Grooms Barn

Grooms Barn Mill Street | Duddington | Northamptonshire | PE9 3QQ

GROOMS BARN • A Charming Village Home with Lovely Gardens In A Peaceful & Picturesque Location • Much Improved & Extended by The Present Owners • The Ground Floor Benefits From An Open Plan Kitchen / Living / Dining Area • As well as a Separate Sitting Room For Cosier Evenings • Master Bedroom with En Suite Bathroom • Guest Bedroom With En Suite, Two Further Bedrroms & Family Bathroom • Attractive Mature Gardens Surround the Property • Property Offers Approximately 2188 Sq.Ft. of Family Living Accommodation

The most enchanting property, an old converted barn which has been extended extremely sympathetically to fool only those with a very scrutinous eye, Grooms Barn stands in the equally charming Northamptonshire village of Duddington.Very close to Rutland on the far bank of the River Welland to the West, which flows through the village, and only about five miles South West of Stamford, this small village is an exceptionally desirable place to live.

Stamford itself is said to be one of the finest medieval towns in the British Isles, if not in Europe, and fairly recently was voted one of the best towns to live in. For those wishing for a more rural existence, Duddington is an idyllic little village: “We have views over the village green with its very large horse chestnut, to the front, and orchard views to the back. It’s the most wonderful place to live with lovely countryside walks from the door; the Forestry Commission’s Fineshade Woods is close by, where they rent out bicycles for the more energetic, which also has an excellent café. Our local village pub, The Royal Oak, serves good food, and is where all the villagers tend to meet on a Friday night. We have been in this house for about thirty-five years so we feel part of the fabric of the village!” laugh the owners of Grooms Barn. “There had been a pub on the site, once upon a time, and the barn was the brewing house. We bought the barn, with its roughly a third of an acre plot, from the local estate; initially we restored the original barn (which really had been occupied by a groom), and converted it into a dwelling. Some years later, in 2002, we extended the property creating its L-shape, using local Collyweston slates and its attractive yellow stone to ensure it was not only in keeping with the barn, but also with the other properties in the village.”

The owners landscaped the garden into the delightful verdant haven that it is today. With an appealing mix of stone slabs and gravel forming terracing at the back of the house, the garden’s split-level nature is enhanced by low, retaining, curving brick walls. Areas of lawn and raised beds are bordered with evergreen, column-like cypress trees providing structure in Winter. An abundance of both evergreen and deciduous climbers wrap around the walls of the house making it feel part of the landscape itself, whilst a great variety of mature trees form a pleasant backdrop both within the garden and along its boundaries. “The garden is very tranquil, sheltered and not overlooked. It’s completely surrounded by a brick wall so it is also very secure;” attest the owners, “beyond it is an orchard where sheep used to graze. The main part of the garden is South West facing so it is sunny all afternoon. In Spring, it is particularly pretty with swathes of daffodils and tulips displaying a riot of colour.”

The floor is laid with Fired Earth Desert Flagstones, the sitting room has a solid oak floor and the utility area has quarry tiles. “

The house itself is presented in excellent order. As you would expect, it has a wealth of the original old structural beams inside, and yet with so many windows facing so many aspects combined with a pale neutral décor and an open plan design in the new addition, the house has a wonderful feeling of light and space. The owner’s agreeable taste for plaid in muted hues is an understated, recurring theme throughout the home, especially evident as wallpaper in the bathrooms and downstairs cloakroom. The house also exudes a sense of quality and natural materials, perfect for a house such as this.

“The bespoke painted timber kitchen was brand new just three years ago,” states the owner. “The floor is laid with Fired Earth Desert Flagstones, the sitting room has a solid oak floor and the utility area has quarry tiles. The rest of the house is fitted with Berber wool carpet and I have a rule ‘Shoes off at the doorstep’ to keep the carpet clean! The kitchen worktops are solid granite, and the Kohle under-mounted, one-and-a-half bowl, ceramic sink has one of those very practical stretchy taps. There are integrated Bosch ovens, an AEG induction hob, an integrated Siemens dishwasher, and a built-in two-drawer fridge which is fabulous – I will always have a fridge with drawers for ever more!” Continuing these modern fittings is a gas fire embedded in the chimney breast in the adjoining family room, and a Jetmaster stove in the sitting room.

“We shall miss the life here,” she continues. “We have a really lovely vicar, and a very beautiful little church, although services are only once a month, but there are always lots of things going on centred around the village hall. The parish council organise events such as quizzes, and in Summer there’s always a Hog Roast and a Duck Race.

Not far away is Burleigh House built by William Cecil who stipulated that its surrounding parkland, laid out by Capability Brown, should always be free for anyone to walk through. It is very picturesque, with endless events taking place, and is a wonderful place to visit.”

We have views over the village green with its very large horse chestnut, to the front, and orchard views to the back.�

The garden is very tranquil, sheltered and not overlooked. It’s completely surrounded by a brick wall so it is also very secure; beyond it is an orchard where sheep used to graze.

The main part of the garden is South West facing so it is sunny all afternoon.�

LOCAL AUTHORITY: East Northamptonshire Council AGENTS NOTES: Mains Water and Electricity, Oil Fired Central Heating and Septic Tank 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.

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.

Location

On The Doorstep...

Directions

Grooms Barn sits in the lovely Northamptonshire village of Duddington, surrounded by beautiful, rolling countryside and just a few miles south of Rutland Water. The village itself has a pub and Church, whilst Barrowden, 3 miles away, provides local amenities with a pub and village stores. The popular Georgian market town of Stamford is only 6 miles away and has excellent shops, bars and restaurants. The village has quick access to the A47, A43 and A1 for road links, and the Cathedral city of Peterborough, approximately 10 miles away provides high speed rail links to London Kings Cross and the North. The area is home to many private schools including Uppingham, Oakham, Oundle and Stamford, all within an easy drive, plus an excellent range of state schools. Stamford’s Burghley House estate hosts a variety of events throughout the year and there is golf at Burghley Park and Luffenham Heath Golf Club, with nearby Rutland Water providing an excellent range of outdoor leisure pursuits.

Travelling from the South on A1, take the slip road signposted Peterborough and at the roundabout take the third exit onto A47 signposted Leicester. Stay on this road for approximately 10 miles, at the Duddington Roundabout head straight over and then take the first left left to Duddington Village. Head down the hill into the village and the property will be found on your right hand side behind a stone wall.

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 or Darren Christie 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.

Location

Normanton Church, Rutland Water (6 miles)

Fineshade Wood (2.5 miles)

Burghley House, Stamford (6 miles)

The Royal Oak, Duddington

Luffenham Heath Golf Club (4 miles)

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