2 bedroom cottage

Wandering across the magnificent lawns at Newell Hall, the owners of pretty Gardeners Cottage remark on the unique lifestyle they enjoy. Their two-storey home is set within the former coach house and stables of the splendid, Grade II Listed country mansion. “The whole house dates back to the 1700s,” one of the owners explains. “It was originally a very large family home and then later became a nursing home. It was converted into 11 private dwellings about 15 years ago, which was when we moved in.” The exquisite Queen Anne house sits in some 2.4 acres of land, much of which is landscaped communal grounds. “We initially loved it because the grounds were amazing, and the setting was a little more rural than where we were before,” she recalls. “We can walk straight out from home and head off down some beautiful, tranquil country lanes.”

CHARACTER AND COMFORT

As soon as they saw the Warfield house itself, they realised it was perfect for them. “We loved the combination of the character and the modern living that it offered,” she admits. “It had a beautiful, wide front door, with an arched top; lovely arched windows and quite high ceilings. It was comfortable, safe and ready to move straight into. We knew we would be able to have our privacy and yet because of its setting it would also be an ideal ‘lock-up-and-leave’ house.”

SPACIOUS LIVING

Accessed via a charming, gated courtyard, the two-bedroom, red brick house, is entered via its private front door and then an inviting reception hall. This features a built-in cupboard, a staircase up to the first floor and a useful ground-floor cloakroom. The hall leads to the kitchen breakfast room, which is fitted out in cream units and has integrated appliances. A small breakfast bar is the perfect place to enjoy a cup of coffee over the Sunday papers, while also taking in the view out on to the courtyard. The main drawing and dining room, accessed via the inner hall, is where they spend most of their time, however. “This is a lovely spacious room, which is dual aspect,” she explains. “It is large enough for comfortable seating and a dining table and is great for entertaining.”

FLEXIBLE ARRANGEMENT

Both bedrooms in the house are up on the first floor. The master bedroom is especially large and has fitted wardrobes and an en suite bathroom, with a bath and shower. The second bedroom benefits from private use of the family bathroom, which has a bath. “The second bedroom doubles as a study, which has worked well for us,” she says. “Having the accommodation arranged across two floors has also been ideal.”

A QUIET LIFE

On warm days, the owners like to sit out at the table and chairs in the sheltered courtyard. “We enjoy the sun out here in the morning,” she explains. “The garden is wonderful throughout the day, with plenty of sunshine, as well as shade, to relax in. It is lovely to have the benefit of these beautifully maintained gardens without having to do any of the work.” She adds: “This is such a peaceful place – from the back of the house we look out over a field with sheep in. I think that is one of the things I will miss most when we leave.”

HAPPY TIMES

Despite its semi-rural setting, Gardeners Cottage is in a convenient position for reaching schools, shops and train stations. “We are only a couple of miles from Bracknell and the recently renovated Lexicon Centre, with its shops, bowling alley, cinema and water world,” she observes. “We can catch trains into London from Bracknell and Ascot and are in a good position for picking up main roads and motorways, including to the airports: we are approximately half an hour’s drive from Heathrow.” The location of the house is also perfect for heading off for the day to places such as Windsor, Ascot, Henley and Marlow, as well as reaching golf clubs, the racecourse and leisure centres. “There are lots of nice places around here to go for walks or to wander around the shops,” she adds. “We have been very happy here. It has provided a perfect balance of everything.”

SETTING THE SCENE

Gardeners Cottage is set within the 2.4-acre communal grounds of Newell Hall. It benefits from a courtyard to the front. There are also substantial lawned gardens that include a feature pond. The property comes with allocated parking for two vehicles.