The Poplars Bevis Lane | St Mary | | PE13 4RR THE POPLARS

GEORGIAN IDYLL

A dwelling that’s grown from a two-up two-down, In a village near a fenland market town, Now, a large Georgian home with a pretty façade And an outstanding garden of high regard; A splendid old coach house and a fair bit of land Makes this place so desirable and really quite grand.

• Extended Handsome Georgian Former Farmhouse Set in Circa 2.5 acres (stms) • Situated in a North Cambridgeshire Village, Accessible to Wisbech Grammar School • Double Reception Room, Sitting Room, Dining Room, Kitchen and Conservatory • Master Bedroom with En-suite, Further Five Bedrooms and a Family Bathroom • Former Two Storey Non-Listed Coach House Adjoining the Main House • Gated Front, Long Gravelled Driveway with Ample Off Road Parking • Walled Garden, Vegetable Garden and Post & Rail Paddock Extends to approx. 2.5 acres (stms) • Main House Extends to 2902 sq. ft and Coach House Extends to 1685 sq.ft A charming house on the very edge of a fenland village, surprisingly not listed, to have it! I love gardening and the walled garden was a big attraction for has six bedrooms, four reception rooms and an old coaching house that me, and the fact that it was on such a large piece of land.” There has been a provides a substantial amount of additional space over two floors. Sitting in house on the site since the sixteenth century, and it is known to have been a a private position with many mature trees on a plot of about two and a half coaching house, as well as a farmhouse. A wealthy Georgian farmer extended acres, whether perhaps a keen gardener or someone with horses, this makes a the property by adding the typical Georgian façade with its pleasing symmetry superb family home. of sash windows either side of the front door, and featuring unusually deep soffits with dentils fitted in pairs. “Originally it had been a two-up two-down, Attractive Georgian Facade the dining room being the oldest part: you can still see where the original stairs When they were looking for a new home eleven years ago, The Poplars really ascended from this room,” informs the owner. “We’ve had a number of local caught their eye. “It was the Georgian façade that was the big thing that sold people telling us what they remember about the place. A gentleman once the property to us – we had always lived in a modern house before and this knocked on the door and told us that the last time he’d been round - when he was a chance to have a change. My husband and I had spotted the property was a boy - the kitchen was actually a piggery!” Hard to imagine looking at the independently and so when he showed it to me, it felt like we were meant beautifully fitted kitchen of today!

Commodious Rooms you find the stairs, and appreciate an old parquet The house is approached from the quiet country floor, original tongue and groove ceiling and Georgian road through a white painted five-bar gate up a gravel panelled internal doors. From here, doors lead into drive that follows a tall, old brick wall which eventually the sitting room, and to a very spacious downstairs connects with the house itself to the right. The wide cloakroom which has a lavatory and impressively wide gravel drive and simply laid lawn split by a paved path and stylish washbasin, and a window over the back to the front door creates an open aspect with far garden. reaching views from the rooms overlooking the front. “We always use the door into the conservatory which Much Character is down the side of the house – you just park down The rectangular conservatory was fitted by the the side giving you great access, with all your shopping, current owners, but replaces a previous one that was into the kitchen,” the owner remarks. “Visitors always flimsy and in bad repair. Constructed in UPVC, with say the house is like the Tardis – it doesn’t look so old-style slabs on the floor, the room is heated so is big from the front but it has large rooms that stretch usable all year round. Conveniently, there are doors a long way back. It’s a funny layout but it works very into both the living room and the dining room from well.” Certainly, the rooms are commodious and the conservatory, the latter then leads into the kitchen the layout is interesting; the dual aspect sitting room through an opening to one side of the fireplace. incorporates the front door with its leaded and The dining room is another sizable room which has textured stained glass, rather than opening into a hall, obviously been knocked through in the past making and the room has a window to the southwest-facing it double aspect, with windows to each side, the front and to one side of the fireplace. A carpeted southeast facing one is a very large one down to the room with a modern Stovax log-burner set into the ground, and is consequently well lit. Above, a painted fireplace – “The modern Stovax log-burner really tongue and groove ceiling lends character to this heats the room beautifully,” comments the owner – particularly old section of the property, and a log- and a striking blue and white floral paper clads the burner sits in the fireplace of a cheery, red-papered surrounding chimney breast. “We use the sitting room chimney breast, with a Georgian-style surround. “The a lot in winter, being south and southwest facing it’s a dining room is ideally situated, so close to the kitchen, very warm and sunny room.” A shallow window seat and our table pulls right out so that we can seat about is built in under the window to the front. The windows twenty people, which means it is perfect at Christmas in the property are a mix of timber sash on the front, time,” enthuses the owner. and some recently fitted double-glazed UPVC at the back. “The sash windows at the front of the house Moving on through into the large, squarish kitchen, still have the lovely, rippled, old glass panes in them,” it has a window over the drive to the side, and a mentions the owner. way through to a utility which almost equals the dimensions of the kitchen. Ceramic tiles have been laid On the other side of the house, the living room has on the floor, and traditional-style, cream painted units been knocked through creating a room of over thirty line the walls on three sides providing an enormous feet long. With French doors, glazed panels either side, amount of storage in both base and wall-mounted connecting with the conservatory, and a window over cupboards. Worktops are solid timber, and a Belfast The modern Stovax log-burner really heats the sitting room the front, natural light fills the space which is enhanced sink sits under the window to the side. An electric, by very pale greys on the walls, and a textured range-style cooker with two ovens, a grill and a beautifully. We use the sitting room a lot in winter, being south and neutral-coloured carpet. A log-burner sits in a fireplace ceramic hob, nestles centrally under an extractor southwest facing it’s a very warm and sunny room” at the front end which has a simple, Georgian-style fan and a striking, crackle-glaze dragonfly design on surround, and the sash window has a little window the tiled splashback. An under-counter fridge and a seat built in. Another door is from an inner hall where dishwasher are integrated. when shut you would never know there was a room behind,” the chimney breast is entirely covered in original panelling. A The adjoining utility has matching fitted cupboards in hand- says the owner. This capacious bathroom was installed by the door opens into the en suite where you step down onto a new painted pine with space for a washing machine and tumble previous owner, who’d apparently only used the shower a timber floor, with sloping timbered ceiling above, and window dryer, also a Belfast sink and a window overlooking couple of times, and is one of the features of the property that below. The room is fully-tiled in white, with a P-bath, including the rear walled garden and a door opens onto the outside. drew the owners to the house. Fitted with a contemporary shower over and curved glass screen, fitted to one side, and a Here, you find a relic from bygone days: “There is a traditional suite comprising free-standing bath in the centre of the room, contemporary circular glass washbasin atop a pine shelf on the cast iron water pump just outside the back door, which a large curved shower cubicle to the side, twin stone basins set other. A modern close-coupled lavatory sits in the corner. produces water that’s clear as a bell,” attests the owner. “We on a hefty timber counter with modern lit mirrors above, and a Bedroom two is next to the master, and also has a chimney don’t really need to use it as I have so many water butts all close-coupled lavatory. With old, painted tongue and groove on breast clad in panelling, this time with the original fireplace around the property which provide plenty of water for the the ceiling, new timber floorboards underfoot, a large window with cast iron grate. Again, the sash window to the front has a garden.” to the west side, and the chimney breast and fireplace treated window seat, and the room is carpeted in a pale, neutral colour, as a feature, it is a nice mix of old and new. as are all the bedrooms. Generous Bedrooms and Bathrooms Venturing up the carpeted stairs you find a galleried landing Original Features Bedroom three is off the centre of the landing and has a nice, from where the generous double bedrooms and family The master suite is positioned at the front of the property, a wide window to the west facing side, and includes a built-in bathroom lead. The bathroom is cleverly concealed becoming lovely big bedroom at nearly eighteen feet long, it mirrors the wardrobe. Bedroom four is behind this, also with a similar a secret room, so an opportunity to entertain visitors! “The sitting room below with a sash window to the front including window to the side. Bedrooms five and six are on the other secret room upstairs is an unusual feature which has caused window seat, and a window to the side of the chimney breast. side of the landing and feature distinctly sloping ceilings; the sixth a lot of fun over the years! The door is actually a bookcase so Although no longer fitted with a fire, the niche remains, and is accessed through the other which would make an excellent suite for either a child or a teenager should they want here I transformed one of the paddocks almost a study or playroom adjoining the bedroom. Currently, entirely into a kitchen garden, then a more recently the owners have a desk, a television and some comfy it has become a rose garden where we’ve planted seating in there. An old built-in cupboard stands in four hundred roses, both shrub and standard. There the corner. Further storage is above the property in had been sheep on the land but I completely re- a substantial loft area, as the owner informs us, “We landscaped it, creating a woodland walk using some have an absolutely huge loft which is divided into two of the trees already in situ, and moving some into sections, and accessed from two hatches, one in the the field. We still have a large area of land given over bathroom and one above the landing.” to paddocks which are securely fenced and nicely sheltered by surrounding hedging. In the garden, Superb Spacious Coach House there’s are lots of walkways leading under archways, Adjoining the property to the rear is the old coach box trees and hedges which give structure in the house which provides an enormous amount of extra winter, and we have thousands of bulbs which make space. With timber doors opening into each section, the garden a riot of colour in spring. There’s a pond first is the boiler room, a single storey section with and even a steel water tank complete with fish, more double doors to the back, which houses a new under a mulberry tree in the walled garden. I have boiler fitted by the current owners: “We installed a been heavily involved in a group of ten properties completely new central heating system with a new that open our gardens up to the public every year boiler in its own special house,” says the owner. “The in aid of charity. It’s been a very pleasurable way of barn is as big as a four bedroomed house! It has a meeting local people and learning so much about the slate roof and vaulted ceiling upstairs where there interesting history of the property. After a back injury are two vast adjoining rooms with arched windows. I can’t do so much myself now, but I have a wonderful The timber stairs that lead up to the second floor gardener who helps me keep on top of things.” from a store room below, were reclaimed from the local railway station when it closed! Altogether on Thriving Community the ground floor there are two separate store rooms The property is presented in very good order, many on one side, a big garage with double doors in the rooms having been recently decorated, and the centre, and two good-sized interconnecting stables at garden is exceptionally well tended. The owners are the far end.” going to miss the open garden in particular when they leave, and the quirky secret room, but they also can’t Gorgeous Grounds praise the village itself enough. “We have everything The almost two and a half acre grounds of The we need here: it’s such a good community with a Poplars are also a spectacular feature. With mature recently built village hall that’s really well used for all shrubs, trees and climbers and many different areas sorts of things like WI meetings, keep-fit classes, and where you can sit in either sun or shade, it is a magical a history club. The village has its own little primary space to explore, where you might come across, for school, with Wisbech Grammar just down the road, a instance, a quaint old-style greenhouse sitting on a football club which is quite well-known, there’s a post base of old herringbone brick. “The joy of being on office and grocery shop, and a great pub which serves the very edge of the village is that you are part of a excellent Sunday lunches. It’s been wonderful being village community with all its conveniences, but have part of this village life,” she concludes. surrounding open farmland views, and the sheltered walled garden is extremely private. When we came

Energy Graph: Additional Information:

LOCAL AUTHORITY Council Council Tax Band - AGENTS NOTES - Mains Electricity and Water, Septic Tank and Oil Fired Central Heating.

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 Norfolk Country Properties has the authority to make or give any representation or warranty in respect of the property.

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Agents notes: The floor plans are for illustration purposes only. All measurements: walls, doors, window fittings and appliances and their sizes and locations are shown Norfolk Country Properties. Registered in and Wales No. 06777456. conventionally and are approximate only and cannot be regarded as being a representation either by the seller or his agent. © Unauthorised reproduction Registered Office - 15B Regatta Quay, Key Street, Ipswich, IP4 1FH prohibited. copyright © 2018 Fine & Country Ltd. Location Postcode for satellite navigation: PE13 4RR

On The Doorstep... How Far Is It To... Directions Wisbech St Mary is a small Cambridgeshire village only 2 miles The Hanseatic town of King’s Lynn with its excellent shopping From King’s Lynn, take the A47 towards Peterborough. At the west of Wisbech. It has a church of St Mary’s, dating from the and leisure facilities located 16 miles north east. Following on roundabout take the first exit onto Pullover Road, signposted to 15th century, a primary school, a Sport & Community Centre from here, the popular North Norfolk coastline is less than an Wisbech. After approx. 8.5 miles at the roundabout take the third exit located on 20 acre sport fields and some public houses. The hour away and offers an abundance of pretty coastal villages to onto Lynn Road which takes you into Wisbech. At the end of the road at the roundabout take the fourth exit onto the A1101, signposted close-by Georgian market town of Wisbech, known as the capital explore. Downham Market, 16 miles to the east, has direct rail Wisbech St Mary and then the first left onto North Street which Wisbech approx. 4 miles away of the Fens, offers a wide range of amenities and leisure activities. service into London’s King’s Cross, which can also be boarded continues onto Chapel Road. After approx. 400 yards turn left onto These include primary and secondary schools such as Peckover in King’s Lynn. The popular city of Peterborough lies 20 miles North Brink, signposted Wisbech St Mary and after a hundred yards Primary School and the sought-after Wisbech Grammar School, south-west, offers a direct express rail service into London’s keep right onto Barton Road. Stay on this road for approx. 2.5 miles supermarkets, restaurants, shops, museums and a theatre. The King’s Cross with a journey time of 50 minutes, whilst the and then turn left on Bevis Lane. The Poplars will be shortly found on popular Country Club & Golf Course in Tydd St Giles is only famous university city of Cambridge is just over an house drive your right. 6.5 miles away. away.

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© All rights reserved by Norfolk Country Properties Ltd for the World outside the UK. Any unauthorised copying or publishing of either the words or photographs contained in this brochure will constitute an infringement of the copyright. March approx. 9 miles away King’s Lynn approx. 16 miles away Fine & Country Tel: +44 (0) 1553 769 100 [email protected] King’s Lynn Innovation Centre, Innovation Drive, King’s Lynn, Norfolk, PE30 5BY