Cragg House, Bouth, Ulverston, Cumbria, LA12 8JQ

Welcome to Cragg House, Bouth, Ulverston, LA12 8JQ

Dated back to the early 1600's, Cragg House is said to be the second oldest house in the Lake District village of Bouth. When the present owner bought it at auction in 1997 it had been in the same family for around 100 years, back then it was in desperate need of upgrading, almost uninhabitable. What followed was a couple of years of hard work employing a sensitive and gently renovation that was mindful and respectful of the age and character of the property, it was around this time that the fabulous garden room was added which has transformed how the accommodation is used. Cragg House has character and quirky touches at every turn, for lovers of individual properties that are totally unique, this is possibly the one for you. 

In terms of setting, Cragg House enjoys a private and elevated position in amongst informal gardens that sit comfortably within the wider surroundings of this unspoilt hamlet. A quiet and peaceful place to live, Bouth is off the well-worn tourist trail and retains a strong sense of community. It’s highly accessible and thus offers the best of both worlds, a rural lifestyle that’s easily within reach.     

There are three doors that might claim to be the main entrance, one into the kitchen, another with a traditional porch into the sitting room and a third into a side hallway. From the side hall there is a deeply characterful beamed sitting room off which is a snug (currently used as a ground floor bedroom), a kitchen opening into an impressive garden room and a useful shower room. Stairs rise from the sitting room to a landing, off which are two double bedrooms, a third single bedroom and a house bathroom. Adjoining is Cragg Cottage, a delightful cottage with an open plan living kitchen, a double bedroom and ensuite bathroom – ideal for guests or a dependent family member. 

Instantly welcoming, this is a Lakeland gem. 

Location

Bouth is an unspoiled scattered hamlet set in the Lake District National Park. Off the beaten track this is a quiet corner of the Lake District which remains perfect if you want a quiet life but still enjoy dipping in and out of the hotspots. Hawkshead is 9 miles away, Coniston 11.5 miles distant and Bowness on Windermere 11.8 miles; whilst Ambleside, Grasmere and Keswick are 17.2, 21.7 and 34 miles respectively (all mileages are approximate). If you love exploring the great outdoors then all that Cumbria has to offer is at your fingertips; whether it’s rambling or hiking, running, cycling, climbing, sailing or off-roading, you really couldn’t find a better base. 

In terms of general amenities Ulverston offers a great selection of independent retailers and supermarkets (Booths, M&S Food and Aldi) and from a cultural point of view hosts a full calendar of events throughout the year with festivals (music, Dickensian, Buddhist, walking, lantern, beer, scarecrow, printing and Finefest, the list goes on…) and many celebrations as well (the summer fair, Ulverston and North Lonsdale country show and the St George’s Day Pageant to name but a few). Also, it’s good to know that there is a doctor’s surgery in nearby Haverthwaite (1.9 miles distant).

Rural, but not isolated, it’s a great combination, and the drive anywhere is always to be valued and enjoyed when the countryside is this good. 

Step inside Cragg House 

Cragg House is a complete one off, totally unique, with layers of character, period features and interesting architectural details. Any modernisation or extensions have been undertaken in a sympathetic style that forms a harmonious and seamless blend. 

The side hall opens into a hallway with store cupboards. The charismatic sitting room enjoys the evening sun and has a flagged floor, beamed ceiling and plenty of exposed woodwork, including spice cupboards and the stairs which rise from here. Embracing a quintessential country look with a cast iron range under a stone mantle and a door opening to the front porch; how lovely to have it open on a warm day and allow a gentle breeze to waft through. For most of the year however, it’s a room for evening use, for getting cosy, hunkering down and enjoying a film or binge-worthy box set. Off the sitting room is a snug with a wood burning stove and rustic touches of exposed stonework (with a recessed niche for display), timbers and beams. The kitchen has a solid fuel Aga at its heart and joiner made pine cabinets with black granite work tops, a Belfast sink and serviceable butcher’s block. The antique pine wall cabinet is included as is the free-standing electric oven and fridge; there’s plumbing for a dish washer. The kitchen is open plan to the garden room – a wonderful and very atmospheric addition with wide pine floorboards, a ceiling open to the roof’s apex with exposed roofing timbers and three walls of glazing with central French windows out to the garden’s terrace. A fitted bench provides seating along one side of your table. The owner tells us they practically live in here during the day and that it's a magical setting for a dinner party with lamps and candles reflecting in the glass all round. You’d need two Christmas trees for sure, one in here, the lights bouncing back off the windows and one in the deeply traditional sitting room. Completing the picture on the ground floor is a shower room which has a shower, wash basin, loo and old tall pine corner cupboard for plentiful storage. 

On the first floor the stairs open to a lovely landing, the ceiling rising to the roof’s apex, exposed woodwork and a wide ledge for display. There are two double  bedrooms, both have wide polished floor boards and exposed timbers; one has a charming cast iron feature fireplace. The third bedroom is a sweet single sized room with a lovely window seat and more exposed woodwork. The house bathroom has a roll top free-standing bath, separate shower cubicle, wash basin and loo. 

Cragg Cottage

A stable door leads into the living kitchen which has a flagged floor and cast-iron range. The kitchen cabinets are all joiner made and have wooden worktops, an inset Belfast sink, free standing cooker, fridge and microwave. The staircase rises from here up to a double bedroom with a ceiling up to the roof’s apex, a feature stone fireplace and a charming window seat. The ensuite bathroom has a shower over the bath, wash basin and loo. 

Step outside

There are informal gardens to three sides of the property. The drive is gated and there is a detached single garage with off road parking for two or three cars. The garage has plumbing for a washing machine. 

Both the house and the cottage have their own seating terraces, the elevated position providing views over the valley. It’s a peaceful setting, with a soundtrack of birdsong for when you’re out in the garden. 

Characterful outside lanterns provide illumination. 

Services

Mains electricity, water and drainage. Oil fired central heating from a Camray boiler in a cupboard in the hall. 

Broadband

Superfast speed available from Openreach of 49 Mbps download and for uploading 8 Mbps. 

Mobile

Indoor: no signal likely

Outdoor: EE, Three, O2 and Vodaphone for Voice, Data and Enhanced Data

Broadband and mobile information provided by Ofcom.

Local Authority charges 

Westmorland and Furness Council – Council Tax band F

Tenure

Freehold 

Included in the sale 

Fitted carpets, curtains, curtain poles, blinds and free-standing kitchen appliances as listed. The light fittings are excluded as many are antique. 

Please note

A small parcel of land to the south and east is common land. 

Directions 

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Our directions start from The White Hart pub at Bouth, LA12 8JB. With the pub on your left, proceed in a northerly direction out of the village. There are a few private driveways on the right, but you need to look for the first lane. Turn right here and it’s the first property on the right. The driveway parking is before the house.