Sleaford, Lincolnshire

Church Barn

Aunsby | Sleaford | Lincolnshire | NG34 8TA

CHURCH BARN

SELLER INSIGHT

It is the most beautiful home and it is going to be extremely hard to find somewhere to match it. Photos don’t really do it justice; no-one would be disappointed in reality. It was once an open-fronted barn and the two metal columns are the original supports where there is the run of glazing and French doors onto the courtyard. The conversion was done about 20 or so years ago and it has been carried out to a very high standard. The cattle barn behind was also converted to a home - both once belonged to Manor Farm.”

“The design and layout of the property has been very well considered. All the bedrooms are a good size and there is an excellent amount of reception or leisure space which we have really appreciated. The office is a decent size, but could easily be a fourth bedroom as it was before we came here.”

“We have done a few things since coming here such as remodelling the en suite which had a bath in but we prefer showers. There is still space to reinstall a bath should someone wish to do so. We also recently replaced the boiler, added a Quooker boiling water tap to the kitchen and we had lots of wardrobes fitted into the master bedroom. In the garden, we replaced the sleepers that formed the raised beds with stone walls to nicely blend in with the house, as they had done their time! We also added a new woodshed for the logs for the stove and put in some more exterior lighting for the perfect ambience if entertaining after dark.”

“We have had a few parties here, once with the extendable dining table accommodating 10 people; there is plenty of space to house everybody and it’s lovely in summer to spill out onto the courtyard through the French doors.”

“One evening after dark, for the first time ever we watched shooting stars followed by a meteor shower which was such a wonderful experience – the lovely dark skies here give you that opportunity. We’ve also enjoyed, in the daytime, the very occasional Memorial fly-overs of Lancaster bombers or spitfires.”

“The limestone patio is an especially private, sheltered outside area with a 6 foot high wall. It has suited us well as it is low maintenance and a perfect place to sit in the sun which it receives all day. The raised beds with their new stone walls contain some Mediterranean plants and there’s a herb garden outside the kitchen.”

Church Barn is in a quintessentially bucolic English setting. “It’s incredibly quiet here, a very tranquil spot with the village not on a destination route. Only 4 or 5 cars pass us in a day; mostly all we hear are the birds singing and the clip clopping of horses’ hooves - they keep horses in the farm next door which we can see grazing through the kitchen window. The surrounding lanes are quiet with wide verges – perfect for when we have our grandson with us – and directly from the house there are footpaths everywhere through the beautiful countryside. There is no need to go far for a pub: the Tally Ho is about a half hour walk and we had a lovely meal the other day at The Houblon Arms in Oasby. At Culverthorpe there’s a big, stately home you can walk to and enjoy its grounds.”*

* 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.

KEY FEATURES

In a tiny village between Grantham and Sleaford, a truly heavenly home converted to a single storey dwelling around twenty years ago from an open-fronted barn, is full of light and space with a wonderful connection to the outside yet provides a real cosiness in winter from its masterfully designed layout. With 3 to 4 bedrooms, the primary en suite, the main living space is quite spectacular, and the versatile rooms flow freely from one to another.

In a bucolic setting, an abundance of footpaths through lovely countryside is from the doorstep, yet within a 15 minute drive you can catch a train from Grantham station taking around an hour to Kings Cross, and where there are excellent grammar schools, so too in Sleaford, 10 minutes to the north.

• A stone, single-storey barn conversion under clay pantile roofs

• A peaceful, private, village setting built around a courtyard garden

• Exceptionally versatile living spaces

• 3 to 4 generous double bedrooms (or 4th bedroom as a study)

• Primary bedroom with en suite shower and wealth of new fitted wardrobes

• Family shower room with walk-in shower

• Spectacular main living/dining space with vaulted ceilings and roof timbers

• Exposed stone internal walls and original structural columns

• Wall and roof of glazing with French doors to courtyard

• Raised feature fireplace with multi-fuel burner

• Oak flooring with tiled kitchen and utility areas

• Double-glazed timber window frames

• Well maintained throughout including new boiler

• Fitted kitchen breakfast room linked to TV room/library

• Quooker boiling water tap

• Utility room; boot room; separate WC

• Bespoke built-in bookshelves and cupboards

• 3 loft storage spaces

• Integral, oversized, single garage with timber doors onto gravel driveway

• Far reaching countryside views with grazing horses

• Excellent local state schools

• Fast rail link to London from Grantham

Services: Mains electricity, water and drainage; oil-fired central heat ing

Local Authority: North Kesteven District Council

Council Tax Band: F

Tenure: Freehold

Location

Aunsby, spelled “Ounesbi” in the Domesday survey, is a tiny, very peaceful and pretty village in lovely, rolling Lincolnshire countryside not far from where the A15 crosses the A52. Right next to the property, its 12th century church, dedicated to St. Thomas of Canterbury, was repaired and rebuilt in 1861 and is the oldest in the parish. It has many features of architectural interest including a spire inscribed “Ave Maria” at the t op.

In a 5 minute drive, there is a garden centre containing individual shops including a butcher where you can buy various convenience foods; otherwise, more extensive shopping is about 5 miles away in Quarrington, or a little further in Sleaford, or Grantham in the other direction.

Being within a couple of minutes of both the A15 and the A52, there is easy access to Sleaford less than 10 minutes to the north and Grantham less than 15 minutes to the west, where you can connect with the A1, or catch a fast train to central London (approximate journey time of an hour). The market town of Newark-on-Trent, with its castle on the river, is around half an hour to the northwest, similarly, glorious Stamford to the south, the historic cathedral city of Lincoln to the north, and Boston to the east. Nottingham is about an hour’s drive westwards.

Schools

The neighbouring village of Osbournby on the A15 is less than 3 miles away and has a primary school rated Good by Ofsted whilst secondary education is in Sleaford with some highly sought after grammar schools: Carre’s Grammar School, and Kesteven & Sleaford High School (for Girls), as well as St. George’s Academy, all rated Good by Ofsted. Grantham, just 15 minutes away, also has excellent schools such as The King’s School (for boys) and Kesteven and Grantham Girls’ School which are extremely highly regarded state grammar schools rated Outstanding by Ofsted. Another popular secondary school in Grantham is Walton Academy rated Good by Ofsted.

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. Printed 20.06.2023

FINE & COUNTRY

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