Fenby Farm

Fenby Farm Fen Lane | Stilton | Cambridgeshire | PE7 3SA

FENBY FARM • An Outstanding Equestrian and Lifestyle Property, Situated in a Semi-Rural Location • Refurbished Period Three Bedroom Thatched Farmhouse, Beautifully Extended with a Modern Addition • Detached Double Garage with Gym Area and a Quality First Floor Studio / Office with Shower Room • Fully Equipped Stable Yard and Wash Down Area, Three Loose Boxes, Tack Room and Hay Barn • Fully Fenced 20 m x 40 m Manège with Silica Sand and Flexiride Surface • A Large Useful Dutch Barn: 18.6 m x 9.15 m (61 ft x 30 ft) • Garden, Grounds, Kitchen and Flower Garden, Duck Pond, Fully Fenced Paddocks, Totalling to Approximately 4 Acres (stms) • Total Accommodation of the Main House Extends to Approximately 2075 Sq. Ft.

Down a rural lane and standing in the most idyllic position – for those yearning for a bucolic life amidst nature with spectacular fenland skies and stunning sunsets – is a charming country property, part thatched, part clay tiled, a superb mix of old and new, affording you all the benefits of both. Sitting centrally in a plot of just under four acres, Fenby Farm, complete with its own duck pond and excellent equestrian facilities, offers a sanctuary from the bustle of modern life. With panoramic views and space to roam, it provides everything you might need to fully embrace the comfort and romance of country living.

The original cottage, hundreds of years old, has been rescued and restored with great care and a meticulous eye for detail. A modern, brick and oak timbered addition, doubling the property’s footprint, has been built sympathetically to blend stylishly with its old counterpart. Across the gravelled drive, a separate larch-clad, clay tiled, fully insulated garage with electric doors has been built to a particularly high standard. With two car bays, a gym area and storage downstairs, an exterior oak staircase leads to an ideal office or studio space, complete with kitchenette and shower room. For the equine enthusiast, Fenby Farm also benefits from a 20x40m manege, three large stables, a hay barn and tack room, all within a fully fenced yard that leads to two separate paddocks, and behind all this, a huge Dutch barn.

The owners have put a vast amount of time and effort into restoring the property, as they attest: “We bought it in 2011, after instantly falling in love with the place.

It took some imagination. Abandoned some 70 years previously, there were no doors, no windows and a large owl living in what was left of the roof space. But it felt so right that we just had to take the plunge. The floors were rotten and there was a tree growing in one of the walls but it felt like you could almost sweep up the mess, throw a rug down and move straight in.

“Throughout the build, we wanted to stay true to the character of the building so kept the room sizes just as they were, any detail we found, we tried to replace.

Some old ties on the roof trusses led us to believe that it would have once been thatched. Sash window weights left in a rotten window frame gave us an indication of what it should have been. It’s that sort of detail that means the old part of the house is true to its history. The staircase was the only thing we didn’t replicate – largely because it was just a ladder going through a hole in the floor.

“Style wise, the old part is quite traditional – we kept the curves in the door reveals and plasterwork round the windows. The hearth is made from some of the original floor bricks we found. In contrast, the new side is square and crisp. As a SIPS build (structural insulated panels) it couldn’t be further removed from the way the old part of the house was built, but they compliment each other perfectly. Outside, the render and oak details are softened by the hand finished bricks and patination of the copper guttering. We spend a lot of time outdoors so coming in to a warm house on a cold day is a real treat. It’s the best of both

worlds, we’ve got the charm of an old property, but without draughty windows and enormous heating bills.

It’s a very light and airy property, particularly in the modern extension with extensive glazing both in the open plan, triple aspect kitchen breakfast room benefiting a wall of bi-fold doors onto decking outside, and in the master bedroom above with its run of windows in the gable end and rooflights in the vaulted ceiling. The heating system is run on an environmentally friendly and financially efficient ground source heat pump with underfloor heating upstairs and down.

Flooring is either porcelain tiles, engineered oak or

carpet. The kitchen is contemporary with high gloss white units, Silestone worktops and Neff integrated appliances – induction hob, eye level microwave-combi oven, pyrolytic oven and warming drawer below, dishwasher, and ceiling extractor fan. There’s also a wine cooler in the island and a Franke hot water tap.

Upstairs, all rooms have vaulted ceilings, giving a real feeling of space; there are three generous bedrooms, the two in the old part share a large bathroom boasting a magnificent copper slipper bath as well as a separate shower. The master suite has not only an en suite shower but a walk-in dressing room too.

Outside, the grounds are a sheer delight. Incorporating mature trees including a very old weeping willow growing from the banks of a large duck pond and surrounded by lawns. In Spring, daffodils line the edge of the commodious gravel drive, whilst in Summer billowing lavender drifts its way around borders. A kitchen and flower garden form a patchwork amongst gravel paths between the house and the stables - block built with larch cladding - which benefit a good sized concrete apron enclosed by post and rail. As the owner declares, “The yard is all totally fenced and leads directly to the paddocks which makes handling my two a doddle - I just open the doors and off they go! I designed it with laziness, safety and convenience in mind! I can sit in bed with a morning coffee and check that they’re ok. The paddocks are fenced with horse netting and there’s a water supply to the field, and electricity and water to the stables.

The manège is 20 x 40metres, also fully fenced. It has proper drainage, a recycled rail ballast base with a silica sand and Flexiride surface so it doesn’t freeze in winter.” Sewerage for the property is a Klargester Biodisc, whilst a rainwater harvester is also buried in the kitchen garden.

The location is extremely quiet with just one close neighbour, and a couple of other houses on the lane, ensuring no feeling of isolation. “It is quite a special place here,” says the owner. “We will really miss the spectacular, dramatic landscape where we witness some of the most amazing skies. On a clear night, you can see the light show of the Milky Way – we’ve seen more shooting stars than you can imagine. By day, we see no end of owls, buzzards, kites, deer and hares, which is very special.

You really appreciate unspoilt nature first hand.”

For equestrian competitors, it is in a prime position for accessing the A1 with Ely, Keysoe, and Milton Keynes eventing and equestrian centres all within an hour’s drive. By car, it is about 15 minutes to Oundle and 20 minutes to Stamford, and 15 minutes to Peterborough or Huntingdon to the south, with trains to King’s Cross from Peterborough in just 45 minutes, even less from Huntingdon. “Stilton is the nearest village about two miles away which has The Bell, one of the best pubs in the area serving excellent food. There’s a fantastic village shop, you can pretty much get everything in there,” enthuses the owner. “There are primary schools here and at Yaxley, and local state and excellent independent secondary schools in Peterborough, Stamford and Oundle.”

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.

To arrange a viewing of this property please contact

Energy Graph

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: Huntingdonshire District Council SERVICES: Mains Electricity and Water, Klargester Biodisc Treatment Plant, Ground Source Heating with Underfloor Heating on ground and first floors.

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.

Rutland Country Properties. Registered in England and Wales No. 11897195 Registered Office - 27-29 Old Market, Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, PE13 1NE Copyright Š 2020 Fine & Country Ltd.

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