Biggleswade, Bedfordshire

WHISTLEFIELD HOUSE

KEY FEATURES

Set in the centre of 0.42 acres with views across fields to the rear and the east side of the property, this spacious modern home sits behind remote controlled gates and offers 4058 square feet of accommodation including a detached triple garage.

The sweeping block paved drive leads to garage, parking and front of the property. The entrance lobby opens onto a spacious entrance hall with galleried landing above. The elegant triple aspect living room with feature fireplace is light and airy and has double doors leading through to the dining room. From the entrance hall, double doors lead into the dining room which also has a feature fireplace and double doors lead out to the rear garden. The two principal reception rooms sit alongside a family room with an exposed brick wall with feature fireplace and wood burning stove. Double doors between the kitchen breakfast room and family room allow the space to be enjoyed as a large open plan space; ideal for families and entertaining. The kitchen breakfast room opens onto the garden and boasts a central island. A good size study, utility room and cloakroom complete the ground floor.

On the first floor there is a dual aspect principal bedroom with built in storage and a four piece en-suite bathroom. Bedroom two is a good size double bedroom with en-suite shower room. There are three further double bedrooms on the first floor served by the family bathroom with clawfoot bath and separate shower. On the second floor is bedroom six which is very spacious and has an en-suite bathroom and kitchenette area; perfect as a guest suite or potentially for an older more independent child, multi-generational living or an au pair.

The mature gardens are beautifully landscaped and includes block paved paths, seating areas, a pond with a low maintenance “Trex” viewing deck with integral lighting, well stocked borders, lawns and mature trees, shrubs and perennials. Established hedging and trees ensures a high level of privacy and to the rear and side there are lovely views across the fields. The triple garage and paved drive provides parking for multiple vehicles.

SELLER INSIGHT

Above all, it was the location of Whistlefield House which first attracted us to the property,” say the current owners. “When we received the property details from the estate agent we had never even heard of the village of Ickwell, but we fell in love with this quintessential English village on our very first visit. Now, we can honestly say it is one of the best Bedfordshire villages to live in, being in an extremely accessible location with the Bedford schools in close proximity, but with a friendly village feel.”

“The house itself is lovely, too,” the owners continue, “one of four spacious and uniquely designed homes tucked away down a private close. Since moving in, we have combined the kitchen with the breakfast room to create a large open plan family space for cooking, eating and entertaining, with an adjacent playroom which has variously served as a lounge and study as our family’s needs have evolved. This room is perhaps our favourite in the house with its large picture window, while the open fires in the living room and dining room bring a cosy feeling in winter. Upstairs, a self-contained second floor bedsit with kitchenette, en-suite and living room makes this ideal for multi-generational living.”

The house is perfect for everyday life and entertaining alike, with French doors opening out onto the sunny garden to create an easy flow between inside and outside.

“A particularly memorable event was our daughter’s 21st birthday party,” the owners say, “hosted throughout the wraparound garden with 60 guests dispersed between the waterside decking, circular patio and green spaces. The house sits centrally in the garden with as much space to the front as the rear, landscaped with mature trees and designed to make the most of the sun throughout the day. We share the garden with local wildlife from the adjacent woodland and fields, too, from lapwings, red kites and owls to muntjac deer skipping across the lawn and frogs in the pond.”

The local area has much to recommend it, too. “The village is very friendly with an excellent social support network – a lovely place to bring up children,” the owners say. “The cricket club on the village green serves as a social centre, being very family oriented with regular community events. There is a pub in the next-door village, Northill, and a local shop within walking distance in Upper Caldecote for all the basics. The village school, preschool and toddler group are excellent, while the secondary schools in nearby Bedford are very well regarded. Ickwell itself really is a very special village, with something for all ages: the annual Mayday festivals every year, this being one of the last English villages to have a working maypole!”

“We are very sad to be leaving but our children have all left home now so we are moving to be closer to our children and grandchildren.”*

*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.

2/F SUITE

Village information

Ickwell is a very picturesque and quintessentially English village, complete with a cricket club (one of the oldest in Bedfordshire) and lots of footpaths and bridleways around the area, perfect for riders, dog walkers, joggers and ramblers alike. The village is dominated by the Ickwell Green with its cricket pitch and pavilion, maypole and war memorial. The annual Ickwell May Day Festival dates from the 16th century with games, competitions, country dancing and children dancing around the Maypole and, of course, the crowning of the May Queen.

Nearby Biggleswade has a variety of shops, cafés, bars and restaurants and a weekly market. The town is also well served with several of the large supermarket chains plus additional brand shopping at the Retail Park on the outskirts of the town. For the more active, there is a sports and leisure centre and a wide selection of sports and leisure clubs for young and old.

Transport

Ickwell lies about 3.5 miles to the west of the market town of Biggleswade and about 10.5 miles south east of the county town of Bedford. With easy access to the A1(M) and the national motorway network it is convenient for access to Letchworth, Stevenage and Hatfield home to a variety of major employers in the area. For the London commuter, Biggleswade train station offers fast services into London King’s Cross in about 35 minutes and Thameslink also offers services through to Horsham via London St Pancras, London Bridge and Gatwick Airport.

Schools

There are several primary schools in the nearby villages of Northill, Caldecote, Southill and Moggerhanger. The nearest secondary schools are in Biggleswade and Sandy and there are also many well-regarded state and independent primary and secondary schools in Beford.

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INFORMATION

• 0.42 Acre Plot

• Six Double Bedrooms

• Three En-Suites

• Three Reception Rooms

• Study

• Triple Garage & Parking

• Gated Drive

• Landscaped Gardens

Agents Notes

Tenure: Freehold

Year Built: 1989

EPC: D

Local Authority: Central Bedfordshire Council

Council Tax Band: H

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 15.02.2023

FINE & COUNTRY

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