Grantham, Lincolnshire

MIDDLEFIELD HOUSE

SELLER INSIGHT

The house is one of the oldest in the village. Although one of the exposed beams is date marked 1678, a local heritage expert told us he thinks the east end of the house is even older dating back to the 16th century. He also pointed out that some beams appear to have been reclaimed from old ships; there are so many interesting features such as the graffitied initials carved into the stone quoins on the corners of the house. It was once an old farmhouse with the outbuildings used for livestock and foodstuffs. We know that the room we use as the study/snug was once a butcher’s shop run by a family named Shillaker. You can see where the door to the shop was bricked up.”

“When we came here about ten years ago, work had already begun on restoring the house and garden but the barns were in very poor condition. We completed the restoration project on the house and around 2016 we converted the old granary into a self-contained annex and created the garage adjoining the gym with an office and movie room above.”

“We have re-roofed all three buildings and restored all the sash windows on the north elevation. We’ve taken care to be sympathetic to its history, using reclaimed materials wherever possible. For example, the ladder light in the master annex bedroom is the old ladder that led up to the first floor of the barn when it was a granary. We also kept the fireplace in the kitchen which was already there, and created another in the lounge to mirror it. In the house, the master bedroom had a false ceiling which we removed to reveal the original beams. We also exposed a third window which had been covered over by fitted wardrobes. We’ve left that exactly as we found it as a record of the house’s story.”

“The house is very warm in winter as the walls are nearly two feet thick, and in summer, it is lovely and cool. With the front facing south, on a bright day it is incredibly light inside.”

“Although we are in the middle of the village, the garden is very private with its high stone walls yet you can still feel the energy of the community.”

“It’s a really versatile place to live. It’s spacious but also very cosy. The annexe is ideal for visitors, it’s very accessible too with level thresholds and a downstairs bathroom. We occasionally rent it out through Airbnb but most often we use it when friends and family visit. It’s great because everyone gets their own space. The other barn and outside space was perfect during Covid; we could go over there and watch a movie and it felt like we were actually going ‘out’!”

“The house has real soul. It’s been home to so many families over time, we feel like we are just custodians of this ancient building. Every day I notice something new. There is an old brick-lined well in the garden; it’s been partially excavated but we’ve covered it over for safety. The previous owners found lots of fragments of 17th century clay smoking pipes in the garden which we keep on display. It’s fascinating to think that even all that time ago, they were considered a ‘disposable’ thing. Once they’d been smoked, they were thrown away.”

“The village is so lovely. It’s still small enough to hold on to its character but it’s got everything you need within easy reach. There’s a shop, hairdresser’s, doctors’ surgery and two great pubs – one is an Indian takeaway and the other a lively dining pub. There’s a really active sports and social club with football and cricket as well as a children’s playground. We love walking and there are miles and miles of countryside footpaths on our doorstep, in fact I’ve heard you can walk all the way to Lincoln without going on the road although I’ve never done it myself! And Lincoln itself is such a pretty city about a half hour drive north.”

* 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

A charming, beautifully presented, Ancaster stone property dating to at least 1678, in a prime position in the highly sought after village of Caythorpe. Not far from Grantham and the A1, this substantial family home provides a stunning 4 bedroom house, a 2 bedroom barn conversion and a further converted outbuilding containing garaging, a gym and a home office all arranged around a spacious courtyard with parking for several vehicles. French doors from the kitchen allow a wonderful connection from the main house to the private, south facing terrace and walled garden.

Whether working from home or commuting to London (with trains taking around an hour from Grantham), Lincoln or elsewhere, this is a prime opportunity to enjoy a superb village lifestyle in a stunning, fully modernized, historic, family home.

• Stone-built, grade II listed property with 2 sizeable buildings in curtilage

• All presented in exceptionally good order and finished to a high standard

Main house

• Full of character and charm with a wealth of exposed beams and original features

• Stone mullioned windows with moulded cornices

• All principal rooms dual aspect

• 4 double bedrooms, 2 en suite

• Generous sitting room with inglenook fireplace and log-burner

• Study/snug with period fireplace

• Large, farmhouse-style kitchen with abundance of fitted units

• French doors from kitchen onto spacious south facing terrace and,

• Walled gardens with lawn, mature trees and shrubs

• Formal gravel garden with raised pond and fountain

• Further secluded area with raised veg beds and garden shed

2 Bedroomed barn conversion

• Stone-built, self-contained annex

• 2 double debrooms, one ensuite

• Downstairs accessible shower rooms

• Kitchen dining room with built in appliances

• Lounge with French doors onto the courtyard

Second converted barn

• Large garage/workshop suitable for further development subject to planning

• Ground floor gym with home office/cinema above

• Laundry room

• WC

Both barns were fully restored and converted in 2016.

INFORMATION

Services: Mains electricity, bulk LPG gas, water, and drainage; a mix of gas central heating and electric underfloor heating

Local Authority: South Kesteven District Council

Council Tax Band: F

Tenure: Freehold

Location

The property sits in the heart of the sought after village of Caythorpe with its attractive stone properties, many listed buildings, which lies 9 miles (about 15 mins) north of the market town of Grantham, and 9 miles west of Sleaford. Newark-on-Trent with its cobbled market streets and castle beside the river, is about 12 miles (20 mins) to the northwest, and the historic city of Lincoln 18 miles (about half an hour) to the north. Everything in the village is extremely close by including its excellent primary school, a well-stocked convenience store with post office, a village hall, a medical practice, two highly regarded pubs serving food which also offer a takeaway service, a large sports playing field and a popular cricket club, and for those who like walking, there are many rights of way on the rolling limestone uplands of South Lincolnshire.

A high-speed rail link to London King’s Cross (the fastest, around an hour) is from Grantham station making a door to door journey time into central London less than an hour and a half, whilst other options provide fast services to cities such as Leeds, and across to the Lincolnshire seaside at Skegness.

There is plenty to do in the area, for instance, the National Trust’s Belton House is 7 miles towards Grantham which has 1,300 acres of parkland to explore including an adventure playground. Also at Belton, there’s Belton Woods 4-star Hotel and Spa, which has two golf courses, and even nearer, Sudbrook Moor Golf Course, Elms Farm Equestrian Centre, and Ancaster Leisure for outdoor activities such as go-karting, paintballing, shooting and archery.

Schools

Caythorpe has its own primary school rated Good by Ofsted, whilst excellent secondary schools are at Grantham and Sleaford both about 9 miles away. Grantham, to the south, has The King’s School (for boys) and Kesteven and Grantham Girls’ School both extremely highly regarded state grammar schools rated Outstanding by Ofsted. Sleaford, to the east, also has 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.

JM Brouwer (Property Services) Ltd Registered in England & Wales No 11269764 Regulated by The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. copyright © 2023 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 06.04.2023

FINE & COUNTRY

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