfast table. This is a home as perfect for entertaining as for raising a boisterous family. How could any child, or guest for that matter, not love clambering up the spiral staircase in one of the turrets to their bedrooms overlooking the mews.

All five bedrooms are dripping in character, not least the main bedroom, with dressing area within the second turret. Tall, sloping ceilings, gorgeous timbers, stylish bathrooms, elegant Jotul multifuel stove to relax around, all combine to make a fabulous family home. Not to mention the existing, parquet-floored salon – a playroom, family snug, or a teenage sanctuary beneath their bedrooms, perhaps? One thing’s for sure, the delightful (especially come spring) walled garden, watched over by Cerberus, together with the courtyard and communal grounds, has something for all ages. Home and gardens like no other.