Eaton Bishop, Herefordshire

An Authentically Characterful Grade II Listed Black & White 3 Double Bedroom Family Home, set amid expansive landscaped gardens with sweeping country views and gated field extending in all to 1.9 acres – offering equestrian and ‘good life’ potential at the heart of a welcoming village.

Front Porch – Sitting Room – Sun Room – Country Kitchen/Diner – Utility – Downstairs Shower Room – Principal Suite with Bathroom & Dressing Room – Double Bedroom with Ensuite Shower – Double Bedroom – Cellar – Extensive Driveway with direct field access & secure Parking for numerous vehicles inc. Caravan/Motorhome – Double Garage with Pit & Internal Rear Workshop – Triple Log Store – Paved Dining Patio – Professionally Landscaped Gardens with Small Wildlife Pond – Vegetable Plot with Harvested Rainwater, Mains Water & Power Nearby – Fenced Field

A labour of love over the last decade has seen this impressive property, dating in part to the 1490’s, conserved rather than renovated to restore its former glory. It also benefits from further granted planning permissions for the replacement of windows and the addition of bi-fold doors to the Sun Room. The necessary removal of tonnes of material from the rear of the house has allowed for the reinstatement of the structural integrity of the East elevation timber frame, including the sole plate, all of which is now able to breathe once more. A new paved patio has been installed from which to bask in a rural idyll, with views over the delightful gardens and lower paddock to uninterrupted open country beyond. The extensive grounds with public right of way to the boundary offer exciting potential for pursuing the ‘Good Life’, market gardening or for the delight of pony mad youngsters.

Enjoying a lovely location at the very heart of Eaton Bishop, a quiet but welcoming community centred around St. Michael’s Church and a bustling village hall offering coffee mornings, quiz nights and an array of classes including painting. The village is served by both a bi-weekly bus, community transport and neighbouring Ofsted “Good” Clehonger primary school. The full city amenities of Hereford lie only 6 miles away, passing through Belmont with its supermarket, petrol station, library and GP surgery. There is also a GP surgery in the nearby village of Kingstone.

The Property

Front Porch – A stone and gravel pathway leads up to wide stone steps of the Porch opening into a spacious room with practical coir carpeting and offering ample storage for the divestment of muddy boots and coats.

Kitchen/Diner – Beyond the original door opens the traditional country Kitchen with its stunning inglenook stone fireplace, where the massive timber lintel displays its taper burn marks and which still retains its bread oven and is now home to a new Charnwood wood burner. The Kitchen is fitted in calm white units smartly contrasted by slim hard-wearing grey countertops. The array of storage provided includes a corner carousel and set of deep pan drawers with top cutlery/utensil drawer flanking the wide cream Rangemaster cooker with ceramic hob. The composite sink and a half with integral drainer with both mixer and drinking taps, is set above a unit concealing an instant hot water heater. To the side is space for an undercounter dishwasher beside room for a freestanding fridge/freezer. The expanse of countertops are well-lit by strip lights neatly concealed by the ceiling beams while three pendants light the central position for a large table at which to gather family and friends, leaving ample space for relaxed seating before the window framing views down the private rear gardens.

Utility – Off the Kitchen lies the modern Utility, fitted in matching white units including a tall Pantry Cupboard ideal for the storage of household necessities. Home to the Worcester Greenstar gas boiler, the Utility provides a stainless steel sink with integral drainer set beside under-counter space for both washer and dryer.

Sitting Room – The impressive carpeted Sitting Room features the far side of the almost 3m sq. central fireplace stack it shares with the Kitchen, alongside exposed timber lintels and bread oven, it is also home to a new Heta wood burner. The inviting room dating from the 17th century delights in original exposed wall beams framing a picture window overlooking the Dining Patio and lovely rear gardens festooned with climbing roses and bursting with wildlife friendly colour. A second internal window connects to the Sun Room as does the door into a narrow Hallway with fitted shelving.

Sun Room – The Sun Room with solid tile roof, half wall, timber glazing fitted with blinds, air conditioning wall unit, hardwood flooring and French Door leading onto the patio and gardens beyond, is a delightful more recent addition and offers a highly malleable space. It is currently utilised as a spacious Home Office and offers ample further space for quiet retreat, informal relaxing, hobby/crafting or playroom.

Downstairs Shower Room – The modern Shower Room benefits from pedestal basin, WC, chrome heated towel rail, vinyl flooring and with a step up a shower cubicle.

Cellar – Stone steps descend into the Cellar providing copious easily accessible storage and kept dry with pumped drainage for any exceptional rainfall events.

Landing – Approached past a window facing the lane which offers distant views to the Black Mountains, the wide landing has ample space for further storage/bookcases.

Bedroom 1 – The door from the landing opens into the carpeted area offering a malleable space and readily fitted with storage to create a dedicated Dressing Room. Beyond lies the Bathroom with exposed beams featuring freestanding slipper bath with standpipe tap and shower attachment, pedestal basin with LED lit mirror above, WC and fitted tall wall unit for storage. The suite lit by Velux with fitted blind is completed with cork tile flooring and heated towel rail. The spacious carpeted Double Bedroom enjoys dual aspect with a Velux and window framing stunning views over the rear gardens and land to wooded countryside and the inky outline of the distant Malvern Hills.

Bedroom 2 – The second carpeted Double Bedroom provides ample space for both wardrobe storage and study desk; it enjoys a window framing views across the front garden to the tower and green of St. Michael's. The Ensuite features new shower cubicle, WC and vanity unit with cupboard storage and fitted basin and natural reclaimed timber flooring.

Bedroom 3 – The final bedroom is also a carpeted Double with window overlooking the village and church tower and benefits from a deep built-in wardrobe with fitted shelving.

Outside

The securely gated Driveway provides ample parking to the front of the Double Garage with further parking to the rear before continuing, alongside the hedged boundary with its screened Public Right of Way walkway, to the gated rear field. The Garage block offers double garaging for cars with 5ft deep pit for working on vehicles – a boon to any classic car enthusiast. Beyond the garaging with alarm, light, water and power lies the internal Workshop with double door access into the gardens. Beyond the Garage is sunk a 5000lt Rainwater harvesting tank feeding the Vegetable Plot and field. To the house lies a stone paved Patio ideal for al fresco dining and sheltered by timber fences cascading with climbing roses. The professionally landscaped gardens are a delight of beds bursting with flowers, small wildlife pond, swathe of wildflowers all set against a structural backdrop of fruit, specimen trees and mature walnut. The tonnes of spoil taken from the rear of the house now form the striking earthwork banks of the lower garden, bordering the “no-dig” Vegetable Plot sheltered by the highly scented hedge of mock orange. Beyond lies the fenced field currently and conveniently grazed by the neighbouring farmer's sheep.

Practicalities

Herefordshire Council Tax Band ‘F’
Gas Central Heating
Predominantly Double Glazed
All Mains Services
Fibre Broadband Available

Directions

From Hereford take the A465 West passing through Belmont. Turn right onto the B4349 signed to Clehonger and Madley for 2 miles, continuing straight onto the B4352. Pass through Clehonger and in 1 mile turn right to Eaton Bishop also marked with a brown sign to St. Michael's Church. The property is to be found on the right, just before another brown sign to the church.

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