Cheriton House

Cheriton House The Green | Thorney | Peterborough | Cambridgeshire | PE6 0QD

CHERITON HOUSE • A Grade II Listed Substantial Double Fronted Stone Residence Overlooks The Green • Located in the Heart of the Historic Thorney, in a Conservation Area Adjacent to the Ancient Abbey • Reception Room, Dining Room, Study, Library, Kitchen / Breakfast Room, Utility Room & Cellar • First Floor Great Hall with High Ceilings Ideal as Drawing Room or Entertaining Function Room • Eight Double Bedrooms with Five En Suite Bathrooms & Shower Rooms, Plus a Family Bathroom • Converted Coach House Ideal as Either Additional Accommodation or an Office Complex /Gym and Attached Garage • Double Gates into Off-Street Parking, Spacious Partially Wall Garden Mainly Laid to Lawn and Mature Specimen Trees • Total Accommodation of the Main House Extends to 5005 Sq.Ft. and Coach House Excluding Garage 823 Sq.Ft.

The most charming house, formerly the vicarage to the Church of St. Mary and St. Botolph next door, thought to be built in 1728 from medieval stone taken from the Thorney Abbey site, stands on a little crescent shaped road behind the village green surrounded by further fine historic dwellings.The pretty village of Thorney lies eight miles east of Peterborough, within what was the Duke of Bedford’s Thorney Estate, sold off to the Church by the eleventh Duke in 1910.

Cheriton House was the first to be listed Grade II as a Building of Special Architectural and Historic Interest in 1952, and became a private residence when the Church sold it in 1969.The two beautiful bays at the front are built of Ketton limestone, and may have been added when most of the alterations to the property took place in the latter half of the nineteenth century which included the rear additions.This was at a time when the seventh Duke rebuilt much of the village in a Gothic Revival style as a model agricultural village, the delightful rows of cottages still bordering the old A47 today.

The eight bedroomed house is of fine proportions with exceptionally large sash windows, high ceilings and period fireplaces. It is set over three floors and has two staircases. The attic, reached from the back stairs, accommodates four bedrooms all with their own en suite bathrooms, whilst on the first floor three large bedrooms share a bathroom and the fourth has an en suite. “The top floor, which would have been the servant quarters, are fantastic when you have lots of friends or family to stay – you don’t really realise anyone else is there!” laugh the owners. “It’s been a wonderful home particularly in lockdown; we both work from home, and it was blissful here – so quiet even with the children around who relished having so much space. The huge reception room known as the Great Hall on the first floor is a perfect room for them - it would easily take a snooker table with lots of room to spare.” At almost twenty-seven foot long and sixteen foot wide, there is an open fire with a marble surround, and most spectacular of all, is a huge mullioned bay window with views over the garden.

The ground floor has four large reception rooms with a big open plan kitchen at the back. A sitting room and very commodious drawing room are at the front with the beautiful, west facing bays, fully carpeted and featuring open fireplaces, shutters and panelling, even unusual, curving walls. A library with a handsome set of hardwood bookshelves and a new timber floor, is a favourite place for the owners as they say: “It’s very relaxing in there - you can sit and read whilst listening to music from a wireless Sonos sound system, which in fact, is throughout the house.”

The property can naturally accommodate a lot of people and although grand, has a quirkiness. “There are so many nooks and crannies, with many quiet areas where you can

relax or study,” say the owners. “A space near the kitchen houses the General Ian Gill’s desk and chair which came with the property and will of course remain. He was a great benefactor in the village, and many of the villagers still refer to Cheriton House as ‘The General’s house’ even though he died in 2009.”

The kitchen breakfast room is another expansive space with a shiny, chequerboard tiled floor, a multitude of fitted units with solid granite worktops lining the walls, incorporating a large, range style cooker with six burners fuelled from bottled gas (that seem to give an inexhaustible supply despite supplying the dining room

fire as well - central heating is oil) and two electric ovens and grill. It also benefits a double undermounted sink, an integrated fridge, a freezer, and two dishwashers. The adjoining utility room has another sink and space for a washing machine and tumble dryer. The crowning glory in the kitchen is the east facing French doors flanked by glazing that open onto an L-shaped terrace that captures the sun all day, perfect for al fresco dining.

Another asset to the property is a substantial cellar which is contemporary with the original building and has a vaulted brick roof over two large rooms, “the perfect temperature in the back room for wine,” we are told.

Guest Accommodation

Guest Accommodation

Outside, across the broad gravel drive, along a paved path, there is a sizeable outbuilding in the converted stables which, although currently used mainly for storage, would make a superb annex. An external wooden staircase satisfying the listing is almost decorative save for the cat’s needs, as there is a new internal staircase which leads up to two good

sized rooms in the eaves. Downstairs, two linked rooms with glazing and French doors fitted with external shutters has created office space, although one is on the point of becoming a kitchen, and abutting this is the lobby containing a shower room and lavatory. Adjoining the building is a generous garage with timber double doors.

The tranquil and sunny garden is walled on three sides, again built from the old Thorney Abbey stone, with a backdrop of mature trees, and fenced on the third so completely secure once the timber front gates are closed. It is mainly laid to lawn for low maintenance with some shrubs and dwarf hedging, and particularly splendid in spring with an abundance of flowering bulbs. “Rather quirky, like the house, it is full of nice surprises!” divulge the owners. “For instance, behind a tree there is a big sculpture of a giraffe, and the greenhouse was apparently originally built for a tortoise and has a little moat encircling it!” The very pretty building has an aluminium frame on a reclaimed brick wall, and benefits automatically opening windows.

The property is presented in sound and good order. “It was fully refurbished which included rewiring, about ten years ago,” attest the owners. “We recently had the roof checked out and was told it was in good condition.”

The village of Thorney has its own primary school within walking distance of Cheriton House, so too an excellent pub and restaurant, The Rose & Crown. Being just eight miles from the city of Peterborough it is an ideal location for commuting with fast trains to London taking less than an hour, and also where you find the A1, with the A47 by-pass giving excellent road links.

To arrange a viewing of this property please contact

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Fine & Country Rutland, Stamford & South Lincolnshire Seaton Grange Barn Offices, Grange Lane, Seaton, Uppingham, Rutland, LE15 9HT Tel: 01780 750 200 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 01780 750 200 and speak to Jan von Draczek at our Rutland, Stamford & South Lincolnshire office. Š All rights reserved by Rutland 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.

Additional Information LOCAL AUTHORITY: Peterborough City Council SERVICES: Mains Electricity, Water and Septic Tank, Oil Fired Central Heating Fibre Optic Broadband 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.

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Floorplan

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.

Fine & Country Tel: +44 (0) 1780 750 200 stamford@fineandcountry.com Seaton Grange Barn Offices, Grange Lane, Seaton, Uppingham, Rutland, LE15 9HT