Crofts End, Sherington, Buckinghamshire, MK16

COUNTRY BOLTHOLE, AIRBNB INVESTMENT, OR LOVELY HOME - CLOSE TO EVERY FACILITY, INCLUDING MILTON KEYNES STATION

A wing of a gorgeous, Grade II-listed, former Non-Conformist Chapel, a lovely one-bedroom country cottage in the historic Buckinghamshire village of Sherington – excellent pub and shop yards along the lane, mainline railway station just 15 minutes away in Milton Keynes, from where you can reach London in just over 30 minutes – oh, and ultrafast broadband too.

Sherington lies between the quaint market town of Olney, with its antique shops, William Cowper Museum, numerous eateries and supermarket, and Milton Keynes, home of the famous shopping centre, cinemas, water sports at Willen Lake and Xscape, with its ski slope, sky diving and high ropes course.

The village is a couple of miles equidistant of the small town of Newport Pagnell and Emberton Country Park, which was England’s first country park, with 200 acres of parkland where you can walk, run or cycle around four lakes, through wooded glades and meadows. Sail or fish to your heart’s content. Have a bite to eat in the café or take your own picnic.

Bedford and Northampton are within easy reach and a short drive will take you to Woburn Abbey Safari Park, Castle Ashby and Bletchley Park, once the top-secret home of the WWII code breakers. Silverstone Race Circuit, just 30 miles away, hosts the British Grand Prix, MotoGP, touring cars and driving experiences.

The Old Chapel could barely be better placed for attractions and for travel, but it’s also in a super little village, surrounded by wonderful walking country. As an investment, it makes a super rental or holiday home. Or as your full-time home or weekend country retreat, you can look forward to the cares of the day falling away as soon as you turn into the village.

MORE ABOUT THE PROPERTY

What a lovely approach to your new home, along the tree-lined lane that is one of the oldest roads in the village, once called Calves Lane, and with its fair share of historic houses. Indeed, the village is steeped in history, having been given away by William the Conqueror nearly 1000 years ago to one of his followers, Geoffrey de Mowbray, Bishop of Coutances. A near neighbour, at the bottom of what is now Crofts End is the moated Manor House. The Old Chapel is in good company.

The Old Chapel is a youngster compared to the Manor House, despite having been built in 1822 (glance up at the date tablet in the dentilled pediment above the blind circular window). It’s just as beautiful, though, with its hipped, slate roofs above dentilled eaves, wonderful chequered red brick and gorgeous, arched windows. It has also played a full part in the history of Sherington, having been a place of worship from its inception until the late 1980s. It now provides lovely homes, of which your wing is one, for just a handful of fortunate people.

Communal gardens surround the Old Chapel, with lawns at the front and back of your wing. And you have parking in the gravelled area, bird song welcoming you from majestic maple and yew trees.

Step into your living room and instantly feel at home. A home that is at once a cottage and a duplex apartment. You never feel short of space. Relax on the sofa and watch a film and look forward to intimate dinners for two (or more). Your kitchen has oven, hob, fridge and freezer all built in, and there’s plenty of storage space. Your lovely bedroom is a great size and there’s oodles of space in your shower room.

Sit outside with glass of something in the summer sunshine. Wander along the lane to collect provisions from the shop, and drink (and dine) at the wonderful White Hart, Sherington’s C18th Free House. A holiday maker staying here remarked that “the Old Chapel is in a fantastic little village and is in a great location for Milton Keynes and the surrounding countryside. It has everything we needed for a comfortable stay.” As an investment or home, The Old Chapel is great value.