Stone End, 3 Chapel Close Litchborough | | | NN12 8HZ

Stone End Cover.indd 3 09/09/2019 10:41 STONE END

A substantial detached stone house stood on approximately 1.45 acre plot with a rear balcony that encourages you to relax and make the most of its superb Countryside views.

Stone End Cover.indd 4 09/09/2019 10:41 Stone End is a substantial and beautifully presented detached stone built house in excess of 7600sqft with extensive leisure facilities that include a superb indoor swimming pool, sauna, snooker room, gym and home cinema/music room. The house is located on the edge of the village and set in its own grounds of approximately 1.45 acres with stunning open countryside views to the rear.

Arranged over three floors there is certainly no shortage of space, the entrance hall opens to a sitting area overlooking the indoor pool, the reception and dining room both lead onto a large terrace taking in the amazing views, the kitchen is beautifully fitted with bespoke ‘Smallbone’ units and quality integrated appliance and has a separate breakfast room which again opens to the terrace. The superb panelled snooker room with studio complete this floor.

On the first floor are five bedrooms, the master bedroom has a dressing room, en-suite and a balcony, a guest bedroom with en-suite plus a further three double bedrooms, bathroom and shower room.

On the lower floor are two large home offices with separate store rooms, a large utility room, home cinema/music room and gym. There is also an integral double garage and further workshop/garage as well as numerous store rooms.

The house is approached along a gravelled drive with electric gates leading to further parking. To the rear the gardens are landscaped with a central pond with waterfall, barbecue hut and terrace, sun terrace and lawns with a further lawned paddock area, in all approximately 1.45 acres.

Stone End Pages.indd 1 09/09/2019 10:40 Stone End Pages.indd 2 09/09/2019 10:40 Stone End Pages.indd 3 09/09/2019 10:40 Seller Insight

The house was built at some point in the mid-1980s and we purchased it back in 2007, and I’d have to say that there were quite a number of factors that attracted us to it,” says Clive. “Our children fell in love with the indoor swimming pool; my son was serious about playing cricket and the garden gave us all the space we needed to construct a cricket net facility; I’ve always been musical, and could see how we could use one of the rooms in the house as a joint cinema/music room, and I was running a publishing business at the time, so having office areas combined with storage space was an absolute godsend. Another huge selling point for me was the fact that I’d always wanted a snooker table, and fortunately there was one already here! However, we were also drawn to the privacy of the property as a whole and the fact that it’s so wonderfully quiet here; no road noise, just nature.”

“Structurally the house was very sound when we came here, but the interior had been a little neglected and was therefore in need of attention. The previous owner had had a passion for 1980s arcade machines and the whole house was full of them, so we brought a number of the rooms that had previously just been used for storage beautifully back to life. We also had both the kitchen and utility fitted out with very stylish Smallbone cabinetry; an upstairs room was converted into a guest suite, and a rather dangerous elevated deck was replaced with a solid stone structure, which allowed us to construct a gym room. The pool has also been re-profiled so it now has both a shallow end and a diving end, and we also moved the sauna so that you can swim, sauna, shower, and change all in close proximity. It turns out we’ve done rather a lot, but it’s now a really beautiful and very comfortable home that’s ready for its new owners to enjoy.”

“This is a place where we’ve been able to enjoy the best of both worlds,” says Clive. “We’re surrounded by glorious rolling countryside and yet at the same time we’re very close to places such as Northampton, Milton Keynes, and Banbury.”

“The previous owner to us was a chap called Archer McLean and his claim to fame was that he wrote a snooker game for the Atari ST called ‘Jimmy White’s Whirlwind Snooker’, and interestingly both Jimmy White and Richard Branson have been to the house (I had that verified by Jimmy White himself). Jimmy has even played on the snooker table here, and there is an homage to the three of them (McLean, White, Branson) in the mural in the swimming pool room.”

“My wife and I have decided that this would be a good time to downsize, so in terms of what we’ll miss most, I’d say that it will be the sheer amount of space that we have, both inside and out; we can do whatever we like here because there is just so much room,” says Clive. “I’ll also miss not having my own snooker table, that’s for sure!”*

* 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.

Stone End Pages.indd 4 09/09/2019 10:40 There are a number of standout rooms, but if I had to pick a favourite I guess I would choose the kitchen,” says Clive. “It’s been fitted out to an incredibly high standard and it’s a room that enjoys a particularly lovely view.”

Stone End Pages.indd 5 09/09/2019 10:40 Stone End Pages.indd 6 09/09/2019 10:40 Stone End Pages.indd 7 09/09/2019 10:40 Stone End Pages.indd 8 09/09/2019 10:40 Stone End Pages.indd 9 09/09/2019 10:40 Stone End Pages.indd 10 09/09/2019 10:41 Stone End Pages.indd 11 09/09/2019 10:41 Stone End Pages.indd 12 09/09/2019 10:41 Stone End Pages.indd 13 09/09/2019 10:41 For us, the huge garden was definitely one of the biggest selling points, and it’s a space that’s peaceful and private, and from it we can enjoy spectacular views,” continues Clive. “We have a field to the back, and between it and the house the ground gently drops away to form a sort of amphitheatre or outside ‘room’, which incorporates a large pond and a number of trees and shrubs. The field itself is laid to lawn, but it could be fenced off to form a paddock for someone who wanted to keep horses, and the cricket net area would be the ideal location for a stable block.”

Stone End Pages.indd 14 09/09/2019 10:41 Stone End Pages.indd 15 09/09/2019 10:41 Stone End Pages.indd 16 09/09/2019 10:41 LOCATION

Litchborough is a sought after village approximately 7 miles from the market town of Towcester with superb amenities, Northampton is about 10 miles away with a mainline station link to Euston, Milton Keynes is also accessible as is the M1 junction 15a for commuters. The village has a church and village hall, public house and children’s play area, Silverstone is close by.

Stone End Pages.indd 17 09/09/2019 10:41 Registered in and Wales. Company Reg No 04018410. VAT Reg No: 754062833. Head Office Address: 1 Regent Street Rugby CV21 2PE copyright © 2019 Fine & Country Ltd.

Stone End Pages.indd 18 09/09/2019 10:41 Agents notes: All measurements are approximate 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 09.09.2019

Stone End Pages.indd 19 09/09/2019 10:41 Stone End Pages.indd 20 09/09/2019 10:41 FINE & COUNTRY

Fine & Country is a global network of estate This unique approach to luxury homes marketing agencies specialising in the marketing, sale and delivers high quality, intelligent and creative rental of luxury residential property. With offices concepts for property promotion combined with in the UK, Australia, Egypt, France, Hungary, Italy, the latest technology and marketing techniques. Malta, Namibia, Portugal, Russia, South Africa, Spain, The Channel Islands, UAE, USA and West We understand moving home is one of the Africa we combine the widespread exposure of the most important decisions you make; your home international marketplace with the local expertise is both a financial and emotional investment. and knowledge of carefully selected independent With Fine & Country you benefit from the local property professionals. knowledge, experience, expertise and contacts of a well trained, educated and courteous team of Fine & Country appreciates the most exclusive professionals, working to make the sale or purchase properties require a more compelling, sophisticated of your property as stress free as possible. and intelligent presentation - leading to a common, yet uniquely exercised and successful strategy emphasising the lifestyle qualities of the property.

The production of these particulars has generated a £10 donation THE FINE & COUNTRY to the Fine & Country Foundation, charity no. 1160989, striving to relieve homelessness. FOUNDATION Visit fineandcountry.com/uk/foundation 6

Stone End Cover.indd 6 09/09/2019 10:41 Fine & Country Tel: +44 (0)1604 309030 [email protected] 9 George Row, Northampton, NN1 1DF

Stone End Cover.indd 1 09/09/2019 10:41