The Manor House, 15 St. Botolphs Road Barton Seagrave | | | NN15 6SR THE MANOR HOUSE

• An Attractive Grade II Listed 17th Century Stone Manor House Overlooking the Norman Church of St. Botolph’s

• Situated in a Conservation Area, in the Heart of the Ancient Northamptonshire Village of Barton Seagrave

• Fully Modernised, Retaining an Abundance of Original Features, Beautifully Presented and Maintained Throughout

• Reception Room, Dining Room with Servery, Kitchen / Breakfast Room, Sitting Room and Study

• Master Bedroom with En Suite Shower Room, Three Further Double Bedrooms and a Family Bathroom

• Outbuilding Comprises Open-Bay Carport, Garage, Downstairs Office / Gym and First Floor Studio / Games Room

• The Property Enjoys a Landscaped Enclosed Garden, Mainly Laid to Lawn with Borders, Patio, Feature Pond and Fountain

• The Manor House Accommodation Extends to Approximately 2557 Sq. Ft., Combined Floorspace Including Outbuilding 3719 Sq.Ft.

An absolutely charming, seventeenth century, Grade II listed, stone house under a Collyweston slate roof, was once the home of the Wicksteed family, the inventor and engineer Charles Wicksteed being the founder of the nearby theme park in 1921. The Manor House stands in the very heart of the Northamptonshire village of Barton Seagrave, next to the Norman church of St. Botolph’s, surrounded by other historic buildings and cottages within a conservation area.

From the crescent on which the property sits, electrically operated wrought iron gates open into a paved driveway down the side of the house, behind which lies a relatively new outbuilding that incorporates garaging and further living space. The house itself has four bedrooms, the master enjoying an en suite shower, although as there are so many reception rooms, there is the possibility of a fifth bedroom in place of the snug or study on the ground floor if so desired.

The property is presented in immaculate condition both inside and out, and is extremely light and airy with high ceilings and large casement windows with leaded panes. When the current owners came here about ten years ago, there was a vast amount of work to be done, so much so that they completely re- wired, re-plumbed and consequently re-plastered throughout providing benefits of the new but with the character and charm of the old. “The owners had completely retiled the roof so that will last for many more years to come” declares the owner. “We retained and enhanced all the existing original features of the house such as the stone slabbed and quarry tiled floors, the exposed beams, the fireplaces, the shutters and the timber panelling in the hall, but altered the kitchen to open out into the dining end, installing French doors onto the terrace at the back. We also added the Clearview log-burning stove into the stone inglenook fireplace in the sitting room – it’s a 750 Kilowatt one so really belts out a massive amount of heat!”

Decorated in predominantly Farrow & Ball paints, although other specialist paints that suit historic buildings have also been employed, colours are pale and fresh to enhance the quality of light and to lend a more contemporary edge.

“The kitchen is fitted with bespoke oak units recently re-painted in Little Greene’s ‘Rolling Fog’, and Iroko wooden worktops,” says the owner. “With built-in spice racks, and soft-close drawers and so on, there is an integrated dishwasher and microwave.” A Rangemaster cooker has electric ovens and a gas hob, there is a Kinetico water softener system and a double butler sink sits under the window overlooking the garden. There is space in the kitchen for an American-style fridge freezer, and in the utility room where you find the back door, there is another sink and more space for a washing machine and dryer. The owner adds, “The top quality Bosch Worcester combi boiler is in the utility room and is only about three years old.”

The easy flow between rooms is particularly noticeable, despite being an historic listed building, the kitchen through to the breakfast area which then leads under a wide opening into the main reception room is very much open plan, perfect for modern day living. Even the dining room has a door from the front hall and another linking to the inner hall where you can immediately access the kitchen, the sitting room and the stairs. Connections to the garden are excellent too with French doors from the sitting room onto the side garden, and the ones mentioned before, from the breakfast area onto the terrace.

Upstairs, the charm of the old continues with further exposed timbers and high ceilings. The commodious, dual aspect, master bedroom benefits an en suite shower room, and hidden behind the wall is a spacious storage area, perfect for housing Christmas decorations and other seasonal belongings. All the bedrooms are generous doubles, the fourth is currently used as a dressing room with rails for hanging copious amounts of garments. It was previously used as a bedroom however, and although accessed via the bathroom, for a family with children this would presumably not be an issue.

Outside, further living space is in the attractive stone and timber clad outbuilding which incorporates an under-cover parking bay, an enclosed single garage with timber double doors, and a space with a separate lavatory and washbasin that has been used as a gym but could make an excellent office. Stairs lead to an almost thirty feet long room in the roof space above, currently used as a games room, but previous owners had their teenagers making it their bedroom.

The sunny garden is a wonderful, private area behind the house, enclosed by stone walls, fencing and mature evergreen hedging and trees. “It was originally a blank canvas that we bulldozed and then had professionally landscaped,” says the current owner, and is now a beautifully rich and mature haven. The sandstone terrace is a superb area from the back of the house for al fresco dining, and the Haddonstone raised circular pond and fountain is a particular delight. Clouds of purple lavender and a row of olive trees planted in the terrace give an air of the Mediterranean, so too the abundant grape vine clambering over one of the pergolas. Several wisterias and other burgeoning climbers festoon the house and walkways, and a large lawn at the back is bordered by a great variety of young and old trees, including apple, pear and plum trees. A second pergola, protected from the rain, makes an excellent outside, paved seating area with a backdrop of bamboo. “The garden has ambient lighting with lots of uplighters under the trees, and the ‘shelter’ has electrics and lighting so it is lovely late into the evening,” enthuses the owner.

The location of The Manor House is very convenient: in the tranquil and pretty heart of a village which is extremely near all the benefits of a town like Kettering. It’s a lively community with its own primary and secondary schools, and road links are excellent with the A14 being very close by. Other towns are not so far away – directly North and Wellingborough to the South. Both Kettering and Corby have fast train links directly into , so this property is an ideal home for those who need to commute. To arrange a viewing of this property please contact Energy Graph

Fine & Country Rutland, Stamford & South Lincolnshire Seaton Grange Barn Offices, Grange Lane, Seaton, Uppingham, Rutland, LE15 9HT Tel: 01780 750 200 www.fineandcountry.com

If you have been thinking of selling and getting nowhere fast then the first move you should make is to contact an agent who can deliver outstanding results. Here at Fine & Country we know that our unique approach to selling houses works. Additional Information For more information on any of the services Fine & Country can offer, please call 01780 750 200 and speak to Jan von Draczek at our Rutland, Stamford & South Lincolnshire office. LOCAL AUTHORITY: Kettering Borough Council © All rights reserved by Rutland Country Properties Ltd for the World outside the UK. Any unauthorised copying or publishing of either the words or photographs contained in this SERVICES: Mains Electricity, Water and Drainage, brochure will constitute an infringement of the copyright. Gas Central Heating

DISCLAIMER: These particulars, whilst believed to be accurate, are set out as a general outline only for guidance and do not constitute any part of an offer or contract. Intending purchasers should not rely on them as statements of representation of fact, but must satisfy themselves by inspection or otherwise as to their accuracy. No person in the employment of Fine & Country or Rutland Country Properties has the authority to make or give any representation or warranty in respect of the property.

We would also point out that we have not tested any of the appliances and purchasers should make their own enquiries to the relevant authorities regarding the connection of any services.

Rutland Country Properties. Registered in and Wales No. 11897195 Agents notes: Registered Office - 27-29 Old Market, Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, PE13 1NE The floor plans are for illustration purposes only. All measurements: walls, doors, window fittings and appliances and their sizes Copyright © 2020 Fine & Country Ltd. and locations are shown conventionally and are approximate only and cannot be regarded as being a representation either by the seller or his agent. © Unauthorised reproduction prohibited. Fine & Country Tel: +44 (0) 1780 750 200 [email protected] Seaton Grange Barn Offices, Grange Lane, Seaton, Uppingham, Rutland, LE15 9HT