Description
A period five bedroom former vicarage with driveway parking, outbuildings and a plot of 0.43 acres of partially walled gardens with views over the surrounding countryside The property is in the conservation area in Little Houghton and retains period features including high ceilings throughout, tall sash windows, fireplaces, and exposed beams and brickwork. These period features have been blended with modern amenities in the kitchen and bathrooms.
The house has over 3,300 sq. ft. of versatile accommodation including two reception rooms, a home office, and an open plan kitchen/breakfast/dining room on the ground floor with five double bedrooms, a dressing room and three bath or shower rooms on the first floor.
In addition to the main house there is an outbuilding comprising garaging, a garden room, and first floor storage with scope to convert into additional accommodation.
The property has a plot of approximately 0.43 acres with gravel driveway parking and an enclosed rear garden with far reaching views over the surrounding countryside.
Ground Floor The front door opens into a 22ft. entrance hall which has feature panelling to dado height, a built-in double cupboard for coats and shoes, a full turn staircase to the first floor with an understairs storage cupboard, and exposed wood herringbone flooring which extends into the family room and kitchen/breakfast/dining room.
A part glazed door at the rear of the hall leads into the boot room which has a door and window to the rear garden and is used by the vendors as the main entrance to the property. It has additional space for coats and shoes, and access to the cloakroom which has a concealed cistern WC and a vanity washbasin.
The side hall has a secondary staircase to the first floor and Brampton Chase wood effect flooring. This hall is also accessed via a second front door to the property. This is not currently used by the vendors but gives scope to create separate annexe accommodation if required.
Principal Reception Rooms The dual aspect sitting room has a window to the front with newly installed wooden shutters, and a wide, full height window with views over the rear garden. A focal point of the room is the imposing stone fireplace which houses a log burning stove. The chimney has recently been swept. There is feature wall panelling around the fireplace and the chimney recesses on both sides have built-in display shelving and storage cupboards.
The family room has a wide, full height window with views of the garden, and a borrowed light window to the office. There is a built-in cupboard with display shelving above.
Home Office The office has a sash window to the front with newly installed wooden shutters, and a built-in cupboard which houses the electrical fuse boxes.
Kitchen/Breakfast/Dining Room The open plan kitchen/breakfast/dining room is a particular feature of the property. It measures over 38 ft. and is triple aspect with a window to the front and right angled bi-fold doors in the dining area which open to the paved terrace in the garden giving a good flow for modern family life and entertaining. The window to the front has wooden shutters and the bi-fold doors have integral blinds. The dining area has a fireplace alcove, and space for a dining table to seat at least ten.
There is panelling to dado height, and the kitchen has an exposed ceiling beam and feature exposed brickwork. The units are by Grand Union Designs and include tall and base perimeter units including a double larder cupboard, and cupboards with pull out drawers and storage racks. The bevelled edge work surfaces incorporate a sink under the window.
Kitchen cont'd The large central island has additional storage cupboards and drawers, an inset Franke sink with a Quooker boiling water tap, a breakfast bar, and an attached wooden breakfast table. Appliances include a Bertazzoni American style fridge/freezer, an integrated Bosch dishwasher, and a Bertazzoni range cooker with a double oven and a five ring induction hob with an extractor over.
The vendors also employed Grand Union Designs to match the units when they installed an additional storage cupboard by the breakfast table and filled in an alcove in the dining area with a storage cupboard with display shelving above.
Utility Room and Pantry A part glazed door from the kitchen leads to the side hall which has a shelved pantry under the secondary staircase to the first floor, and access to the utility room which has a door and window to the rear, Brampton Chase wood effect flooring, and metro tiling. There are new units with a Gemini work surface incorporating an 1810 sink with mixer tap over. There is space and plumbing for a washing machine and tumble dryer under the work surface, and an additional space which could house an additional appliance or could be used for a pet bed.
Principal Bedroom Suite The principal bedroom has a window to the rear with far reaching views over the garden and countryside beyond. A wide opening leads into a dressing room which has a window with views to the front over the paddock and church beyond. The modern en suite has a freestanding bath with a shower attachment, a separate walk-in shower with a rainwater and handheld shower, a concealed cistern WC and a wall hung washbasin. There is metro tiling in the splash areas, a Victorian style radiator, a window to the front and a door to the main landing.
Other Bedrooms and Bathrooms The main landing gives access to a further double bedroom which overlooks the paddock and church, and a second bathroom which has a heritage style suite with a claw footed bath with a shower over, a pedestal washbasin with a backlit LED mirror over, and a WC. Walls round the bath are tiled and the other walls are panelled to dado height. There is a Victorian style radiator and a tall sash window to the rear which has obscure glazing at the bottom for privacy.
A door from the main landing leads to an inner landing with a shelved airing cupboard housing the Worcester boiler which was installed in 2019. The secondary landing has access to the remaining three bedrooms, two overlooking the front and one overlooking the rear garden and countryside beyond. These bedrooms share a three piece shower room with a concealed cistern WC, a wall hung wash basin, and a shower cubicle with an inset shelf and a rainwater and standard shower. There is wood effect laminate flooring.
Outbuildings In the rear garden there is a brick built store which is currently used for logs but has space to store garden machinery or bikes if required.
The main outbuilding has a double garage at the front and an over 19ft by 19ft room at the rear which has glazed sliding doors to the rear garden. This room is currently used as a gym and games room but could alternatively be used as a play room, party room or office. A door leads to a small hall which has a door to the garden and a staircase up to a loft space which measures over 39 ft. long. This has been partially converted with flooring and three Velux windows for natural light. It could be used now for storage but with additional work it could be converted into further ancillary accommodation suitable for a variety of uses.
Gardens and Grounds At the front the garden is lawned and is bordered by a low wall with gates and paths to the two front doors. A further low wall with pillared gate posts borders the gravel drive which provides parking and access to the double garage which has two sets of double doors, and power connected.
The vendors installed new fencing between the drive and rear garden with double gates for access. The rear garden has an extensive stone paved terrace which spans the full width of the house with ample space for tables and chairs for al fresco dining and entertainment. The paving continues along the side of the outbuilding to access the garden room. The rest of the garden is mainly lawned with several mature trees which have recently been deadwooded. The garden is walled on both sides with close boarded fencing at the rear.
Little Houghton The property is within walking distance of amenities in Little Houghton which include a CofE primary school, rated good by Ofsted, a nursery school, a village hall, and The Four Pears public house and restaurant. The village is surrounded by open countryside overlooking a reservoir and canal and yet is less than 15 minutes' drive from all the amenities in Northampton which include a wide range of shops, cafes and restaurants, cinemas and theatres, sports facilities, and a mainline station with commuter services to Euston.
Little Houghton lies just off the A428, east of Northampton. It is approximately 7 miles from junction 15 of the M1 and approximately 4.1 miles from Northampton train station. In addition to the village school, there are primary schools at Hackleton, Denton and Cogenhoe and secondary schools in Northampton. Private schools locally include the preparatory schools at Spratton, Maidwell and Upton and public schools at Wellingborough and Oundle. There is also the Northampton School for Girls and Kimbolton School in Bedfordshire.
