WELCOME HOME Shepherds Barn

from Lincolnshire Pride January 2021

NEWS The best ‘good news

FOR WISE MEN andFOR WISE MEN and SHEPHERDS SHEPHERDS

Located in Skillington, near Grantham, this month’s featured property is suitable for both shepherds, and Located in Skillington, near Grantham, this month’s featured property is suitable for both shepherds, and for wise men (and women)... that’s because Shepherds Barn has plenty of period features, an abundance for wise men (and women)... that’s because Shepherds Barn has plenty of period features, an abundance of space as well as brand new kitchen and bathrooms to ensure low maintenance in the future... of space as well as brand new kitchen and bathrooms to ensure low maintenance in the future...

Words: Rob Davis.

If you’re going to make a New Year’s resolution, make it one you’ll stick to. The owner of this month’s featured property, for example, is resolving to do less housework. With the children of the family having now left home, they’ve reasoned that now is the time to downsize and spare themselves the extra hoovering. Shepherds Barn is located equidistant between Grantham, Stamford, Bourne and Melton Mowbray, and dates back to 1780. Despite its age and its period charm, the place has escaped a Grade II listing, converted into a residential property as recently as the 1970s, before being renovated again by its current owners, who moved to the property in December 2012.

The house is L-shaped and arranged over two floors. Undoubtedly it has seen service as an agricultural building for a number of years, and above the door there’s a wall plaque which reads ‘et mea messa erit,’ which we expert scholars of Latin – at least those of us with Google Translate at our disposal – have translated as ‘and it will be my harvest.’

What the next owner is certain to reap is the rewards of space. There are three reception rooms currently arranged as a large dining room, sitting room and drawing room.

The 30ft dining room is home to a log burner and flagstone flooring, and has in previous years accommodated Christmas Day lunch for 14 people... back in the days when we could celebrate the season without limiting the number of people with whom we were enjoy the festive season.

“The current owners knocked through so that rooms sensibly connect with each other allowing for a better flow...”

The kitchen was installed just a year or two ago, prior to the family deciding to move, and was installed by Melton Mowbray’s John Smith Kitchens & Interiors. It’s a solid timber in-frame shaker kitchen created in tulip wood and painted in blue, with Minerva engineered stone work surfaces and featuring appliances like a Rangemaster range cooker with induction hob, plus Neff dishwasher and refrigeration. Meanwhile a separate utility room keeps laundry room clutter and boots out of the way. All six bedrooms are located upstairs occupying part of the roof space continuing the sense of charm with dormer windows and vaulted ceilings.

The current owners knocked through so that rooms sensibly connect with each other, and in doing so created much better ‘flow.’

A split-level, newly fitted Jack & Jill bathroom can be reached from both landings at the top of the two main staircases. The master bedroom has a vast adjoining dressing room and a shower room with top notch Grohe lavatory and washbasin plus a Crosswater shower.

The south facing, low-maintenance garden of Shepherds Barn is through metal gates which open onto a gravelled drive which will take up to six cars, whilst brick terracing borders the barn. >>

>> Beyond, enclosed by stone walls, a lawn and sizeable terrace provide shaded and sunny areas, and beds are filled with colourful perennials and shrubs. The grandchildren in the family love playing in the gardens, which are walled and safe. Beyond the curtilage of the property is a rather lovely paddock, owned by the Parish Council and leased out to a local who grazes their horses on the land.

The currently owner of Shepherds Barn says this provides the best of both worlds in the sense that the land belongs to the village so it’s unlikely to be developed into housing, and yet it’s there providing a charming pastoral backdrop to the property.

Top: The kitchen was installed just a couple of years ago and has been crafted in tulip wood by local cabinet maker John Smith.

Speaking of which, the village is home to about 280 residents, and the locals run various events throughout the year based around the Church, the Methodist Chapel and the village hall. On the opposite side of the green from Shepherds Barn, food is served at The Cross Swords Inn, whilst the Tollemache Arms in Buckminster and The Cholmeley Arms in Burton Coggles are about a fifteen minute drive away. The award winning Olive Branch in Clipsham and The Jackson Stops in Stretton are also within easy reach, so the next owners of Shepherds Barn will seldom be without entertainment or in need of a place to enjoy a good pint or meal. The current owners say they will miss the house, but are happy that a new family will get to enjoy the space and style the rather unique house affords. n