St. Neots, Cambridgeshire

THE OLD VICARAGE

KEY FEATURES

An elegant period home situated in a desirable and picturesque village with excellent amenities including sought-after schooling. The property offers magnificent views of historic Buckden Towers, which can be enjoyed from every window of the grand early-Victorian front façade and gardens. Cambridge and London are easily accessible with a mainline station 10 minutes away.

Upon entering, you will find the interior flooded with natural light through large sash windows while the interior design effortlessly highlights the period features. The spacious kitchen breakfast room and adjacent dining room combine traditional styling with modern convenience. Both rooms have doors leading to the south-facing garden terrace and pool, making them ideal for casual and formal entertaining. There are four additional reception rooms, including a formal drawing room with one of the many exquisite fireplaces.

The luxurious principal bedroom suite boasts a bespoke dressing room with fitted storage in American black walnut and a contemporary bathroom featuring twin wash basins and a freestanding bath. The six additional bedrooms are well-served by both a shower room and a bathroom with a separate shower.

Located in the heart of the village, the property offers complete privacy in the part-walled rear garden, thanks to a variety of mature specimen trees and shrubs. The rear garden has been thoughtfully landscaped, featuring mature planting and a spacious terrace overlooking the pool and lawns. Climbing roses adorn the striking Georgian rear elevation, and the well-stocked borders are edged with box hedging.

Should an annexe for guests or staff be required, the flexible layout of the ground and first floors on the western side of the property allows for easy conversion. Alternatively, the oversized triple garage is well-suited for conversion.

The village offers a wide range of amenities, all within easy walking distance. These include two village shops, two hotel restaurants, a dining pub, a butcher with a pantry, an ‘Outstanding’ Ofsted-rated nursery and primary school, a private dentist, and a ladies’ boutique. Noteworthy establishments include The George, an independently owned boutique hotel with two restaurants and a bar, as well as the family-owned Gilberts Butchers and Pantry, offering traditional butchery, essentials, and locally-sourced produce.

For private preparatory and secondary education, nearby Kimbolton (12 minutes away) provides a school bus service from the village. Other options include Oundle (approximately 30 minutes away) and Cambridge (30 minutes away). Central London can be easily accessed via St. Neots train station, which offers a door-to-door journey in under an hour.

“There’s so much to say about the property that it’s hard to know where to start, so I’ll begin with what attracted us just over 17 years ago. As movers from London, we were keen to leave the noise and congestion but wanted to retain the convenience of city life. Buckden was unusual in that it offered quality services on our doorstep - lovely to be able to shop, walk the children to school or meet friends for a drink or meal without getting in the car. The commute from St Neots to London was quick and straightforward, and as for the property itself, well, it immediately felt like home and offered all the features and character on our wish list. it is strikingly handsome and positioned opposite the beautiful church and Towers right in the heart of the village. We knew straight away it would be an amazing place to bring up our family,” say the owners.

“There’s lots going on for people of all ages and you can get involved as much or as little as you like. We’ve just had our village summer fete, which is always a fantastic event, and Buckfest, the renowned music festival, gets better every year. The village hall is home to various groups and the church brings the whole community together. Grafham Water is brilliant for bike rides, walking, and water sports. The village is well-served for amenities, including a GP surgery, pharmacy, library, bowling club and tennis courts.”

“Our garden is a private space where we can relax and entertain. It’s a place where our whole family can come together for a BBQ or to celebrate special events with us. The swimming pool comes into its own in the summer, and it’s completely safe as we’ve installed an automatic safety cover. The rear facade of the house is covered in roses, and the wildflower bed attracts bees and dragonflies.”

“We love that all of the front rooms have views over to the church and Buckden Towers. It’s hard to choose just one favourite room but the snug/tv room is a gorgeous space with the original shutters, especially in winter when the wood burner is on. The first-floor drawing room is wonderful too as it has high ceilings and an open fire which lends itself perfectly to entertaining at Christmas and leads out to the landing which is the ideal spot for our Christmas tree.”*

*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.

Village information

Buckden is a pretty village lying approx. 4 miles north of the market town of St Neots. In the centre of the village is Buckden Towers which was once Buckden Palace - the residence of the bishops of Lincoln. The village is well-served to meet everyday needs, including a butcher, two village shops, one with a post office, GP and dental surgeries and a pharmacy. There is also a marina with easy access to the river for boating and fishing. Buckden Village Hall is in the heart of the village and is a multifunctional venue hosting numerous social clubs and activities including exercise and dance classes, Model Railway club, Gardeners Association and Brownies. The Lion, dating from the 15th century, is a charming pub full of historic character and a lovely place for a drink or bite to eat. The George Hotel and Brasserie is a boutique hotel with a restaurant serving delicious meals, whilst the outside seating area is ideal for relaxing with a summer drink. St Neots has a bustling High Street with a weekly market, cafes and restaurants and a wide range of sports and leisure activities.

Transport

Nearby St Neots has a mainline train station providing fast rail services into London King’s Cross from about 40 minutes or to the North via Peterborough. With fast access to the A1, there are quick and easy links to the wider national motorway network including the A14 with Cambridge about half an hour away. Luton Airport is 50 minutes by car (43 miles) and Stansted is an hour away (50 miles).

Education

The village is home to Buckden Day Nursery for pre-schoolers and the well-regarded Buckden CofE Primary Academy, both rated ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted. For secondary education, Buckden falls within the catchment area for Hinchingbrooke School in Huntingdon; transport is provided for children attending this school. The renowned Kimbolton School, an independent co-educational day and boarding school, is about 7 miles away and is served by a dedicated school bus service from the village. Further independent schools can be found in Cambridge, Bedford and Oundle.

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INFORMATION

Magnificent Views

Sought After Village

Exceptional Levels of Privacy

Great Access to London and Cambridge

South-Facing Garden

Outdoor Swimming Pool

Period Features

Grade II Listed”

Agents Notes

Tenure: Freehold

Year Built: Mid-18th Century

EPC: Exempt – Grade II Listed

Local Authority: Huntingdonshire District Council

Council Tax Band: G

There is private gated pedestrian access to Lucks Lane.

To conform with government Money Laundering Regulation 2017, we are required to confirm the identity of all prospective buyers. We use the services of a third party, Lifetime Legal, who will contact you directly at an agreed time to do this. They will need the full name, date of birth and current address of all buyers. There is a nominal charge of £60 including VAT for this (for the transaction not per person), payable directly to Lifetime Legal. Please note, we are unable to issue a memorandum of sale until the checks are complete.

We may refer you to recommended providers of ancillary services such as Conveyancing, Financial Services, Insurance and Surveying. We may receive a commission payment fee or other benefit (known as a referral fee) for recommending their services. You are not under any obligation to use the services of the recommended provider. The ancillary service provider may be an associated company of Fine & Country or Thomas Morris Sales & Lettings.

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 28.07.2023

FINE & COUNTRY

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