House For Sale £875,000
Striking, Deceptively Spacious, Period Red-Brick And Timber-Frame Cottage .
Sitting proudly on the High Street of the pretty Cambridgeshire village of Offord Cluny, this striking, deceptively spacious, period red-brick and timber-frame cottage exudes curb appeal. Behind the impressive facade, the appeal continues, with its relaxed, homely, and superbly comfortable interiors, Crown House is truly a luxury, & lifestyle property.
Dating back to the 17th century, this beautiful grade II listed, detached property has been lovingly and comprehensively restored and enhanced by the current owners to an impressively high standard. A great deal of care and forethought has gone into the introduction of all the modern amenities required for modern life, whilst retaining the charm and character of the period.
Given the extent and the quality of the work completed by the current owners, any concerns you may have regarding the restrictions and ‘red tape’ often associated with listed properties, can be safely set aside, as literally, everything has already been taken care of.
Once inside, Crown House surprises and delights, with its extremely versatile and spacious accommodation. In addition to the three bedrooms and two bathrooms on the first floor, there is also a fully self-contained guest suite / annexe on the ground floor. Set in what was once a stable block in years gone by, it is currently being used by the owners as the primary bedroom, as it provides immediate access to the hot tub for early morning and late-evening relaxation.
However, this suite would also be perfect for either an elderly relative or a teenager needing their own space.
There is also another very exciting opportunity here. On a separate Land Registry title, but being sold as part of this sale, there is a characterful, detached two-storey property, which was built to match the house beautifully. This building is currently categorised as a commercial property and historically used as a shop. However, subject to the relevant permissions being granted, this building is not listed and therefore could very easily be converted to a large annexe, studio, Airbnb type accommodation, or potentially a separate dwelling. You really are only limited by your own imagination as to what could be achieved with this building.
Outside, the private and fully enclosed rear garden is absolutely stunning and is so well maintained and laid out for outdoor living, dining and entertaining, that it really could be considered another room to the house.
Offord Cluny itself, benefits from a very well-stocked village shop and also a local pub called The Horseshoe. An award-winning ‘gastro pub’ known by locals as ‘The Shoe’, it is popular for miles around and known for serving guest ales, fine wines and great food from it’s a-la-carte menu, plus a Sunday Carvery.
For families with children of school age, the local, Offord Primary School is less than half a mile away and there are two secondary schools, Longsands Academy and Hinchingbrooke School, both just five miles away, plus the renowned Kimbolton School, which is just 9 miles away and is served by a dedicated bus service from the Offord’s.
If commuting is required, both St Neots and Huntingdon railway stations are approximately five miles away and offer services to London in forty and fifty minutes, respectively. Cambridge city centre is just twenty miles away and can be accessed via several park and ride services, the nearest of which is the guided busway in the pretty market town of St Ives, which is only a 10-minute drive, whilst the town of St. Neots is just five miles away.
For water and nature lovers, the boating marinas at Buckden, St. Neots and St. Ives are all within very easy reach and there are several riverside and lakeside walks in the area. These include the popular Ouse Valley Way and the Wildlife Sanctuary at Little Paxton, making it a great location for anglers, dog walkers, joggers, birdwatchers and ramblers alike. Just a ten-minute walk from the property, the Buckden Marina complex also offers an exclusive fitness centre, swimming pool and Spa, plus a bar and restaurant with a large terrace overlooking the Marina.
Accommodation:
Ground Floor:
Entrance
A covered porch and door give access to a very smart lobby, which sets the tone well for the rest of the house. With slate effect tiled flooring and doors and steps giving access to the kitchen, dining room and lounge.
Dining Room
A beautiful, formal dining room packed with character and perfect for both family dining and entertaining guests alike. The Karndean flooring is a lovely wood board effect and natural light is provided by a glazed door to the garden courtyard. The star feature of the room though, is without doubt the brick fireplace with brick hearth and oak beam mantle.
Lounge / Family Room
Accessed via a half-glazed door from the dining room and also a step down from the lobby, this is a sumptuous, open-plan room, which really has the ‘wow’ factor. Whilst one big space, which could easily be used as such, there are fireplaces at both ends and the room is semi-divided by an exposed brickwork pillar and a character staircase to the first floor. There are three front aspect windows letting in lots of natural light, which really shows off the exposed brickwork pillars and oak beams to the fullest. In the lounge area, is a huge inglenook fireplace with an oak beam mantle, herringbone brickwork hearth and a cast iron grate and metal hood. In the family room area, the brick fireplace with brickwork mantle and hearth houses a large wood burning stove.
Kitchen / Breakfast Room
A perfect blend of charm, character and modern-day living is on show in this traditional farmhouse style kitchen. The extensive range of cream painted eye and base level units and oak worktops are complimented beautifully by exposed oak posts and beams. Integrated appliances include a Bosch double oven, five ring gas hob with an extractor above, a Neff Dishwasher, a Bosch combination microwave oven, a fridge and an inset porcelain double butler sink. The slate effect tiled floor, four-seater granite-effect breakfast bar and the built-in terracotta tube wine rack, finish the room perfectly.
Music / Day Room
Accessed via a step up from the kitchen and with a door out to the garden courtyard, the music / day room has windows to both sides of the house, a wood effect Karndean floor and a door to the study.
Study
A rear aspect window provides natural light and there are built in storage cupboards and a walkway giving access to the Utility Room.
Utility Room
Plumbing and space for a washing machine and a tumble dryer with worktops and cupboards above. A stable style door gives access to the garden courtyard and a brick arch with a hand-crafted wooden door carved with a date and the initials of the maker, leads to the annex / guest suite.
Annexe / Guest Suite
Formerly a stable block, this beautifully converted room is a fantastic addition to the house and provides completely self-contained accommodation. With vaulted ceilings, exposed brickwork and bespoke, locally crafted king-span timbers, it blends seamlessly with the rest of the property. The accommodation here is comprised of a generous double bedroom, a fully equipped kitchenette and a fully tiled en-suite wet room with a double shower, sink and w/c. There are two windows overlooking the garden and a stable style door providing access to the garden courtyard and the large jacuzzi hot tub.
First Floor:
Landing
A galleried landing with wood panelling, exposed oak beams and a large airing cupboard housing the gas boiler.
Bedroom One
A pretty double room with exposed brickwork and oak beams and a window overlooking the front of the house.
En-Suite Shower Room
A light room with a front aspect window and a modern fitted suite comprising of a shower, w/c, sink and a heated towel rail.
Bedroom Two
A generous double room with a front aspect window and exposed brickwork and beams.
Bedroom Three
A light and airy double room with two windows letting in lots of natural light and fitted furniture comprising of a book-case, wardrobe, desk and vanity unit.
Family Bathroom
A side aspect room with a modern fitted suite comprising a bath with a shower over, a sink and vanity unit, w/c and a heated towel rail.
Outside:
The rear garden is an absolutely stunning example of an English Country Garden. This wonderfully private space has been designed with outdoor living and entertaining in mind. Within easy reach of the kitchen, there is a large patio area with a gazebo, an outside table and LED mood lighting, perfect for alfresco dining. Away from the dining area, on another patio is a very well maintained six-seater hot-tub with an integrated Bluetooth sound system. Surrounded by beautiful roses, flowers and shrubs, it really is very easy to imagine yourself sat in the tub enjoying a glass or two with friends. Across the lawn at the back of the garden, is a glazed, timber garden building with programmable, external LED mood lighting. Affectionately known as ‘the man cave’, it has been cleverly and tastefully divided into two areas, with a summer house with a small bar at one end, and a shed / workshop at the other.
Shop / detached building
Through a gateway across the cobbled driveway is the shop building that could be converted to suit a variety of uses depending on your needs. Built in the 1980s, utilising reclaimed original bricks and timbers it is so sympathetic to the main house, it is difficult to tell that it is not of the same period. It has its own private courtyard and access from both front and rear.
There are two shop windows and a door directly on the High Street that gives access to a large, open plan ground-floor room. In addition, there is a good size back room, a w/c with plumbing for a toilet and stairs up to the attic/first floor. Upstairs is completely boarded out and pitched in line with the roof. This space could easily be converted for bedrooms, a studio or simply used for storage.
Sitting proudly on the High Street of the pretty Cambridgeshire village of Offord Cluny, this striking, deceptively spacious, period red-brick and timber-frame cottage exudes curb appeal. Behind the impressive facade, the appeal continues, with its relaxed, homely, and superbly comfortable interiors, Crown House is truly a luxury, & lifestyle property.
Dating back to the 17th century, this beautiful grade II listed, detached property has been lovingly and comprehensively restored and enhanced by the current owners to an impressively high standard. A great deal of care and forethought has gone into the introduction of all the modern amenities required for modern life, whilst retaining the charm and character of the period.
Given the extent and the quality of the work completed by the current owners, any concerns you may have regarding the restrictions and ‘red tape’ often associated with listed properties, can be safely set aside, as literally, everything has already been taken care of.
Once inside, Crown House surprises and delights, with its extremely versatile and spacious accommodation. In addition to the three bedrooms and two bathrooms on the first floor, there is also a fully self-contained guest suite / annexe on the ground floor. Set in what was once a stable block in years gone by, it is currently being used by the owners as the primary bedroom, as it provides immediate access to the hot tub for early morning and late-evening relaxation.
However, this suite would also be perfect for either an elderly relative or a teenager needing their own space.
There is also another very exciting opportunity here. On a separate Land Registry title, but being sold as part of this sale, there is a characterful, detached two-storey property, which was built to match the house beautifully. This building is currently categorised as a commercial property and historically used as a shop. However, subject to the relevant permissions being granted, this building is not listed and therefore could very easily be converted to a large annexe, studio, Airbnb type accommodation, or potentially a separate dwelling. You really are only limited by your own imagination as to what could be achieved with this building.
Outside, the private and fully enclosed rear garden is absolutely stunning and is so well maintained and laid out for outdoor living, dining and entertaining, that it really could be considered another room to the house.
Offord Cluny itself, benefits from a very well-stocked village shop and also a local pub called The Horseshoe. An award-winning ‘gastro pub’ known by locals as ‘The Shoe’, it is popular for miles around and known for serving guest ales, fine wines and great food from it’s a-la-carte menu, plus a Sunday Carvery.
For families with children of school age, the local, Offord Primary School is less than half a mile away and there are two secondary schools, Longsands Academy and Hinchingbrooke School, both just five miles away, plus the renowned Kimbolton School, which is just 9 miles away and is served by a dedicated bus service from the Offord’s.
If commuting is required, both St Neots and Huntingdon railway stations are approximately five miles away and offer services to London in forty and fifty minutes, respectively. Cambridge city centre is just twenty miles away and can be accessed via several park and ride services, the nearest of which is the guided busway in the pretty market town of St Ives, which is only a 10-minute drive, whilst the town of St. Neots is just five miles away.
For water and nature lovers, the boating marinas at Buckden, St. Neots and St. Ives are all within very easy reach and there are several riverside and lakeside walks in the area. These include the popular Ouse Valley Way and the Wildlife Sanctuary at Little Paxton, making it a great location for anglers, dog walkers, joggers, birdwatchers and ramblers alike. Just a ten-minute walk from the property, the Buckden Marina complex also offers an exclusive fitness centre, swimming pool and Spa, plus a bar and restaurant with a large terrace overlooking the Marina.
Accommodation:
Ground Floor:
Entrance
A covered porch and door give access to a very smart lobby, which sets the tone well for the rest of the house. With slate effect tiled flooring and doors and steps giving access to the kitchen, dining room and lounge.
Dining Room
A beautiful, formal dining room packed with character and perfect for both family dining and entertaining guests alike. The Karndean flooring is a lovely wood board effect and natural light is provided by a glazed door to the garden courtyard. The star feature of the room though, is without doubt the brick fireplace with brick hearth and oak beam mantle.
Lounge / Family Room
Accessed via a half-glazed door from the dining room and also a step down from the lobby, this is a sumptuous, open-plan room, which really has the ‘wow’ factor. Whilst one big space, which could easily be used as such, there are fireplaces at both ends and the room is semi-divided by an exposed brickwork pillar and a character staircase to the first floor. There are three front aspect windows letting in lots of natural light, which really shows off the exposed brickwork pillars and oak beams to the fullest. In the lounge area, is a huge inglenook fireplace with an oak beam mantle, herringbone brickwork hearth and a cast iron grate and metal hood. In the family room area, the brick fireplace with brickwork mantle and hearth houses a large wood burning stove.
Kitchen / Breakfast Room
A perfect blend of charm, character and modern-day living is on show in this traditional farmhouse style kitchen. The extensive range of cream painted eye and base level units and oak worktops are complimented beautifully by exposed oak posts and beams. Integrated appliances include a Bosch double oven, five ring gas hob with an extractor above, a Neff Dishwasher, a Bosch combination microwave oven, a fridge and an inset porcelain double butler sink. The slate effect tiled floor, four-seater granite-effect breakfast bar and the built-in terracotta tube wine rack, finish the room perfectly.
Music / Day Room
Accessed via a step up from the kitchen and with a door out to the garden courtyard, the music / day room has windows to both sides of the house, a wood effect Karndean floor and a door to the study.
Study
A rear aspect window provides natural light and there are built in storage cupboards and a walkway giving access to the Utility Room.
Utility Room
Plumbing and space for a washing machine and a tumble dryer with worktops and cupboards above. A stable style door gives access to the garden courtyard and a brick arch with a hand-crafted wooden door carved with a date and the initials of the maker, leads to the annex / guest suite.
Annexe / Guest Suite
Formerly a stable block, this beautifully converted room is a fantastic addition to the house and provides completely self-contained accommodation. With vaulted ceilings, exposed brickwork and bespoke, locally crafted king-span timbers, it blends seamlessly with the rest of the property. The accommodation here is comprised of a generous double bedroom, a fully equipped kitchenette and a fully tiled en-suite wet room with a double shower, sink and w/c. There are two windows overlooking the garden and a stable style door providing access to the garden courtyard and the large jacuzzi hot tub.
First Floor:
Landing
A galleried landing with wood panelling, exposed oak beams and a large airing cupboard housing the gas boiler.
Bedroom One
A pretty double room with exposed brickwork and oak beams and a window overlooking the front of the house.
En-Suite Shower Room
A light room with a front aspect window and a modern fitted suite comprising of a shower, w/c, sink and a heated towel rail.
Bedroom Two
A generous double room with a front aspect window and exposed brickwork and beams.
Bedroom Three
A light and airy double room with two windows letting in lots of natural light and fitted furniture comprising of a book-case, wardrobe, desk and vanity unit.
Family Bathroom
A side aspect room with a modern fitted suite comprising a bath with a shower over, a sink and vanity unit, w/c and a heated towel rail.
Outside:
The rear garden is an absolutely stunning example of an English Country Garden. This wonderfully private space has been designed with outdoor living and entertaining in mind. Within easy reach of the kitchen, there is a large patio area with a gazebo, an outside table and LED mood lighting, perfect for alfresco dining. Away from the dining area, on another patio is a very well maintained six-seater hot-tub with an integrated Bluetooth sound system. Surrounded by beautiful roses, flowers and shrubs, it really is very easy to imagine yourself sat in the tub enjoying a glass or two with friends. Across the lawn at the back of the garden, is a glazed, timber garden building with programmable, external LED mood lighting. Affectionately known as ‘the man cave’, it has been cleverly and tastefully divided into two areas, with a summer house with a small bar at one end, and a shed / workshop at the other.
Shop / detached building
Through a gateway across the cobbled driveway is the shop building that could be converted to suit a variety of uses depending on your needs. Built in the 1980s, utilising reclaimed original bricks and timbers it is so sympathetic to the main house, it is difficult to tell that it is not of the same period. It has its own private courtyard and access from both front and rear.
There are two shop windows and a door directly on the High Street that gives access to a large, open plan ground-floor room. In addition, there is a good size back room, a w/c with plumbing for a toilet and stairs up to the attic/first floor. Upstairs is completely boarded out and pitched in line with the roof. This space could easily be converted for bedrooms, a studio or simply used for storage.
