WELCOME HOME A C17th ironstone

ESPECIALLY ESPECIALLY FOR YEW FOR YEW

New to the market and quintessentially Rutland, Little Yew Tree is a beautiful New to the market and quintessentially Rutland, Little Yew Tree is a beautiful thatched family home, even if the word ‘little’ in the title is slightly deceiving for this thatched family home, even if the word ‘little’ in the title is slightly deceiving for this generously-sized family home. Wendy and Philip Clayton show us around… generously-sized family home. Wendy and Philip Clayton show us around…

When Wendy Clayton designed the timberframed extension for their Rutland property, she quite deliberately included one particular feature. “This is the Christmas tree corner,” she declared.

The couple are approaching a special anniversary in a couple of months; 20 years in the house, located on Preston’s Main Street. Alas, with the property on the market and with it unlikely to hang around – due to its character and features as much as the current buoyancy of the market – they’re unlikely to still be living there.

Fewer than 200 people live in the village and much of the housing stock was created in the 1600s.

Main/Right: A modern extension was added to the property providing a breakfast kitchen. This, too, was extended to create the oak-framed open plan living space and a new snug. 62

It was given a Grade II listing in 1986, described as a late 17th century cottage of ashlar and thatch, with a 19th century brick addition.

“We’ve extended it twice; once to create the a guest suite and second staircase and again to create a timber-framed snug where the old garage was,” says Wendy.

Little Yew Tree is arranged over two floors, the original part of the building being the sitting room and dining room downstairs and two bedrooms plus the family bathroom upstairs. The extension created a new breakfast kitchen and later the open plan living space with its timber frame and snug.

Wendy and Philip were drawn to the property firstly because of its character. Wendy says she loves how cool in the summer and warm

“Wendy says she loves how a thatched roof helps a property to feel cool in the summer and yet warm in the winter...”

in the winter a thatched roof makes a property feel, and she loves how the rain continues to drip from the straw outdoors after the rain.

The roof was re-thatched less than five years ago so it should be good for another 30 years or so. This is, the couple says, their third thatched cottage and the one in which their three children have grown up.

“We usually have our grown-up children and our grandchild to stay over Christmas, and when they do, the layout of the house upstairs means they can have their own bathroom, their own staircase and another bedroom adjacent to their own, so it’s practically a self-contained guest suite.”

“Along with the bigger projects like extensions, we’ve done so much to the property over the years. Most recently we fitted a new bathroom, and whenever we have changed anything it’s usually meant employing a bespoke tradesperson because of the unique size and character of the property.” The couple used a local carpenter Nigel Smith to create their solid pine kitchen. Wendy says she’s contemplated having it painted but rather likes the look of the wood in its natural state. Still, a mini-makeover could quickly and cost-effectively see the next owners putting their own mark on the space, with its butcher’s block style island and its granite surfaces. >>

>> There’s flagstone flooring, a range cooker, and butler sink for heaps of character and practicality, and Wendy says she’s avoided built-in appliances in favour of freestanding ones to afford better choice when replacing them in the future.

The main reception room has a feature fireplace and stone mullion windows, and everywhere you look there are lovely nobbly beams and beautiful details. If there’s a Rutland property with more character and as decent a provision of size on the market at the moment, we’ve yet to see it.

And of course, outdoors, the same is true. There are in fact several yew trees including those planted by Wendy and Philip in the curtilage, and as well as practical considerations

like a much larger parking area in the grounds replacing a rather claustrophobic one. Wendy has also employed considerable creative flair to the garden with pretty pots, planters and borders plus a pretty pergola with mature roses adjacent to the terrace. There’s a prolific space for growing tomatoes, too, and Wendy reports she’s had some bumper crops in summers gone by.

“It’s definitely a house that tells you the story of its life as you walk around it,” she says. “It’s practical, but has a lovely feel too. We’ve had some wonderful Christmases here and this might be the last one so we’re planning to make the most of it.”

“We’re moving into Oakham so we’ll be in walking distance of the town and closer to our daughter. We’ll miss the place but I love the idea of a new family coming to the house and enjoying it as much as we have!” n

LITTLE YEW TREE, PRESTON, RUTLAND

Location: Preston; Oakham six minutes, Uppingham four minutes. Style: Ironstone and thatch cottage with C19th extension, three bedrooms and three reception rooms.

Guide Price: £550,000.

Find Out More: James Sellicks, Estate Agents, Market Place Oakham Rutland LE15 6DT. Call 01572 724437 or see www.jamessellicks.com. n