A particular take on property ISSUE ONE ALL ABOUT YOUR AREA: A LOCAL PERSPECTIVE FROM STRUTT & PARKER pp01-12_&Five Counties_Cover_des2.indd 3 29/08/2013 16:38 A particular take on property ISSUE ONE Welcome to &Five Counties, a magazine showcasing local properties and giving you a taste of the area. Strutt & Parker is one of the most Read on to find out more diverse property businesses in the UK, and Page 03 Insight: Strutt & Parker discusses the local market the Market Harborough office is a focal Page 04 First & foremost: the hottest point for the wide range of departments properties and local highlights and services we offer. The residential Page 06 Portfolio: property showcase team specialises in selling a variety of Page 08 Trends & analysis: expert properties across the Five Counties and the overview of the national market surrounding towns and villages, while Strutt Page 09 Why Strutt & Parker? Page 10 Why we love Five Counties: & Parker also provides unrivalled expertise locals reveal why there’s no in farming, land management, commercial place like home property, planning and development. Page 11 Find us: local centre highlights Published on behalf of Strutt & Parker by Sunday sundaypublishing.com. All information and pricing correct at time of going to press. 02 &Five Counties pp02-03_&5counties Intro_des1.indd 1 22/08/2013 13:51 Ed Brassey, Partner, explains how our Market Harborough office brings a wealth of experience to the area’s robust property market arket Harborough is a vibrant market town, ‘There are few better-connected parts of the country. ‘ with an eclectic mix of shops, great restaurants The direct commuter service to London St Pancras from and a strong and inclusive sense of community. Market Harborough and Kettering takes about one hour, M Its central position, and fabulous road and rail and there are direct links to London Euston from Rugby links, enable us to provide advice and expertise across and London King’s Cross from Peterborough. Leicestershire, Rutland, north Northamptonshire, Lincolnshire ‘The road network includes quick access to the A14, the M1, Roy Kilcullen and Nottinghamshire – the Five Counties area that captures M6 and M69 in the west and the A1 in the east. Birmingham wonderfully diverse housing stock in beautiful surroundings. and East Midlands International Airports are easily accessible. ‘Being a national agent sets us apart from most of our ‘The wealth of fabulous schools is another big draw with locally based competitors. Operating in the mid and upper Oakham, Uppingham, Stamford, Ratcliffe College and Rugby markets, we are able to add value for clients. We often get just some of the renowned public schools. referrals from our offices across the country, putting us in ‘The current trends are all positive. Although the market touch with people moving from their area to ours. This way, is best described as price sensitive, it is positively active. we can help buyers find the right property and location. Buyers can proceed and want to move; some are cautious ‘Our area attracts professional families, particularly those but transaction levels give confidence. who value mainline rail links to London, public schools and ‘There is no doubt the economy remains uncertain, but Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. In Rutland Water, for public confidence gives us all opportunity; people want to act, example, we enjoy one of the nation’s largest inland waters but the challenge remains to give correct, price-sensitive advice PHOTOGRAPHY (COVER AND THIS PAGE) PHOTOGRAPHY (COVER AND THIS PAGE) with all the leisure opportunities it provides. and to provide the highest levels of customer service.’ struttandparker.com/market-harborough 03 pp02-03_&5counties Intro_des1.indd 2 22/08/2013 13:51 First & foremost PERFECT SPOT Bay House, Edith Weston, Rutland Bay House was built in 1994 using reclaimed local limestone, with the specific intent of maximising the elevated position and the fabulous views over the gardens and Rutland Water. All the principal rooms take advantage of this view, and a measure of the attention to detail in the building of Bay House can be gleaned from the scale model that was built and positioned in the garden to find the point of perfect orientation for the house. In addition, the use of modern materials translates into low- maintenance costs and an excellent energy-efficiency rating. £2,100,000 FOR SALE Contact 01858 433123 COUNTRY GLAMOUR There are now Joules stockists and stores across the country, but the countrywear brand started life in Market Harborough and its original high-street store is still the place to go for bold, bright clothing fit for the great British outdoors. Founded more than 30 years ago by Tom Joule, who started selling clothing at country shows, Joules – known for its fun patterns and pop colours – stocks everything from dresses, swimwear and brollies to polo shirts, gilets and its signature pink wellies. If you want to brighten up your home, it also sells kitchenware, bedding and throws. joules.com FARM FRESH Farndon Fields farm shop in Market Harborough sits at the heart of 550 acres of the Leicestershire farmland producing more than 40 types of fruit and vegetables. All produce is available in the shop, which was awarded the FARMA Retailer of the Year Award for the UK’s best farm shop in 2008. The home-grown offering is complemented by produce from more than 70 suppliers in Leicestershire, Rutland and Northamptonshire, including meats, locally distilled gin and artisan bread from a local award-winning bakery. A café and deli serve homemade food from the farm, as well as specialist products such as local cheese, pork pies annah Booth and charcuterie. For green-fingered visitors, there’s a plant H centre stocked with plants, shrubs and accessories. farndonfieldsfarmshop.co.uk WORDS 04 &Five Counties pp04-05_&FiveCounties_F&F_des1.indd 1 20/08/2013 09:46 LOCAL ATTRACTIONS FIT FOR A KING In the summer of 2012, the discovery of the remains of King Richard III in a Leicester car park hit the headlines and captured the public’s imagination. The fruits of that extraordinary excavation are now on show in a major exhibition at the city’s Guildhall (left) until spring 2014. ‘Richard III: Leicester’s Search for a King’ charts the story of Richard, his life, and the search for his long-lost remains. Archaeologists first uncovered the ruins of the lost medieval Grey Friars church and, with them, the grave of the warrior king. The exhibition details how experts proved the skeleton was his and tells his story through four narrators – a scientist, historian, archaeologist and bio-archaeologist from the University of Leicester who worked on the excavation. leicester.gov.uk FIVE COUNTIES UNCOVERED Stephen Fry was a pupil at Uppingham School, and HIGH LIFE was expelled for ‘a series of misdemeanors’ Union Wharf, Market Harborough Built in 1998 as part of an award- Rutland Water is one of the winning conversion of former wharf largest man-made lakes in properties around the town’s Grand Europe, about the same size Union Canal basin, The Tower as Lake Windermere in the replicates the wharf’s original water t/c Lake District tower. Handy for the train station, the town house offers accommodation The family home of Diana, more akin to London’s Docklands Princess of Wales, was than Leicestershire. The Tower is Althorp in Northamptonshire beautifully presented with a family and her body is interred on a kitchen and sitting room occupying small island in a lake in the the upper floors, each with bi-folding grounds of the estate doors to balconies with views over the town and countryside. £525,000 FOR SALE Contact 01858 433123 NATURAL SELECTION Leicester’s original museum, located on the historic New Walk, has a wide range of collections drawn from the natural and cultural world, and an exceptional art collection including Picasso’s ceramics, work by Pissarro and Degas, and German expressionism. However, the undoubted highlight of a family outing to the museum is the Dinosaur Gallery. Taking centre stage is the Rutland Dinosaur, a cetiosaurus, whose bones were discovered in 1968. It is still one of the most complete dinosaurs ever found in Britain, and is displayed alongside some of the oldest fossils in the world. leicester.gov.uk struttandparker.com/market-harborough 05 pp04-05_&FiveCounties_F&F_des1.indd 2 20/08/2013 09:46 The Manor House, Folkingham, Lincolnshire Dating from the early 1650s, the Grade II Listed manor house is steeped in history and located in the heart of a vibrant village. £995,000 FOR SALE The Old Rectory, Stubton, Nottinghamshire The handsome south-facing Old Rectory has sweeping views and is positioned within 21 acres of gardens and adjoining pasture. £1,250,000 FOR SALE The Manor House, Hungarton, Leicestershire A Grade II Listed Georgian manor house, with spacious accommodation, mature gardens and adjoining pasture in an attractive village setting. £1,050,000 FOR SALE Cromwell Cottage, Stone Walls, Naseby, Northamptonshire Billesdon, Leicestershire This attractive, renovated Grade II Stone Walls is charming Listed two-bedroom cottage has and well designed. Light a new two-bedroom annexe to and airy, the barn has a create versatile accommodation versatile layout. within splendid gardens. £510,000 SOLD £549,000 FOR SALE For further details of any of these properties, contact 01858 433123 06 &Five Counties pp06-07_&Five Counties_Property_des1.indd 1 20/08/2013 09:49 PORTFOLIO Elm Tree House, Guilsborough, Northamptonshire A striking ironstone house which provides spacious accommodation in the centre of this popular, well-serviced village. £597,000 FOR SALE The Gables, Broughton, Northamptonshire Built in 1620, The Gables provides generous accommodation, a versatile layout and beautiful gardens.