High Street, Husbands Bosworth, LE17

Viewed from the High Street in the Leicestershire village of Husbands Bosworth, this delightful property gives clues to its original function. In a historically central position, this charming residence has maintained its distinctive period features: exposed red brickwork, rectangular sash windows, chimney pots, grey tiled roof and a large, street fronted, original window. This was formerly the business part of the premises. Originally built in 1900, this house was intended to serve as a family home and location for a saddler business. Number ten bears witness to a bygone age when the original owner, Mrs Porter, made, sold and repaired saddles and other leather goods for horses. The cobbled driveway is now screened by a pair of electrically operated gates but once open, it only requires a little creativity to imagine the many owners who led their horses across those stones and into the courtyard at the rear.

There is no doubt, this is a bespoke property with regards to space and layout. It is a charming residence that is the product of a merger between traditional aspects of its past and contemporary facets of quality, style and taste. Here, for example, you will find Minton floor tiles and Cole and Son wallpaper, complementing the overall spirit of a home that has been personalised to capture a century and more of country life.

The present owners of this property have been in residence for eight years and have nurtured it into becoming a family home that they have truly enjoyed and cared for. It maintains original features pertaining to its turn of the century origins, has had improvements made over the years and still offers huge potential for new owners to add their own touch of originality and style. This is a special opportunity to purchase a traditionally built four bedroom, semi-detached house in central Husbands Bosworth with an annexe facility and without a chain. Superbly located, it is only a short drive away from open countryside or bustling towns.

Prepare to be charmed

The front door to number ten is an original fixture and once inside, the hallway displays other such period treasures: Minton floor tiles, ceiling coving and skirting boards. The hallway is the central interlinking section of the property and at one time divided the residential side from the saddlery. At the furthest point there is a rear hall, with a floor to ceiling window overlooking the courtyard. The Tapi carpeted staircase has an under stair cupboard and original components: decorative panelling, newel posts, balusters and handrail. It is a welcoming entrance space, from which the lounge, kitchen, pantry and sitting room/play room can be accessed. The kitchen and dining room are towards the rear of the property and overlook the cobbled yard, detached coach house and beyond into the garden.

Wining and dining

Welcome to this most charming of rooms, where new compliments old! A newly fitted handmade kitchen rests upon an original quarry tiled floor, in an arrangement that provides a central island, ample storage and work preparation space. Decorated walls in Farrow and Ball off black, the cupboard cup handles and tongue and groove cabinetry, all denote the quality and workmanship that compliments the Victorian/Edwardian fireplace, contemporary tiling, and double Belfast sink with pull out spray tap, replacement sash windows and doors. Here, the Flavel double oven with induction hob and extractor fan is included as a fixture; newly purchased in 2020. The pantry is directly opposite the kitchen and contains an original cast iron safe, besides the more obvious shelving!

The dining room is similarly styled and has double doors that open into the courtyard. Other than two chandeliers – located in the dining room and primary bedroom – all light fittings are included in the sale. From the dining room, there is a door leading into the generous utility room, which was once a coal house and laundry room. It houses a Belfast sink, newly fitted cupboards and plumbing for a washing machine and vented tumble drier. Luxury vinyl flooring completes this room.

The reception rooms

Walking back towards the front door the two reception rooms of this lovely property are both at the front, overlooking High Street. To the right, the lounge is a beautifully proportioned room and has an original, working, open fire place and luxury vinyl parquet flooring. Period gems include the skirting architrave, ceiling coving and an original service bell, a second of which can be found in the sitting room/play room across the hall. This room, originally as the saddle shop, had been partitioned by means of a door and boarding. It still has a water pump in situ. With the addition of new doors, windows and log burner, this has become a totally recommissioned space that serves flexibly as a second reception room for all members of the family.

Bedrooms and bathroom

The homely feel of this spacious house is now continued as you move upstairs. The white banisters lead to a carpeted, upper floor landing. There are four bedrooms on this level. One of them is presently being used as a dressing room and is accessed from the primary bedroom. Both rooms have oak smoked timber flooring. All bedrooms have been fitted with matt black cast iron radiators. There are three double bedrooms and they all have chimney breasts, which makes for a distinctive feature in each. They similarly have ceiling coving and picture rails.

The bathroom at number ten has been refurbished by the present owners and has been fitted with a white suite and maintained to a high standard. It has a large, luxurious roll top bath with an end shower tap and chrome lion claw feet. The generous walk in power shower has an independent water tank and a digital control system. In addition to the toilet and vanity unit in the bathroom, there is also a separate washroom that can be accessed from the landing.

Shall we investigate outside?

The detached coach house is a useful addition to the property, being suitable upstairs for use as a separate guest accommodation, studio or office. It is characterful and fitted with a log burner, storage heating, hot water cylinder and electrical power, including a separate phone line and broadband connection. Downstairs, the coach house can be used as a gym, garage or workshop. There is an outside toilet and period features have even been extended to include this too: the sink is atop a Singer sewing machine table.

The lengthy garden has been landscaped to create areas of particular suitability for different members of the family. Besides established hard landscaping, many varieties of plants and shrubs have been nurtured. There is an area with decking and a bar for entertaining, while a section of garden with a timber play house and sandpit will keep the younger members of the household busy. Water and power is available, with outside sockets and provision already made for extra loops if necessary, including an extra fuse board where an aviary was once positioned. There are additional workshops and a tool store at the back of the garden. At the furthest point from the property, ducks and chickens are currently in residence. The garden and its components perfectly complement this bespoke home.

Husbands Bosworth is a large crossroads village in the Midlands county of Leicestershire. The village falls within the district council of Harborough, under the county council of Leicestershire. It is in the LE17 postcode district. The post town for Husbands Bosworth is Lutterworth.

It is located in the southern part of the county, thirteen miles south of Leicester on the A5199 road from Leicester city to Northampton and the A4304 road from Junction 20 of the M1 motorway to Market Harborough. Leicester city is a culturally diverse attraction for those wishing to visit museums, galleries, theatres or simply indulge in local markets and retail therapy.

As the village is on the borders of Northamptonshire and due to its central location, it is ideally located for all main transport links, including air (Nottingham East Midlands Airport) and rail. Husbands Bosworth is six miles from the train station in Market Harborough and twelve miles from another in Rugby. Direct London lines – the first to St Pancras and the second to Euston – take approximately an hour and run at regular intervals.

Husbands Bosworth was mentioned in the Doomsday Book and during the Middle Ages was called Baresworth or Boresworth but became known as it is known now in the late 16th century to distinguish it from the village of Market Bosworth, renowned for the 1485 Battle of Bosworth Field. The ridge of hills running through its area is believed to have been a Bronze Age trackway but the crossroads nature of the village first occurred in 1765 and accounts for the fact that there are two village greens. One of them is at the cross-roads and one on the east at the corner of Church Lane and Mowsley Road. The parish church, All Saints, and Bosworth Hall and Park lie at the east end of the village. It is believed that some parts of the church may date back to the 13th century but the tower dates from the mid-14th century. The Grand Union Canal enters a tunnel about ¾ mile long just north of the village and there are walks easily accessible along the towpaths.

Today, the village can offer several amenities within walking distance such as a village shop, post office, doctors surgery and dispensary, dentist, hairdressers, several pubs, a Chinese takeaway, recreational areas ( tennis courts, football pitches, skate park ) and a bustling village hall offering community events and involvement in all national celebrations like coronations or jubilees. There are many countryside based attractions nearby including riding schools, golf clubs and country parks. Wider afield, local days out could be enjoyed in such places as Belvoir Castle, Bradgate park or Twycross Zoo.

The locality provides many schools across the educational age range; nursery, primary, secondary, including private establishments offering bordering facilities. The Office for Standards in Education - OFSTED – is best researched to provide a comprehensive review of currently rated standards of practice.

EPC rating: F
Council Tax band: E
Tenure: Freehold