Strawberry Cottage, Whaplode St Catherines

Strawberry Cottage Whaplode St Catherine | Lincolnshire

STRAWBERRY COTTAGE Strawberries & Cream For thirty years, an old two-up two-down has grown And blossomed to become this spacious pretty home.

With rooms to cosy-up beside the rustic fire, And others full of sun, the garden to admire; Its pool is just one asset - sheds and barns galore Provide a wealth of opportunities for business, hobbies and more.

Thirty years ago, a young couple stumbled across a neglected old two-up two-down cottage in a quiet spot away from it all, in the South Lincolnshire fens. With great enthusiasm, hopes and anticipation they bought the cottage (which had been built around 1850) from a neighbouring farm and proceeded to renovate it with gusto. A year or so later, the fruits of their labours had provided them with a quaint tiny home, which they called Strawberry Cottage due to the masses of wild strawberries that were flourishing in the surrounding garden.

Expanding Home “We have done everything on the place ourselves, right from the very start,” says the owner. “When we began a family we needed more space so we built on more rooms; we have just added to the property bit by bit over the years. Initially, we added the sitting room with the two bedrooms above for our daughters.

It is a house that has evolved from nothing to what it is today.” And today it is a really quite considerable home. Although used at present as a three bedroomed cottage, it could easily become four if you were to dispense with one of the many reception rooms, the study in particular being an obvious choice. For what looks like a small cottage, it is incredible how much space there is within it, and how large many of the rooms are. It is also nigh on impossible to distinguish which rooms are the new as they blend in so seamlessly with the old. There is a charming mix of typical cosy cottage rooms with low overhead ceiling beams and robust rustic fireplaces, and bright, light, open spaces in which to relax or entertain, giving you the best of both worlds. Two glazed additions on the south-facing corners of the cottage provide fabulous areas where outside meets in. The flow between rooms has been carefully considered with plenty of openings and doors between rooms and onto the beautifully designed decked area which is a sheltered suntrap.

Two Conservatories At the end of the kitchen, glazed double doors open into the timber-framed conservatory which is an L-shaped room fully glazed above a dwarf wall, painted

floorboards underfoot giving a beach-style feel to the space. Double doors open from here onto the decked area outside. Similarly, the garden room at the end of the house is timber-framed, fabulously warm, with a painted floor and has a door onto the garden.

“The conservatory gets so warm it is perfect for drying your laundry – it does it in seconds!” enthuses the owner. The house has an inviting air of relaxation about it, possibly due to the number of big comfy sofas everywhere you seem to turn! “We have eight sofas here! I’m not sure I will need all of those in the future so it is likely that some of the furniture will be available to purchase under separate negotiation.”

Rustic Style Kitchen The kitchen is in the centre of the house with square Spanish tiles covering the floor which extend through into the porch, utility and shower room. The room is aptly styled with handmade (by the owners, of course) painted timber units, set with a butler sink, and fitted with wooden worktops. A window overlooks the front of the property, and another over the side. There is space for a big fridge or fridge freezer through a door into a cloakroom off the kitchen with old quarry tiles underfoot, and another door from here into a downstairs shower room with a lavatory and sink, which also houses the washing machine.

Purdey-Style In a sense, an anomaly within the house is the red sitting room and study which are essentially one big room. Almost out-of-place with the rest of the house by the fact that it isn’t decorated in whites and pale greys in a Nordic fashion, it is like a room from a gentleman’s club, which is pretty much exactly what it is! “Having been let into the Long Room at Purdey’s in Mayfair, and being so taken with it, it sparked the idea to mimic this Long Room, so that is just what we did!” reflects the owner. “We used to have a huge table in there and I would cater for twenty-five men sitting round the table – it was a lovely big annual event!” An extremely cosy room, especially since painted red, it has an open fireplace at one end, and a study area at the far end of the room.

Strawberries & Cream • • • • • • • • • •

Possibly One of South Lincolnshire’s Most Enchanting Cottages Lovingly Extended and Renovated by the Current Owners Reception Room, Dining Room, Sun Room & Garden Room Cottage Style Kitchen/Breakfast Room with Boot Room & Utility.

Ground Floor Living or 4th Bedroom with Adjacent Shower Room.

Upstairs Three Bedrooms (2 doubles & 1 single) with Family Bathroom Secluded Gardens, Decked Rear Garden with Small Swimming Pool A Variety of Outbuildings Please see List Below Smallholding of Circa 3.5 acres (stms) Available Opposite Under Separate Negotiation Accommodation extends to 2,094 sq. ft.

Strawberry Cottage Outbuildings: • • • • • • •

Outbuilding 1: Three Storage Rooms and two Dog Kennels Outbuilding 2: Garage/Workshop with Inspection Pit plus Store Room with Hobby Room above the Garage Outbuilding 3: Stable, Tack Room and Open Cart Port Outbuilding 4: Double Open Cart Port Outbuilding 5: Double Garage, Dance Studio, Open Storage Outbuilding 6 & 7: Wooden Tool Shed and Plant Room for Pool Outbuilding 8: Former Farm Shop or Office

Venturing up the turning timber stairs from the dining room with its log-burner in the fireplace, you find three charming bedrooms and a traditional-style bathroom with its free-standing roll-top bath, old cast-iron radiator, and tongue-andgroove panelling. “We found the old bath somewhere in North Norfolk when we very first came here. I’ve always loved it with its bullet taps,” muses the owner. It should be noted that the property is in an immaculate condition as the owner is a perfectionist, as well as having artistic flair, evidence being in the way prize finds and favourite knick-knacks are displayed in such a thoughtful way. Attention to detail is certainly paramount.

Perfect for Parties “This house is a perfect place for parties; there is so much room for entertaining – we’ve had six in the dining room, four in the kitchen, six in the conservatory, six in the garden room, eight on the decking, and six at another collapsible table outside!

There is never a shortage of places to sit!” she laughs. “You can have your breakfast wherever you fancy!” It is a wonderful family home too with the pool, and such a spacious garden. “The girls loved it as teenagers, as well as when they were little.

Over the years we’ve had so many amazing parties.” The pool was dug by the owners when the children were small, and is heated by pipes on the conservatory roof.

Numerous Outbuildings

We have done everything on the place ourselves, right from the very start.

When we began a family we needed more space so we built on more rooms; we have just added to the property bit by bit over the years. It is a house that has evolved from nothing to what it is today”

Not only has the house expanded over the years but so too have the outbuildings.

There are numerous ones, some tiny, some medium and some large, some timberclad and some brick. A single garage as a workshop with inspection pit has a hobby room up above; a double garage with two

pairs of double doors has a dance studio adjoining it; an open fronted barn to the front of the property would hold two cars; there are several garden sheds and storage rooms and adjoining dog kennels and runs; there’s a stable, and an open cart shed with a tack room in between. As well as all this, there is even a timber-clad shop as you approach up the gravel drive! We are told: “I used to have a veg shop at the front of the house as I grew my own vegetables in a potager, until we decided to dig the swimming pool in its place!”

Private and Peaceful Garden The garden is a delight. Spacious lawns and grassy areas, broken by the gravel drive, and bordered by trees are to the front of the cottage, whilst at the back it is particularly sheltered making it a perfect area for the decking and pool, and for a place to sit in the sun. A wall runs along the back of the garden behind the pool, and hurdle fencing and hedging borders the sides. “It is a very private garden, especially good for sunbathing!” laughs the owner. “It’s funny to think there were no trees here when we came, when you look around at all the greenery. It’s silent here apart from the birds, and it’s wonderful on summer evenings opening all the doors onto the back garden. It has been the most lovely place to live. Walking the dogs is such a pleasure as you can walk for miles straight onto fields at the back, and there’s a big river that they can swim in. There are stunning sunsets from here too.” Strawberry Cottage really does seem to be an idyllic family home, thanks to the labours of love bestowed upon it for the last thirty years by its creative and energetic owners, and being in the catchment for such excellent state schools of Spalding High and Spalding Grammar, it is certainly a bit of a gem.

We found the old bath somewhere in North Norfolk when we very first came here. I’ve always loved it with its bullet taps�

This house is a perfect place for parties; there is so much room for entertaining – we’ve had six in the dining room, four in the kitchen, six in the conservatory, six in the garden room, eight on the decking, and six at another collapsible table outside! There is never a shortage of places to sityou can have your breakfast wherever you fancy!”

Not only has the house expanded over the years but so too have the outbuildings. There are numerous ones, some tiny, some medium and some large, some timberclad and some brick�

Energy Graph

Additional Information LOCAL AUTHORITY South Holland District Council Council Tax Band - B AGENTS NOTES: Mains Electricity and Water. Septic Tank. Oil Fired Central Heating These particulars, whilst believed to be accurate, are set out as a general outline only for guidance and do not constitute any part of an offer or contract. Intending purchasers should not rely on them as statements of representation of fact, but must satisfy themselves by inspection or otherwise as to their accuracy. No person in the employment of Fine & Country or Norfolk Country Properties has the authority to make or give any representation or warranty in respect of the property.

We would also point out that we have not tested any of the appliances and purchasers should make their own enquiries to the relevant authorities regarding the connection of any services.

Norfolk Country Properties. Registered in England and Wales No. 06777456.

Registered Office - 15B Regatta Quay, Key Street, Ipswich, IP4 1FH copyright Š 2017 Fine & Country Ltd.

Agents notes: The floor plans are for illustration purposes only. All measurements: walls, doors, window fittings and appliances and their sizes and locations are shown conventionally and are approximate only and cannot be regarded as being a representation either by the seller or his agent. Š Unauthorised reproduction prohibited.

Outbuildings

Agents notes: The floor plans are for illustration purposes only. All measurements: walls, doors, window fittings and appliances and their sizes and locations are shown conventionally and are approximate only and cannot be regarded as being a representation either by the seller or his agent. Š Unauthorised reproduction prohibited.

Location

Postcode for satellite navigation: PE12 6SF

On The Doorstep...

How Far Is It To...

Directions

Whaplode St. Catherines is a small village near Spalding. The village has a public house called the Bluebell Inn. Whaplode St Catherines is situated 4 miles north from Holbeach and 8 miles east from Spalding.

Spalding is a market town on the River Welland in the South Holland district of Lincolnshire. A vibrant and busy town centre, boasts a large number of unique independent shops and many well known high street nationals. You can visit many historical buildings, such as Ayscoughfee Hall and Gardens, the Chain Bridge Forge, a fantastic living museum and a host of amazing churches situated throughout the town and outlying villages. Just off the town centre, you can embark on a 30 minute cruise on the Spalding Water Taxi to Springfield’s Outlet Shopping Centre and award winning Festival Gardens.

Whaplode St Catherines lies 8 miles from the market town of Spalding with excellent state grammar schools, shopping and leisure facilities and 17 miles from Boston. The East Coast Rail Link runs from Peterborough which is 20 miles away, giving access to London with a journey time less than an hour or to the Midlands and North.

The Hanseatic town of King’s Lynn is 21 miles away and from here the popular North Norfolk coastline is less than an hour away. King’s Lynn has a direct rail links to London King’s Cross with a journey time of 1 hour and 40 minutes.

From King’s Lynn take the A47 westbound towards Peterborough.

Cross the River Great Ouse and at the major roundabout take the second exit onto the A17, signposted Sleaford. Continue on the A17 for approximately 10 miles and cross the River Nene at Sutton Bridge.

Remain on the A17 for another 4.1 miles (pass three roundabouts) and at the fourth roundabout take the first exit onto Cowper’s Gate /B1390 and then turn right onto St James Road/B1390. After approx. 1.5 miles turn right onto Wanton’s Cross Gate and then turn left onto Jarvis’s Gate.

Stay on this road for a mile and continue straight onto Horsemoor Drove.

Stay on this road for approx. 1 mile, then turn right onto Fishergate/B1165.

Continue to follow the B1165 for 3.8 miles, then turn right onto Mill Gate.

Strawberry Cottage will be shortly found on the left hand side clearly marked with our Fine & Country ‘For Sale’ board.

To arrange a viewing of this property please contact North & West Norfolk King’s Lynn Innovation Centre, Innovation Drive, King’s Lynn, Norfolk PE30 5BY Tel: 01553 769 100 www.fineandcountry.com If you have been thinking of selling and getting nowhere fast then the first move you should make is to contact an agent who can deliver outstanding results. Here at Fine & Country we know that our unique approach to selling houses works.

For more information on any of the services Fine & Country can offer, please call 01553 769 100 and speak to Jan von Draczek at our North & West Norfolk office. © All rights reserved by Norfolk Country Properties Ltd for the World outside the UK. Any unauthorised copying or publishing of either the words or photographs contained in this brochure will constitute an infringement of the copyright.

Spalding, 17 min drive

Wisbech, 22 min drive

Boston, 31 min drive

Peterborough, 33 min drive

Fine & Country Tel: +44 (0) 1553 769 100 kingslynn@fineandcountry.com King’s Lynn Innovation Centre, Innovation Drive, King’s Lynn, Norfolk, PE30 5BY