The Old School

KEY FEATURES

Just south of the city of Peterborough, a recently refurbished conversion of an Edwardian school provides a substantial amount of versatile living space ideal for a modern lifestyle. The original feeling of space has been retained with large, light-filled rooms and vaulted ceilings featuring their support structures. Reception rooms are in abundance and although currently a four bedroom home, it could easily have another bedroom if required. The old playground makes a delightful rear garden predominantly gravelled for parking but with areas to sit and capture the sun whatever the time of day.

The location of the property is superb if wanting a quiet village lifestyle but in need of easy access to road and rail links for travelling further afield. It is situated just a 10 minute drive into Peterborough town centre with its magnificent cathedral and shopping precinct for a wide range of shops, cafes and restaurants, and the train station where fast trains reach London King’s Cross in 45 minutes. The property is also just 10 minutes from the A1 and close to other trunk roads to different parts of the country. There are plenty of schools for younger children nearby and a well-regarded academy for older children less than a mile away.

The current owners came here charmed by the history of the property as well as its excellent location. They also saw potential to improve the property and bring it into the twenty-first century. “We chose to live at The Old School for lots of reasons,” say the owners. “We liked that both primary and secondary schools were within walking distance and there are local horse-riding stables. We also liked the close prox imity of Crown Lakes County Park and being near the Green Wheel [a 20 mile circular cycle route around the area outside the city] with easy access to the fen and not far from the River Nene and Ferry Meadows Country Park. We have also liked being just minutes to the A1 and into the centre of the city as well as having an easy commute to London and Cambridge.”

The approach to The Old School is delightful with wrought iron entrance gates between curved stone walls on the corner of Main Street and Middle Street in the heart of Farcet village. The impressive original arched entrance has original double doors set well back within the striking façade whilst the gravelled drive leads round to the back for parking and where further entrances lead into the property.

Presented in immaculate order with extraordinarily large, double-glazed windows that allow the sun to stream in along the south side, and original - now painted - wooden floorboards underfoot, the current owners have very sensibly linked up ground floor rooms. Previously the two halves of the school did not connect internally so double doors have been introduced between the living room and a newly established dining room with brand new Sunlite windows, forming a welcome free flow between all areas. Many of the old school cast iron radiators have been kept and make a nice feature. In one corner of the dining room, the current owners have dispensed with a fixed second staircase that used to lead up to a 20 foot long room above the now bar area. Instead, a retractable ladder can easily be pulled down to access this space which has a window over the front.

Leading from the side of the dining room, a previous home office area is now a sizeable bar with seating area and television point, perfect for those who love to party! The huge, originally main assembly hall, an around 20 foot square space on the south-eastern end, is reached through a door at the end within incredibly tall bi-fold doors, now a seriously impressive gym. However, if you are not inclined to fitness on this kind of scale, the room, with its high vaulted ceiling and door to the outside, offers all manner of uses, perhaps an art or yoga studio or a games room for youngsters. Doors from both the bar area and the gym open into a utility room where there is access to a downstairs WC and double doors onto the rear garden and parking area.

The dual aspect kitchen breakfast room has recently been completely refurbished with a new, tiled floor and new contemporary units that incorporate an electric range-style cooker, an integrated fridge freezer and a microwave. A wide archway leads into the adjoining entrance hall from the front although the most frequently used entrance is at the back near where a ground floor bedroom enjoys an en suite and a wall of built-in wardrobes. This adjoins a garden room with bi-folding doors onto the paved terrace which is the room that might be altered into a fifth bedroom if desired, especially since there is a bathroom almost opposite.

The living room is situated in the centre of the house accessible connected with the kitchen and the dining room through fully glazed French doors and also accessible from the inner hallway outside the garden room and bathroom. This spacious room is flooded with natural light thanks to Sunlite windows and benefits from an open fire and floor to ceiling wall cupboards and shelves.

The staircase from the living room leads up to a galleried landing and the three other bedrooms. The huge master bedroom with big windows on the front gable end and another over the garden, previously an upstairs living and games room, has a log-burner in a fireplace in one corner. Now carpeted and fitted with contemporary wardrobes either side, it is a luxurious light space thanks to its dual aspect. Directly outside on the landing is a WC with washbasin which also serves the other two first floor bedrooms. A long, walk-in storage area with a rooflight is in the eaves of the roof, accessed from the landing.

Outside, the former school playground predominantly surrounded by walls and with several mature trees, acts as a beautifully landscaped rear garden, with the old school changing rooms now being used for garden tools and storage. Neatly clipped, dwarf box hedging is a feature for borders around the gravelled parking area that comfortably takes up to five cars. A little octagonal summerhouse sits in a corner for full af ternoon and evening sun whilst a paved terrace directly adjoining the house is perfect for a morning coffee or alfresco dining. At the front beside the entrance, a delightful relic is an old pump which feeds water from a well, apparently the only water in that part of the village over a century ago! Conversely, the house is alarmed and has CCTV cameras to the front and rear.

Farcet has a village hall and a former period chapel down the street and an active Church of St. Mary’s adjoining a green with a children’s playground, is at the far end.

The owners enthuse, “Farcet is a quiet village which has a great community feel.

There is a beautiful church, lots of walks and bike riding from our doorstep. A lot of people have lived here most of their lives and all are very friendly. We absolutely love our home and what we have created but now the children have left home it’s time for another family to appreciate it.”

District Council

Council Tax Band: F

SERVICES: Mains Electricity, Water and Drainage, Gas Central Heating

TENURE: Freehold

DISCLAIMER:

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 Rutland 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.

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. © Unauthorised reproduction prohibited.

Rutland Country Properties. Registered in England and Wales No. 11897195 Registered Office - 27-29 Old Market, Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, PE13 1NE

Copyright © 2022 Fine & Country Ltd.

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