James Street, Lincoln, Lincolnshire, LN2

In one of the most sought after streets in Lincoln, a Grade II listed, Georgian, terraced townhouse stands in an enviable position in the very heart of the old Cathedral quarter of Lincoln on a no through road with views from its windows of both the cathedral and the castle.

The 4 bedroom house set over three floors, a cellar below and a sheltered little courtyard behind, also includes a converted coach house which could be used as, for example, a home office, a gym or a studio. Whether as a home for an individual, a couple or a family, or for holiday or permanent letting, this is a beautifully presented property filled with original features exuding historical charm and elegance


Seller Insights

“The house is in the street to be on! James Street and Drury Lane are, arguably, the most sought after in the city. It is really quiet despite being bang smack in the middle of the city; you come out of the front door, look to the right and you are literally in the shadow of the cathedral. There are beautiful gardens which are lovely to sit in and we’re close to the visitor centre and the tea room. The Bail is like a little village and everything you need is just there.”

“We did a lot of work on the property when we bought it several years ago, including lovingly restoring all the timber sash windows, and more recently we have renovated the old coach house at the back which was in a very dilapidated state. It is almost finished now. One third of the ground floor belongs to next door but the rest is ours so we have a flying freehold. We went through all the necessary planning, consequently the upper barn door is now a big window, and there are two conservation rooflights. We are keeping it rustic downstairs with exposed brick and there will be a staircase up to the first floor with its vaulted ceiling, which will all be plastered. It would make the perfect home office with a very fast commute from the back door!”

“The courtyard at the back is an extremely sheltered spot, quite a suntrap and nice for a cup of coffee or to eat outside in summer. There is pedestrian access to the back of the property and the coach house from just round the corner in Eastgate.”

“The house is in good order, with a new boiler installed only 3 years ago and we have all the up-to-date certificates for the plumbing, electrics and so on. We have done very successful holiday lets as well as renting it out on a more permanent basis which also worked well. Anyone working at the university or hospital, for instance, would find it ideally situated as it is only a 15 and 20 minute walk respectively. Wherever you work in the city it is generally within walking distance.”

“There’s a lovely feel to the property with some beautiful original features. All the bedrooms have the original pretty fireplaces, and one of my favourite visions is from the landing seeing the curving, Georgian handrail on the simple banisters as the upper staircase winds round. We have a chandelier over it and there’s a rooflight above; it always looks so elegant and appealing.”

“For storage, there’s a useful cellar accessed through a door and down steps under the stairs, and there’s an interesting glazed door from the hall into the kitchen which swings both ways.”

“You can see the cathedral from all the front windows, and from one of the back bedrooms you can see the castle walls. When there is a concert or fireworks you can see it all happening from the comfort of your own home! The top floor front bedroom has a Juliet balcony which is a rather nice, romantic feature.”

“The schools in the area are superb. The Minster Schools are only a 5 minute walk and Yarborough and Christ’s Hospital School are only a stone’s throw, maybe a 10 minute walk. My sons went the LSST – a fantastic state school - which is just south of the city; school buses pass through the centre so it’s very convenient.”

Location

Lincoln is a vibrant city with a rich and interesting history. During the Roman era Lincoln was known as 'Lindum Colonia' developed from an Iron Age Settlement on the River Witham. The two most notable attractions are the spectacular 11th century Cathedral and the Castle close to Bailgate Court in the city's cultural Cathedral Quarter, both of which can be seen from windows of the property. Lincoln has two universities, the University of Lincoln and Bishop Grosseteste, and the city is full of a diverse range of shopping.

The Bailgate - known as The Bail to locals - is the Uphill section of Lincoln where you can enjoy walking around the castle gardens and cathedral, and foraging in the popular Bailgate shopping area – quirky streets full of specialist shops including boutiques, antique shops, crafts, book and gift shops, not to mention tea rooms and restaurants. These quaint shops are surrounded by the remains of medieval Lincoln, black timber-framed buildings and even some hidden Romans remains. Enjoy regular artists’ and farmers’ markets in the Castle Square, and the Usher Art Gallery and The Collection Museum slightly further down the hill.

For direct commuting to London, there are daily trains from Lincoln to London Kings Cross (travel time approximately 2 hours). The A15 northwards provides easy access to the M180 motorway network and Humberside Airport, whilst it is also within easy reach of the A1 at Markham Moor along the A57 westwards, and the A1 at Newark via the A46.

Schools

There is an array of excellent nearby schools, for instance, in the private sector, the highly regarded Lincoln Minster Schools (Prep and Senior) are within about 5 minute walk, so too, a state junior school, Westgate Academy rated Good by Ofsted. Yarborough School and Christ’s Hospital School are also within walking distance and are state secondary schools rated Good by Ofsted. About 2.5 miles south of the property, The Priory Academy LSST, a state secondary, is rated Outstanding with school buses collecting and delivering students from the centre of the city

Services: Mains gas, electricity, water and drainage; gas central heating
Local Authority: Lincoln City Council
Council Tax Band: E
EPC Rating: C