Brook House 27 Mill Road | Great Gransden | Sandy | Cambridgeshire | SG19 3AG Brook House Cover.indd 3
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BROOK HOUSE Brook House is a charming and imposing residence set in a plot of approximately 2 acres at the heart of the well-regarded Cambridgeshire village of Great Gransden. “The house was built in 1939 and was owned by the former Queen Marie of Yugoslavia as a residence for her son, King Peter II and his staff. Our late King George VI and the late Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother were godparents to King Peter. After King Peter II married Princess Alexandra of Greece & Denmark, their baby son (now Crown Prince Alexander) was born at Claridges in Suite 212 which was temporarily designated as Yugoslavian territory. Crown Prince Alexander’s godparents were King George VI and Princess Elizabeth (our Queen Elizabeth).The baby was brought back to Brook House to live. A worker on the nearby Waresley Estate told the current owners that his uncle, Geoffrey Church, was butler to King Peter II and he lived at Brook House with the King. According to a lady in the village, who lived in the village when King Peter lived here, the Canadian troops stationed at Great Grandson Airfield would salute as they passed our house. Churchill visited the village and was photographed with King Peter II near the Church,” say the current owners.
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Solid oak front door with glazed insert to: ENTRANCE HALL Leaded light window to front aspect. Stairs to first floor landing with door to understairs storage cupboard. Covered radiator.
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GROUND FLOOR SHOWER ROOM Leaded light window to side aspect. Three piece suite comprising a walk-in shower cubicle with glass screen, vanity unit with inset hand wash basin with mixer tap, and door to low level WC with concealed cistern and window to front aspect. Fully tiled. Extractor. Heated towel rail.
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STUDY 2.50m x 2.25m Window to sun room. Built-in storage cupboards. Electric meters.
DINING ROOM 4.00m x 3.95m Leaded light window to side aspect. Picture rail. Two radiators.
DRAWING ROOM 7.60m x 6.30m Two leaded light bay windows to side aspect with French doors, leading to courtyard garden. Leaded light window to rear aspect. Leaded light French doors to sun room. Cornicing and ceiling roses. Open fireplace with stone surround and hearth. Floor hatch to wine cellar under part of floor. TV point. Mahogany floor. Three radiators.
KITCHEN BREAKFAST ROOM 5.05m x 4.00m Leaded light window to side aspect. Door to larder with leaded light window to front aspect. Fitted with a range of base and wall mounted units with solid wood worksurfaces. Brick-built recess with timber bressumer and tiled splashbacks housing three-door AGA. Ceramic butler sink with swan-neck mixer tap. Built-in Bosch oven and hob with extractor over. Integral dishwasher. Tiled splashbacks. TV point. Cupboard enclosing radiator.
SUN ROOM 8.40m x 2.40m Window to both side aspects. Door to side aspect. Window and sliding door to rear aspect. Three velux windows. Tiled floor. Electric heater. Large sliding glass door to:
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Seller Insight “The location and the house itself are ideal,” say the current owners, “with the feeling of being immersed in nature, but with the facilities of modern life. Having lived in the neighbouring village previously, we knew how lovely the area was, rural, but still convenient for amenities.” The house has undergone extensive refurbishment and improvement over the last 32 years by the current owners, still retaining many period features and the feeling of grandeur. “We have made stylistic changes such as the removal of the artificial ceiling in the sitting room and the addition of a double bay window facing the courtyard garden to create a lighter, brighter space,” they say. “We also created a doublewidth doorway between two bedrooms to suit myself and my little boy, as well as converted the old garage to a playroom and built a new garage. The sitting room is fabulous for entertaining, particularly at Christmas with a full height tree and a real fire. In summer, we open the double doors to the courtyard garden and sit with guests enjoying a cool glass of white wine with the sound of the fountain.” Accessed through a sweeping gated driveway, which leads to a modern oak-frame heritage garage and carport, the main house is nestled within stunning wrap around gardens. Within the grounds there is a lawned tennis court, as well as a covered and heated salt water swimming pool complete with pool house. “The gardens are lovely for a family,” say the owners, “beautifully landscaped with colourful trees and naturalised flowers, but informal enough for children to feel as though they are going out into nature, as it is in their picture books! My son has enjoyed collecting twigs for a bonfire and roasting marshmallows over the flames. We get a lot of wildlife and birds here too, from Muntjac deer to hedgehogs, spotted flycatchers to greater spotted and green woodpeckers.” “We have many happy memories of barbecues in the garden and pool parties when the whole family would come over. We had the pool renovated to one level (it previously had a deep end and diving board) so that it is safe for young children and older relative s, and it heats up really quickly. My son had his first swim in the pool as a 6 week old baby, when we got it to 35 degrees!” “There are many happy memories that we will take with us from the 32 happy years that we have spent here, but I will never forget the sight of my father trying to teach the baby blackbird that we rescued to fly, running up and down the conservatory with the blackbird perched tightly on his finger, the blackbird flapping her wings, but not letting go! After she could fly and was released, she came back frequently, popping through an open window. She did this for several years, and we saw her in the garden for around 12 years!”
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We spend time in all of the rooms, which are all bright and airy and work well at different times of day. The sitting room is lovely with a real fire blazing, the kitchen cosy with its AGA and sofa, whilst the south-facing sun room is a beautiful place in which to relax. My little boy and his grandfather like to spend time together in front of the TV in the playroom, which is lovely and bright with windows on three sides.�
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INNER HALL Steps down to: BOILER ROOM 3.05m x 2.50m Door to side aspect. Hot water tank. Floor-mounted oil-fired boiler.
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UTILITY ROOM 5.15m x 2.15m Door with leaded light glazed side panels to side aspect. Wooden door with inset glazing to other side aspect. Fitted with a range of base and wall mounted units with complementary worksurfaces and tiled splashbacks. Inset stainless steel sink with swan-neck mixer tap. Space for fridge freezer, washing machine and tumble drier. Tiled floor. Door to stairs up to:
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FAMILY ROOM 6.00m x 5.05m Leaded light window to front and both side aspects. Hatch to loft. TV point. Recessed ceiling lights. Two storage heaters.
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FIRST FLOOR LANDING Leaded light window to front elevation. Door to large airing cupboard with radiator. Hatch to boarded loft. Covered radiator. MASTER BEDROOM SUITE 5.05m x 3.75m Two leaded light windows to side and leaded light window to rear elevation. Fitted with a range of fitted wardrobes. Recessed ceiling lights. Cast-iron radiator. Glazed door to: DRESSING ROOM Three fitted double mirrored wardrobes. Recessed ceiling lights. Steps up to:
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EN SUITE Two leaded light windows to rear elevation. Five piece suite comprising a low level WC with concealed cistern, bidet, wall-mounted hand wash basin with mixer tap, corner spa bath with hand held shower attachment, and walk-in shower cubicle with glass screen. Mirrored wall-mounted storage cabinets. Half height tiling to walls. Recessed ceiling lights. Tiled floor with electric underfloor heating. Radiator. Heated towel rail. BEDROOM TWO 4.00m x 3.60m Leaded light window to side and rear elevations. Double doors accessing bedroom three. Picture rail. Castiron radiator.
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BEDROOM THREE 4.00m x 3.35m Leaded light window to side elevation. Picture rail. Built-in wardrobe. Built-in storage cupboard. Cast-iron radiator with shelf over. BATHROOM Two piece suite comprising a hand wash basin and a panel bath. Half-height tiling to walls. Tiled floor with electric underfloor heating. Heated towel rail. Door to:
WC Leaded light window to front elevation. Two piece suite comprising a low level WC and hand wash basin. Heated towel rail. Tiled floor with electric underfloor heating. BEDROOM FOUR 5.40m x 2.45m Leaded light window to side elevation. Picture rail. Fitted wardrobe. Cast-iron radiator. BEDROOM FIVE 4.30m x 2.45m Leaded light window to side and front elevations. Picture rail. Built-in wardrobe. Cast-iron radiator.
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OUTSIDE The mature grounds are very private and surround the house. A gated drive leads to a large drive offering ample parking and access to the garage with carport and studio. A pedestrian gate opens onto the landscaped front garden with a flagstone path to the front door. Raised borders and lawns. Gravelled areas. Mature planting. Lighting. Rose cover gazebo. To the side of the house there is a walled courtyard with established planting. The gardens to the rear are mainly laid to lawn with an abundance of specimen and fruit trees. A brook runs through the garden with a bridge over. Lawned tennis court. Covered heated saltwater swimming pool, with poly-cover and uplighting. Timber shed containing filters and external heat exchange. Further timber and metal shed. The oak-framed garage with studio above comprises: GARAGE 5.90m x 3.70m Double doors to front aspect. Power and light connected. External stairs up to: STUDIO 5.75m x 3.25m Window to front elevation. Two velux windows. Power and light connected. Electric storage heater. CAR PORT 5.90m x 2.55m Light connected.
We will miss the space in the house and the privacy of our beautiful gardens. We will also miss our fantastic neighbours, whom we often invite over with their grandchildren to play with my little boy. It is lovely to see the children playing together and enjoying the swimming pool. It is a lovely neighbourhood; we look out for each other, yet everyone is respectful of each other’s privacy too.�
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FURTHER INFORMATION Date built: 1939 Not listed Oil-fired boiler • Imposing Family Home • Five Double bedrooms • Four Reception Rooms & Sun Room • Two Bathrooms & Shower Room • Modern Garage & Carport with Studio • Lawned Tennis Court • Heated Swimming Pool • Plot of Approx. 2 Acres • Historical Connections • Desirable Village Location
Registered in England and Wales. Company Reg. No. 4377568 copyright © 2017 Fine & Country Ltd.
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Agents notes: All measurements are approximate and for general guidance only and whilst every attempt has been made to ensure accuracy, they must not be relied on. The fixtures, fittings and appliances referred to have not been tested and therefore no guarantee can be given that they are in working order. Internal photographs are reproduced for general information and it must not be inferred that any item shown is included with the property. For a free valuation, contact the numbers listed on the brochure. * These comments are the personal views of the current owner and are included as an insight into life at the property. They have not been independently verified, should not be relied on without verification and do not necessarily reflect the views of the agent. Printed 06.09.2017
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FINE & COUNTRY Fine & Country is a global network of estate agencies specialising in the marketing, sale and rental of luxury residential property. With offices in the UK, Australia, Egypt, France, Hungary, Italy, Malta, Namibia, Portugal, Russia, South Africa, Spain, The Channel Islands, UAE, USA and West Africa we combine the widespread exposure of the international marketplace with the local expertise and knowledge of carefully selected independent property professionals. Fine & Country appreciates the most exclusive properties require a more compelling, sophisticated and intelligent presentation - leading to a common, yet uniquely exercised and successful strategy emphasising the lifestyle qualities of the property.
THE FINE & COUNTRY FOUNDATION
This unique approach to luxury homes marketing delivers high quality, intelligent and creative concepts for property promotion combined with the latest technology and marketing techniques. We understand moving home is one of the most important decisions you make; your home is both a financial and emotional investment. With Fine & Country you benefit from the local knowledge, experience, expertise and contacts of a well trained, educated and courteous team of professionals, working to make the sale or purchase of your property as stress free as possible.
The production of these particulars has generated a ÂŁ10 donation to the Fine & Country Foundation, charity no. 1160989, striving to relieve homelessness. Visit fineandcountry.com/uk/foundation
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Fine & Country Tel: +44 (0)330 333 1060 inresidence@fineandcountry.com 4 - 6 Market Square, St. Neots, Cambridgeshire PE19 2AW
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