Location

St Michaels Hall Cottage is set in an idyllic countryside location close to the charming village of St Michaels on Wyre. The village is centered on the Grade I Listed church of St Michaels, which was founded prior to 640 AD and is later referenced in the Doomsday Book. The village has an active local community with events held throughout the year including a summer fete and candle-lit carol concert. The River Wyre meanders past the church, through the village and across local farmland, providing a scenic backdrop for this impressive ‘farmhouse’ property. Day-to-day needs are well provided for by the attractive ancient market town of Garstang. Here you will find a full range of health services, supermarkets and a thriving weekly market. The cities of Lancaster and Preston are also easily accessible with highly regarded hospital and educational facilities. Whether you need to travel for business or love to get out and about for pleasure, transport links are to hand with convenient access onto the M6 at either J32 or J33 depending on the direction of your travel and there are train stations on the main West Coastline at both Lancaster and Preston. London and Edinburgh can easily be reached within 2 hours.

Description

This traditional farmhouse is presented to an uncompromising standard throughout. The property exudes the charm and character of a quintessential country home combined with luxurious contemporary design. The current owners have commissioned a programme of renovation and modernisation applying meticulous attention to detail and by seamlessly blending period features with modern finishes.
To the ground floor there are five reception rooms as well as an independent home office and a substantial breakfast kitchen. The leisure suite includes a temperature controlled Hydrapool swim trainer pool, an EOS sauna, steam room, gym, shower and changing facilities. The bedroom accommodation offers a fabulous principal room with bathroom and dressing room, two further ensuite guest bedrooms and an independent guest suite of sitting room, mezzanine bedroom and shower room.

The contemporary front door opens to a bright atrium/orangery; the French windows opening onto the central courtyard and the large roof lantern both allow light to flood in. The generously proportioned living room, known as the ‘main barn’, has beaded pine ceiling beams and French windows to both the walled garden and the courtyard. In part, the room is double height as it is from here that a staircase rises solely serving the principal bedroom suite. The polished oak handrail curves invitingly up to a mezzanine gallery above. A contemporary Evonic LED fire is set into a striking ‘media wall’ which also houses a flush TV screen. With views to the walled garden, the adjacent ‘garden room’ connecting the main barn area with the library, and with the wood burning stove lit, is a yet another cosy space. Within the family the library is fondly referred to as “The Gentlemen’s Room” for obvious reasons; it’s a distinctly masculine space and with a fire in the open grate, it’s no doubt a relaxing way to spend a winter’s evening. Extra tall double oak doors open to the atmospheric dining room where the ceiling rises to the roof apex with exposed trusses on show. By virtue of the partially glazed door to the orangery there’s an inviting long view through to the courtyard and spa beyond.

The breakfast kitchen embraces clean lines, using a palette of colours that marries nature-inspired shades with a contemporary efficiency. This is a room not just for cooking (it’s incredibly well equipped in terms of Siemens appliances) but also for socialising; there’s a central island unit incorporating a breakfast bar with striking pendant lighting above and a stone fireplace housing a wood burner. Set behind a glass wall with integral door is a stunning cantilever oak set of steps positioned against the backdrop of a wall clad with reclaimed ship’s timbers. Under the steps is extensive wine racking and handmade oak cabinetry with drawers set on sliders designed to house wine crates; the ‘floating stairs’ lead up to the fourth bedroom. For a continuous appearance, the separate laundry and garage cabinets echo those in the kitchen.

The property is well appointed for work, rest and play; the gym is light and airy with a double height ceiling, remote control Velux windows and two wall-mounted air conditioning units. Adjoining the gym is the spa room which offers the ultimate in rest and relaxation featuring a 14 ft hydropool swim trainer (doubling as a huge hot tub), a steam room, a Canadian maple-clad sauna, a shower room, cloakroom and a changing area. The sauna and steam facilities are controllable remotely, via the EOS touch-screen control panel, and the steam room has an arched ceiling ensuring that there are no drips from overhead and a cold water tap and basin enables a cooling drink or cold facecloth. The spa room is designed to be used all year round with an Evonic LED fire set into a stone chimney breast; open the south facing bifolding doors and allow the sun to shine straight in. The floor tiling continues from the pool surround out to the courtyard, and through to the orangery, giving a continuous look. Completing the ground floor accommodation is the home office with enviable views towards the walled garden.
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To the first floor there are four generously proportioned bedroom suites. The principal bedroom suite offers a rare and thoroughly well-deserved degree of luxury. Approached by a private and gracefully curved flight of stairs, the iroko treads and oak handrail are finished with a locally forged balustrade, based on a Parisian design. Rising to the ample mezzanine floor there is a gallery feel to the space with artwork displayed, lovely, weathered brick work and views to both the garden and through the former barn door opening to the courtyard. The first thing to say is that the bedroom has a sumptuously soft carpet underfoot, a generous room where the ceiling rises to the apex with exposed roof trusses, the space easily accommodates a king sized bed which is positioned against an upholstered headboard on a half-height partition wall which divides the bedroom space from the bathroom where there’s a traditional cast iron bath contrasting nicely against the contemporary styled vanity unit and large shower cubicle with rainfall head, all of which are set on a Lakeland slate tiled floor. The dressing room is a further delight – set behind glass doors are illuminated fitted units which offer hanging space, drawers, shelves and shoe rails. The primary guest suite is located, in what was formerly a small barn. Arranged over two floors with a double height section in part, it has a ground floor sitting room and wet room. The gallery bedroom above is approached by an attractive staircase of iroko treads with a glass and chrome balustrade; the ceiling is open to the roof apex with exposed roof trusses and a feature semi-circular window to the courtyard. The wet room has a rainfall shower, square cut wash basin, toilet and handmade crackle glaze tiles. A third bedroom ‘the Spa Room’ is adjacent to the spa facility, although it still benefits from an independent bathroom with Grohe rainfall shower, square cut wash basin, toilet and handmade crackle glaze tiles. Guests with mobility issues will appreciate the convenience of a ground floor bedroom. The fourth bedroom suite is approached from the attractive ‘floating stairs’ off the kitchen. It has a traditional feel with stripped pine panel doors and a ceiling rising to the apex with exposed trusses. There is excellent storage with a wall of fully fitted wardrobes as well as a separate fitted dressing room and an ensuite shower room.

Externally the property is set back behind electrically operated tall wrought gates open to a tarmac area with parking for a number of cars as well as providing access to the garage. To the rear the property enjoys a picturesque English traditional walled garden with delightful main terrace and courtyard for alfresco dining and entertaining and offering plenty of privacy. Steps lead down to the centrally placed manicured lawn bordered by red brick edged planted beds with an abundance of Old English roses.