duddington, stamford

The Old School HouseHigh Street | Duddington | Stamford | PE9 3QE

The Old School House.indd 1 01/09/2015 14:08

The Old School HouseThis delightful stone-built four-bedroom property, which was originally built in 1893 as the village school house but now also incorporates a modern extension with a double garage, is located on the quiet high street of the sought-after village of Duddington to the south-west of Stamford.

“We’ve owned the house for 28 years but we’d known it for a long time before that through our friendship with the previous owner who had first converted it and used it as a weekend home; at that time we were living at the other end of the village with our young family,” explains Ian. “When we moved in we added the conservatory within the first year but the extension was constructed in 2005.”

“Most of the accommodation is at ground floor level,” explains Denise. “The main school house comprises a breakfast kitchen with an en-suite bedroom above. Steps lead up from the breakfast kitchen to the drawing room, which utilises the entire space up to the roof and has double doors opening to the conservatory. The drawing room is good for entertaining; on the occasion of one family 21st birthday, we cleared it of furniture and put in tables and chairs to seat around 50. Off the drawing room there’s also a small utility room with outside access. The breakfast kitchen has steps leading up to two smaller ground floor bedrooms, a family bathroom and the adjoining new extension, which has a study, a master bedroom with a dressing room and en-suite facilities, and an attached double garage.”

“Both the house and the garden are very easy to maintain,” continues Ian. “Outside, the old tarmac playgrounds underlay the gravelled driveway and the gravelled patio courtyard area at the back, which nicely prevents weeds growing through. The courtyard, which has raised herbaceous borders to the rear, particularly catches the morning sun and is very quiet and private. To the front there are established beds of shrubs and perennials and a path that connects to the rear courtyard through a gate.”

“Duddington’s altogether a very attractive village,” adds Denise. “Recently there’s been an influx of new and enthusiastic people, and the community is quite revitalised. While its only amenity is a pub, it’s just four miles to Stamford and, being between the A43 and the A47, and within easy reach of the A1, its communications are very good. The village is also surrounded by a wealth of independent schools, not only in Stamford but also at Uppingham, Oakham and Oundle. School buses pick up in the village and there’s a public bus service too. London commuters here usually go to Peterborough but Corby is also on a direct route and has cheap car parking. Duddington really is in an excellent location.”

“We’ve loved living in this quiet, neighbourly, pretty village,” conclude Ian and Denise. “Our scattered family still love coming back here. However, we spend many months of the year in South Africa now, and we’ve decided to make that permanent.”*

* These comments are the personal views of the current owner and are included as an insight into life at the property. They have not been independently verified, should not be relied on without verification and do not necessarily reflect the views of the agent.


SITUATIONThe Old School House sits in the very heart of the lovely Northamptonshire village of Duddington, surrounded by beautiful, rolling countryside and just a few miles south of Rutland Water. The village itself has a pub and Church, whilst Barrowden, 3 miles away provides local amenities with a pub and village stores and the lovely Georgian market town of Stamford, just 6 miles away, has excellent shops, bars and restaurants. The village has quick access to the A47, A43 and A1 for road links, and Peterborough, approximately 10 miles away provides a high speed rail link to London Kings Cross and the North. The area is home to many private schools including Uppingham, Oakham, Oundle and Stamford, all within an easy drive, plus an excellent range of state schools. Stamford’s Burghley House estate hosts a variety of events throughout the year and there is golf at Burghley Park and Luffenham Heath Golf Club, with nearby Rutland Water providing an excellent range of outdoor leisure pursuits.

DESCRIPTIONThe Old School House is a charming character property built of local stone and was converted from the former village school circa 1970. With the majority of the accommodation being laid out over the ground floor the conversion has been carefully laid out to enhance the original features that the school has to offer such as full height windows, the vaulted ceiling of the former school hall, which has now been converted into a stunning drawing room. Further accommodation includes an entrance hall, kitchen breakfast room, conservatory, study, utility room, three ground floor bedrooms, one of which includes the master suite with dressing room and en suite shower room and its own private courtyard. A guest room, which has an en suite bathroom, is set on the first floor. The front of the property is enclosed by a stone wall with a mature front garden and a large gravelled driveway to the side providing off road parking and access to the double garage. The rear garden is a private, low maintenance large gravelled courtyard.

ApproachThe Old School House is approached from the road opening onto a gravelled parking area and Double Garage. A stone path leads to the front door.

THE HOUSE

Ground Floor ~ Entrance HallA large solid timber door opens into the entrance hall which has a raised window to the front elevation and coir mat flooring. A Door leads to:

Kitchen Breakfast RoomThe kitchen is fitted with a range of pine fronted base units as well as a range of wall mounted cupboards. The base cabinets have contrasting work-surfaces with an inset stainless steel sink and draining unit with mixer tap and tiled splash backs. Features to the kitchen include an exposed stone wall with full height window overlooking the front and Parquet flooring.

Drawing RoomSteps lead up from the Kitchen to this attractive spacious room with solid wood parquet floors, vaulted ceilings with exposed beams, exposed stone work to one wall, large dual aspect stone mullion windows which fill the room with natural light. Glazed double doors and stone steps lead down to:

ConservatoryA welcoming room that links the two sides of the property together. Exposed stone wall, double doors lead out the rear garden, tiled floor.


Utility RoomQuarry tiled floor, Solid timber door to side elevation, stone mullion window to front, plumbing for washing machine.

Inner HallTwo windows to side elevation and doors to bedrooms 3, 4 and the family bathroom.

Bedroom ThreeWindow overlooking rear garden, vaulted ceiling with Velux window and exposed beams.

Bedroom FourDoor to conservatory, vaulted ceiling with Velux window and exposed beams.

BathroomThe spacious bathroom has a white suite comprising of a high level WC, basin and roll top claw foot bath. Glazed doors to private rear courtyard and a window that overlooks the rear garden.

StudyDual aspect windows, vaulted ceiling with Velux window, wall light and exposed stone wall.

Master Bedroom SuiteVaulted ceiling with feature door to loft space, stone mullion window to front elevation, door to private rear courtyard and wall lights. A door and small corridor lead to the dressing room & En suite shower room. The shower room is fitted to a high standard with Twin basin’s set in to a vanity unit with cupboards under, matching wall mounted cupboards and mirror, WC, large walk in shower cubicle, tilling to walls and floor. A door gives access to the dressing room which is extensively fitted with a range of hanging and draw units to two walls

First Floor - Guest Bedroom with En Suite BathroomAccessed from the Drawing room this impressive room has a large stone mullion window that overlooks the front drive, feature timber wall with inset leaded windows that look back over the drawing room and a range of fitted wardrobes.

The En suite comprises of a cast iron bath with shower over, twin basins set in to vanity unit, WC and linen cupboard.

OUTSIDE ~ Garden

A stone paved path leads around the front of the house and is edge by mature borders and a low stone wall, at the side of the property is a log store and gated access to the rear garden. The rear garden is a private space enclosed by stone walls and well stocked raised borders and is manly laid to gravel.

Double Garage

Services: Mains water, gas, electricity. Private drainage systemLocal Authority: East Northamptonshire County CouncilEPC Rating: FTenure: Freehold


Agents notes: All measurements are approximate and quoted in metric with imperial equivalents and for general guidance only and whilst every attempt has been made to ensure accuracy, they must not be relied on. The fixtures, fittings and appliances referred to have not been tested and therefore no guarantee can be given that they are in working order. Internal photographs are reproduced for general information and it must not be inferred that any item shown is included with the property. For a free valuation, contact the numbers listed on the brochure. Printed 02.09.2015

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Fine & Country Stamford 2 St Marys Street, Stamford, Lincolnshire PE9 2DE

Tel 01780 750 200


duddington, stamford

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