Church Road, Wootton, Bedfordshire, MK43

BREATHTAKINGLY BEAUTIFUL BARN CONVERSION IN WONDERFULLY PEACEFUL SPOT OVERLOOKING CHURCH

A gorgeous, Grade II-listed, late 17th century former coach house, with 5 exciting bedrooms, amazing living space and superb gardens, not to mention detached garage with outdoor office and extensive driveway parking. Together with its attached neighbour and Wootton House, to which they both once belonged, The Old Barn stands, peacefully, in the conservation area of the Bedfordshire village of Wootton, overlooking the glorious, Grade I-listed Church of St Mary.

Mentioned in the Domesday Book, the historic village of Wootton has its fair share of listed buildings, including the Chequers Inn, one of four pubs within a short stroll of The Old Barn. There are no less than four village stores too, a post office, surgery and chemist, as well as a Scout hut, Community Centre, Recreation Ground, and a Multi-user sports facility and skate park.

Both Lower and Upper schools are in Wootton and the Middle School, as well as the highly thought of University and Technology Park, is just a 4-mile bus journey away in Cranfield. The County town of Bedford, with its world-renowned Harpur Trust private schools and fast trains to London in under 40 minutes is a mere 6.5 miles. The nearby A421 means you can reach the M1 and Milton Keynes in no time, while the A1 in the other direction takes you speedily to Luton Airport about 20 miles away. All this, yet beautiful woodland and walks with your dog through land that all once belonged to the Monoux family, George Monoux in 1514 having purchased the Manor of Wootton, then intriguingly called the Manor of Bosoms.

Wootton House, described as “of outstanding architectural merit” was built with its coach house and stables (The Old Barn) by Sir Humphrey Monoux, 2nd Baronet, probably about the time of the Restoration of the monarchy in 1660. This lovely country house is the only property past your new home, at the end of the former carriage drive. Where once those carriages, and the horses that pulled them, were housed, must now be many a person’s dream family home.

ABOUT THE PROPERTY

What an approach! Through iron gates, pond to the right, church to the left, wonderful old walls to one side of the drive, landscaped gardens, delightful all year round, to the other. Wander along a gravel pathway winding between an array of pale pink, purple and black planting, bees busying themselves amongst the rhododendrons, peonies, camelias, crab apple and cherry blossoms. Clematis climbs the beautiful red brick, roses arch over a stable door inviting you inside.

Wow! A superb living space, Shaker kitchen furniture at one end boldly painted in ‘Smithy Black’ topped by gorgeous granite, sitting area at the other. In between, space for at least eight to eat, bespoke library unit on one side, large log burner on the other, which sends winter heat around the home, the lovely, tall sliding sash window demanding you sit on its low slate sill, bathed in sunshine come summertime. Year-round, natural light pours in through floor-to-ceiling windows, which have replaced openings of yesteryear through which horses pulled their carriages. You must already be planning your housewarming and dinner parties.

The Old Barn is made for entertaining, but also for everyday family living, with oodles of space to be together as well as to be alone, whether it be to work in the outdoor office, to study or read in the snug, or to escape upstairs, where even the landing is special.

Beautiful beams support high ceilings. Exciting children’s bedrooms (all take a double bed), with their mezzanine floors, are dream sanctuaries in more ways than one. The main bedroom, with its vaulted ceiling, semi-circular views of both the church spire and the front garden, and its porthole window to the stars, is achingly romantic. If the showers aren’t enough, including the one in the great Jack & Jill shower room, wallow in a stylish bathroom, complete with beautiful bath, limestone floor and Chinese antique vanity.

This is a home where each room is a joy. It’s a home with a gardener’s paradise at the front and a super back garden too, where children can kick a ball to their hearts’ content, watched over by St Mary’s bird-filled beech trees and those who prefer a glass of wine on the private, slate terrace. This is a rather special home.