Escheat Farm Woburn Road | Lidlington | | MK43 0NL ESCHEAT FARM

This handsome period home, which sits in around an acre of beautiful gardens, enjoys a very picturesque setting in the glorious countryside.

Escheat reflects a common law doctrine whereas a property in the ownership of a person without heirs is claimed by the crown and retained or gifted to another party. In this instance it was the Duke of Bedford. Subsequently the property has been sold by the estate into private ownership.

This period detached property stands in almost an acre of grounds some of it laid to formal gardens with an area of orchard and a large pond. Further land can be rented by arrangement. The accommodation is arranged over three floors and provides for 5 bedrooms, one of which has en suite facilities. There are four reception rooms on the ground floor where it is possible to convert an area of the dwelling into an annexe facility with little difficulty. Seller Insight

The house was rather tired and dated when we came here so its potential was definitely a big selling point for us, however it was the garden that we really fell in love with,” says the owner. “It was landscaped by the previous owner many years ago, so it’s wonderfully established and full of a huge array of mature trees, shrubs and flowers and therefore there’s always something lovely to look at. It also features a huge natural pond and an orchard, so it has quite a varied landscape.”

“The house itself is a very handsome looking property that dates back to c1760. We’ve spent the past few years restoring and sympathetically modernising it, however it’s been a huge project and therefore although some major work has been done, there are still rooms that require updating so the new owners will have the opportunity to put their own stamp on them. We’ve updated the main living areas, installed a gorgeous new kitchen and the master bedroom ensuite has been fully refurbished. We wanted to maintain the character of the house, so we’ve used heritage paint colours and we’ve also retained and enhanced features such as the exposed beams and a beautiful inglenook fireplace. It’s a generously proportioned house and two of the reception rooms have doors that lead out onto the garden, so there’s a really good feeling of connection between inside and out.”

“As well as the house and the garden, one of the things we’ve really enjoyed during our time here is the setting,” continues the owner. “It’s a lovely countryside location however Bedford, and are all within a short drive, so everything we might want or need is easily accessible, and we also have a lovely group of neighbours. We often have dinners together and BBQs in the summer so there’s a nice feeling of community, but we’re by no means in each other’s pockets. For us it’s been the perfect balance.”

“I think it will be the simple pleasures of living here that I’ll miss most when we leave,” says the owner. “Just sitting outside by the pond with a glass of wine listening to the birds and watching the huge array of wildlife that comes to visit is an absolute joy. It’s a very special place and it’s been an incredibly happy home.”*

* 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.

The dining room is my favourite, purely because it’s a part of the house that has undergone the most dramatic change,” says the owner. “It was previously divided into two, one of which was really very small so we took down the dividing wall, removed the lathe and plaster to reveal original brick and beams, restored the plasterwork and painted it a striking heritage blue with contrasting copper features, creating a superb entertaining space and a real statement room.” The main living room, which is in the oldest part of the house, is another really lovely room,” says the owner. “It was the first room we restored. It has a large inglenook where we re-instated the wood-burning stove, so when it’s cold and miserable outside we can light the fire and create a really cosy atmosphere.”

Externally there is a gravel driveway leading to the garage, brick storage building and summerhouse.

The present owners operate a wedding reception business from the premises which has proved popular because of the idyllic location. The pond and orchard area of the gardens are beautiful, especially in Spring and Summer. The pond features a little island with a quaint bridge and is surrounded by bright yellow Iris. Ducks and moorhens visit every year to nest and it’s magical to see the ducklings taking their first swim! The trees in the orchard create a shady canopy for hot, sunny days and an abundance of plums and apples which are perfect for jam making.”

Fine & Country Bedford is a Partnership. copyright © 2019 Fine & Country Ltd. 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 13.05.2019

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