Higher Commons Farm Longsight Road | Balderstone | Blackburn | Lancashire | BB2 7HZ
HIGHER COMMONS FARM Located just outside the village of Osbaldeston and tucked away in a quiet yet convenient location, Higher Commons Farm is a beautiful family home with 5 acres of land and outbuildings.
KEY FEATURES The property has been extensively upgraded in recent years and extends to approximately 2771 sq. ft. briefly comprising :- Three spacious reception rooms, entrance hall, large open plan and high quality dining kitchen, downstairs W.C, utility and boot room and ground floor store accessed from outside. To the first floor there are 6 bedrooms including master with ensuite and walk in wardrobe, five further bedrooms and two further bathrooms. Externally, large private gardens, stone built triple garage, ample parking, and a private driveway. Land extending to approximately 5 acres which is private and enclosed. Separate Agricultural store / Barn (44’7x16’10). Ideally positioned for commuting being within 10 minutes driving distance of the M6 motorway providing excellent commuting throughout East Lancashire business centres and Manchester. Excellent amenities close by including a Spar shop / petrol station as well as restaurant and pubs in nearby Mellor Brook. Primary school within comfortable walking distance. This stunning and spacious family home has been extensively and sympathetically modernised by the current owners and offers superb family accommodation in a semi-rural location but with easy access to local amenities. Briefly comprising :- Front entrance door leading to impressive hallway with tiled floor and with access to the right and left and to the first floor via a wide staircase.From the hall there is direct access to the spacious dining kitchen, recently installed by Michael James of Clitheroe. This superb room truly is the family focal point and is impressive with large central island unit with integrated fan oven and induction plate, breakfast bar, integrated Belfast sink and stone worktops. There is a Rayburn range oven set within a feature fireplace and additional and attractive handmade larder units and window seat. The dining area is spacious and has a contemporary log burning stove and stone flagged floors. To the rear of the kitchen is access to the spacious utility room with tiled floor which in turn leads to a ground floor W.C. with fitted dog shower.There is a rear entrance porch leading to the garden.A door from the kitchen/dining room leads to a large L shaped dual aspect family sitting room with attractive Oak flooring and French Doors to the rear garden, there is also a wood burner set within a fireplace with stone hearth. To the rear of the Lounge is a snug / teenage den with a pleasant view over the front garden. Accessed from the front entrance hall is a spacious home study wide board Oak flooring, wood burner in feature fireplace and a pleasant view to the front garden.
SELLER INSIGHT Built in the 1900s, this hugely characterful stone-built period home boasts a glorious semirural location and around five acres of beautiful gardens and grounds. “Before we came here back in 2004 we had four very young children and we simply craved more space for them – and us – and an environment where they could enjoy a more idyllic upbringing,” says the owner. “When we came across Higher Commons Farm, although it was in need of quite a bit of work, we could immediately see that it was just what we’d been searching for. Hidden from view at the back of the house we have around five acres of land that stretches right the way down to a line of beautiful old trees. It’s all so peaceful and private, and what we see we own so it’s a view and indeed a sense of tranquillity that can never be spoilt.” “Previously this was an equestrian property that was devoid of natural beauty and wildlife. There was a huge sand manege and a big stable block dominating the landscape, both of which are now gone and in their place we’ve cultivated beautiful gardens that have given us an immense amount of pleasure. There’s a little brook that runs along the boundary of the property, which the children would splash around in when they were young. They’d also spend hours ‘exploring’ amongst the trees and building dens, and when they were older they even learnt to drive out in the field. We also have lots of lovely areas where we can sit out, relax and follow the sun, and having all of this land has enabled us to keep chickens, ducks and goats, we even had a flock of sheep at one point. Essentially it’s a place where we’ve been able to do whatever we want in a really magical environment.” “The house itself is a lovely old stone-built farmhouse, and over time it too has been greatly enhanced. We extended into the adjacent barn, which essentially double the size of the house, and we knocked the old living room and kitchen into one to create a huge family kitchen that we can all congregate in without feeling on top of one another. We’ve updated the décor, replaced a lot of the flooring… We’ve essentially made it into the house we’d always wanted and we’ve absolutely loved our time here.” “The kitchen is the hub of the home and as well as being a very functional part of the house it’s also a really sociable space. We have a big Rayburn range cooker, a wood burner that creates a really cosy atmosphere in winter, and as well as having space for our huge farmhouse kitchen we also have a large island so it’s a great room for entertaining.” “Our surroundings are incredibly picturesque and when we’re sitting out in the garden looking at the gorgeous view of our land we really do feel as if we’re in the middle of nowhere. However, we’re by no means isolated. There’s an array of lovely villages close by and it takes just ten minutes to drive into Blackburn and fifteen minutes to drive into Preston.” “The grounds and this lovely setting are definitely a standout feature. We’ve built a large patio area beside a very pretty wildlife pond and that’s a lovely place to sit out and soak in our surroundings. We’ll often be out there and all of a sudden some deer will appear out of the trees and just wander along the bottom of the field. That’s the type of thing that makes this place so special.” “With the children grown up we’re downsizing to smaller property in the same area, but we’ll be sad to leave Higher Commons Farm,” says the owner. “The house is now a really fabulous family home, but it’s these gorgeous surroundings that really set it apart. It’s a real slice of paradise.”*
* 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.
On the first floor accessed via a superb wide staircase are six bedrooms and a study (ripe for conversion to an ensuite bathroom). The master bedroom is situated to the rear of the property with a walk in wardrobe and a three piece en-suite shower room. There are four further double bedrooms, one house bathroom with four piece suite and a separate three piece shower room.
Externally, the property is accessed by double timber gates leading to an ample tarmac driveway with parking for multiple vehicles. There is a recently constructed stone built detached triple garage with timber up and over doors. To the rear the gardens are a delight with a substantial stone patio with mature, established bedding plants, trees, and lawn area. There is a green house, and a number of areas situated to the rear of the property which are sheltered, very private, and get the sun all day. In addition there is a poly tunnel and a large open barn providing useful storage for garden machinery and vehicles. Surrounding the property to the rear of the gardens is agricultural land extending to approximately 5 acres which is private and secure with no public rights of way.The picturesque village of Mellor Brook is 2 minutes away situated in the heart of the Ribble Valley and adjacent to the rural borough of South Ribble. The village sits below Mellor village which has a range of local services available including primary school, pubs, bakery, pharmacy and library.The village is 7 miles from Preston city centre with its West Coast mainline railway link to Euston (2 hours and 7 minutes). East Lancashire and Manchester business centres as well as the northern motorway network are within striking distance with the M6 junction 31 being approximately 5 miles away. Travel distances are approximate. Preston 7 miles / Blackburn 5 miles / Manchester 36 miles / Leeds Bradford Airport 47 miles / Manchester International Airport 41 miles/ Kendal and the Lake District 47 miles. Longridge is 8 miles and Clitheroe is 11 miles. Clitheroe is the hub of the Ribble Valley and offers a varied range of amenities including an excellent range of shops, bars, café’s and salons as well as supermarkets and the impressive Bowland Brewery leisure complex. The area is a renowned “Foodie Heaven” with excellent pubs and restaurants many set within the ANOB area of the Trough Of Bowland. The Ribble valley is an affluent area with a café culture and rural heritage and is a desirable and aspirational place to live and visit. Schools locally have an excellent reputation and there is a wide variety of both state run and independent to choose from. There are numerous village primary schools, as well as highly regarded public schools including Stonyhurst, Oakhill College and Moorlands.
Registered in England and Wales. Company Reg. No. 4775450, Mortimers Chartered Surveyors & Estate Agents trading as Mortimers Estate Agents Ltd. Registered Address: Edge View House, Salmon Fields Business Village, Royton, Oldham OL2 6HT copyright © 2021 Fine & Country Ltd.
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 06.07.2021
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