Harrington, Spilsby, Lincolnshire, PE23

NON SIBI SOLUM - or ‘not for oneself alone’ - engraved in stone on a front wall perfectly sums up this heavenly, former rectory designed by the renowned Victorian architect S.S. Teulon. Once known as Hovenden Manor, The Old Rectory is hidden from the outside world in an idyllic spot in the heart of Lord Tennyson country in the Lincolnshire Wolds, its enveloping grounds give delight and intrigue.

This unique, captivating home will tempt those with the most discerning eye and, with its extremely generous proportions and situation near to excellent schools, will be a draw for a large, possibly extended family and for those who love to entertain. With a good number of outbuildings and around 2 acres, the property also provides further potential (subject to planning).

Seller Insight


“‘Non sibi solum’ is the motto carved on one of the front walls of The Old Rectory and it is the perfect house for entertaining family and friend for parties, festive gatherings or quiet house party weekends.”

“The house was designed and built in 1854 by S S Tuelon, a Victorian architect renowned for building rectories and churches in and around London and a number in Lincolnshire with a liking for the Gothic Revival style and use of multi-coloured bricks.”

“The large reception hall, the four public rooms as well as the bespoke Vale conservatory and the large garden permit guests to mingle and be sociable or find peaceful solitude.”

“I love to entertain and in winter have enjoyed serving pre-dinner drinks in the main reception hall or the drawing room then moving into the dining room for a formal meal. I have had roaring fires in all the rooms, even in the hall for a lovely warm welcome.”

“A marvellous spacious property for a family, the garden provides loads of hidden dens for children as well as a mini maze to the side of the house, and is perfect for multigenerational living with the two bedroom coach house in the grounds.”

“The wonderful inviting conservatory brings the garden inside. It is the perfect spot to watch the plethora of wildlife from hedgehogs, owls and boxing hares to the amazing variety of birds; at present we seem to have a resident pheasant. At Christmas, sitting round a large table makes for a magical experience.”

“The dual zone central heating system is very convenient as you can choose to have the ground floor on but not the upstairs. The conservatory has underfloor heating but I’ve never had to put it on even though I use it all year round.”

“The garden is just magic. In late winter and early spring we go from carpets of snowdrops to nodding heads of many varieties of daffodils to bluebells and hyacinths then the magnolias through to the lilacs, and in summer, onto roses and hydrangeas - there is always something flowering. The large pond is naturally fed with a small waterfall at one end. It is full of pond life and visited by mating mallards, moorhens and other water birds. There are several seating areas within the whole of the garden, ideal if you want to chill out, sketch or read a book or listen to the birds singing. One of them, the pavilion, means you can sit out even if it is raining.”

“There is enough space in the grounds to fence off areas for grazing if someone wanted to have a horse or some ponies; there is still the old stabling in the coach house, or other outbuildings could be used for this purpose.”

“Great potential is offered here for further development. You could have an outside office or studio for instance, or convert the garage building into more self-contained accommodation [subject to planning]; there are so many options.”

“The improvements I have made include adding the aluminium greenhouse with self-regulating roof vents and fitting bespoke solid light oak shelving in the reading room/library, a room for quiet contemplation. Outside, I have doubled the size of the orchard so it now provides apples, pears, plums, damsons, medlars and crab apples. The crab apple and mint jelly last year was absolutely delicious. I also installed the large iron gates at the entrance which involved raising the height of the piers using reclaimed handmade Victorian bricks, I reinstated the original steps in the south lawn having discovered they were there in Victorian times - incidentally, the lawn overlooked by the dining room was a tennis court then - and I have put a proper pulley on the old well although it has a grid across the top for safety.”

“Four lights at the entrance to the property grounds on the bridge come on automatically as light is fading and go off around 11pm; they are on an adjustable timer.”

“There is a handy letter box within a stone’s throw of the main front gate. From here there is a footpath that leads to Aswardby across fields if you want to walk your dog, and after a winter walk, a welcoming afternoon tea is held in the reception hall.”

“I adore this place and wish I could pick it up and take it with me. I thought it was to be my forever home but it is not to be so I am reluctantly having to hand it on to someone who I hope will love and cherish it and continue with the custodial care that I have given it.”

Key Features

• Grade II listed, former rectory designed by renowned architect S.S. Teulon
• 1854 date-stone engraved with NON SIBI SOLUM
• Mullioned windows, leaded panes, mix of plain and fish-scale tiled roofs
• Quarry tiled storm porch with timber gothic arches leading to inner porch
• Impressive entrance hall with gothic doors, windows and stone fireplace
• 20 ft. drawing room with large bay overlooking south lawn
• Morning room/snug leading to conservatory
• 18 ft. formal dining room
• Open fires in Ancaster stone fireplaces in 3 reception rooms and hall
• Reading room with bespoke light oak shelving and secure sliding ladder
• Magnificent gothic-style Vale House conservatory with underfloor heating
• 20 ft. kitchen breakfast room with classic fitted kitchen with granite tops
• Oil-fired Aga
• Electric hob and electric double oven
• Integrated dishwasher and American-style fridge freezer included in sale
• Double Belfast sink and second sink incorporated in island
• Well appointed utility room with water softener, washing machine included
• Generous boot room fitted with bespoke oak panelling and seating
• Two sets of staircases
• 5 to 6 double bedrooms, 2 en suite, one with a walk-in dressing room
• Large, fully fitted family bathroom
• Landing with 2 loft hatches for attic storage, one with retractable ladder
• Cellar with storage for wine
• Outbuildings to include a larder/pantry, a boiler room and an oil/log-store
• Self-contained, 2 bedroom coach house annex, adjoining former stabling
• Brick-built double garage with adjoining tool shed and WC
• 3-bay, open fronted brick-built cart shed
• Open-fronted pavilion for sheltered outdoor seating
• Aluminium greenhouse with self-regulating roof vents
• Enchanting grounds of around 2 acres with a number of lawns
• Mature trees and an orchard providing a variety of abundant fruit
• Plethora of bulbs, flowering shrubs, perennials, and roses
• Naturally fed pond with waterfall and decking
• Old well with grid and pulley feature
• Pedestrian access via garden gate onto path leading to church

Location

In a lovely area of the country, The Old Rectory stands close to St. Mary’s Church, part of the Tennyson Trail, in a peaceful hamlet in the Lincolnshire Wolds, designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, with the charming market towns of Spilsby about 5 miles southeast, Alford about 6 miles northeast, Horncastle about 8 miles southwest and Louth about 10 miles north.

The nearby historic market towns are a delight, some with roots in Roman times. Spilsby has a weekly farmers’ market, Alford has one of the few remaining working windmills in the country, whilst Horncastle is famous for its antique shops; it also has many amenities including leisure activities and some excellent schools. Louth is also well served with a very good range of shops and banks. The city of Lincoln is 30 miles directly west, about a 45 minute drive, and the miles of sandy beaches along the Lincolnshire coast are about 15 miles (20 minutes) to the east.


Schools

The area is blessed with some superb state schools. For secondary education, in Spilsby there is the King Edward VI Academy and in Alford the Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School, both rated Good by Ofsted whilst in Horncastle there is the Banovallum School also rated Good, and another Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, this one rated Outstanding. In Louth, the King Edward VI Grammar School is also rated Outstanding and the Louth Academy is a popular school rated Good.


Services

Mains electricity and water; private drainage; dual-zone oil-fired central heating; oil-fired Aga; air source heating for hot water and the underfloor heating in conservatory

Local Authority: East Lindsey District Council
Council Tax Band: G
Tenure: Freehold
EPC Rating: Exempt