Location

Lower Benefield is an attractive village, amongst rolling countryside, with a church and village hall. It is three miles west of the market town of Oundle, with a variety of shopping facilities and the renowned Oundle School, and six miles east of Corby (6 miles), with its cinema, theatre, and mainline rail connections to London St Pancras (from 60 mins). The Cathedral City of Peterborough is approximately 16 miles away and provides excellent shopping and leisure facilities.


There are golf clubs at Oundle, Kettering (13 miles) and Peterborough, whilst there are extensive bridleway and footpath networks for riding and walking from the village.


There are direct trains from London St Pancras to Kettering in about 53 minutes or Corby in about 70 minutes and a service from Peterborough to King’s Cross takes about 50 minutes. The A6116 offers access to the A14, with its own links to the A1, M11, M6 and M1 motorways and quick links to Stansted, Luton, East Midlands and Birmingham airports.


The area is renowned for its choice of schooling facilities, with Oundle, Uppingham, Oakham, Stamford, Kimbolton and Wellingborough Schools, among others, within a 20 mile radius.

Description

Built in 1850, Lower Farm Barn is an impressive stone barn conversion in a delightful edge of village rural setting, on the edge of the accessible village of Lower Benefield, 3 miles west of Oundle.

With an electrically gated entrance and sweeping driveway to a gravelled turning sweep and the detached double garage, the property has a large lawned garden to its front, which borders a large post and railed paddock. The property extends to 1.5 acres, or thereabouts in total.

Whilst not listed, the property is within a Conservation Area.

The house itself combines the period charm and the character you would expect from a barn conversion, with high, timber beamed ceilings, exposed stonework walls and wooden floors. There is a sense of space and a wonderful feel to this charming house.

The front door opens into a wide parquet wooden floored entrance hallway, with access to a cloakroom/W.C, to the right of which is a spacious Dining Kitchen; the ‘hub of the home’, perfect for family life or entertaining. The kitchen is fitted with an extensive suite, with plenty of prep space and integrated appliances, including a wine fridge. There is also ample space for dining. A glazed door opens into an adjoining conservatory, with sensational views over the garden to the paddock, and rising countryside beyond. A spacious utility room, ideal for dogs and a boot room, is also accessed from the kitchen, providing further storage and space for appliances, as well as a useful back door for country life and pursuits.

From the entrance hall to the left, a short flight of steps descend into the spectacular 27’ sitting room, with large granary arched windows, with French doors within, showcasing the gardens; high exposed beamed ceiling and exposed stonework walls. It is a fabulous and spacious reception room.

The main staircase rises to a bright landing corridor, where the period features continue, which serves the five bedrooms (one en suite) and family bathroom. Most of the bedrooms overlook the front garden of the property, maximising the far reaching rural views.

The spacious, 17’, part vaulted principal bedroom has a built-in wardrobe and en suite shower room. The three further double bedrooms (one of which is currently furnished as a home office), are well placed for the modern, full-suite family bathroom, which is complete with bath and separate shower cubicle.

The property is approached through electric gates, and along a driveway through the private gardens to a turning sweep, which provides parking for several vehicles and access to the double garage.

The 1.5 acres are split between formal garden and adjoining paddock, all of which are to the front of the house, from which most can be seen. The gardens are principally lawned, with mature shrubs and flowering beds, and private terraces for reading, entertaining and al-fresco dining.   

The paddock has a pedestrian gate from the garden's driveway and, in the north-west corner, field gate access from the public highway. It is post and rail fenced, with water, with a field shelter in the south-east corner, near the garden.