The Avenue, Aspley Guise

PERIOD DRAMA

Designed and built for the children of a local landowner, Red House has a fascinating history. In the past it has also been a linen factory and a nursing home and was transformed back into a private residence in the 1990s. “We were looking for a period property and could see there was huge potential here to reinstate rather than renovate the house – we wanted to take it back to how it would have been originally, while ensuring it was also a very comfortable place to live.” This saw the owners expose floorboards, replace period-style panelling and paint rooms in exquisite Farrow & Ball shades. “A false floor was taken up on the lower ground floor to reveal an original, block-paved floor,” he continues. “The previous owners had a pool table in there but I made it into a cinema room.”

AMAZING SPACE

With its brick barrel-vaulted ceiling, the lower ground floor has been a superb, additional leisure space. “It has been great watching films down there but it has also been an excellent party space. We had 100 people here for my 40th birthday, spread out between the garden and the lower ground floor, where we had a DJ.” The main living accommodation is on the ground floor. This comprises a generous entrance hall, drawing room, dining room and kitchen breakfast room. There is also a large snug, which opens into a specular conservatory, plus a utility room, boot room, study and cloakroom. “There is a room here for every conceivable use,” he admits. “The children have had their own spaces; we have had ours and there has been room to spend time together and to welcome friends.”

ORIGINAL CHARACTER

High ceilings, exquisite windows and shutters, coving, ceiling roses and beautiful fireplaces, including one carved from mahogany, grace many of rooms. “I love the family room, which was a Victorian addition and is where I work. It has a wonderful high ceiling and looks out over the garden,” he says. “The drawing room, with two sets of French windows on to the garden, is also a lovely space, while the large kitchen kitchen and dining room have been great for family life.” An ornate staircase leads up to the first floor, where three of the bedrooms are located. The master suite is at one end, where it encompasses a large bedroom and walk-in wardrobe, as well as a generous en suite bathroom, with its own staircase up to a store room above.

LEISURE AND PLEASURE

At the other end of the house is a guest bedroom with another very sizeable en suite bathroom. The third bedroom has use of the family bathroom opposite, and there is also a separate cloakroom at this level. “Then the top floor of the house was where the children had their bedrooms,” he explains. “There are two more large bedrooms up here, as well as a central space, where they had their computers and could listen to music and spend time with friends.”

CUSTODIANS OF THE PAST

The many other great attractions to Red House include an external office building, with cloakroom and kitchenette, that is attached to a garage and store room. New owners could (subject to the relevant planning permissions) possible look into converting this into additional accommodation. The property now has high speed fibre optic broadband and there is a tennis court and ample parking. “It has been an incredible place to live,” he admits. “The village itself is lovely, with everything you need on the doorstep, and, of course, Milton Keynes isn’t far. It is easy to travel from here and there are beautiful places to walk. I will miss everything about being here when I leave. When you live somewhere historic like this you know you are really just looking after it for a period of time – and it has been an honour to do that.”

Disclaimer

Chewton Rose Estate Agents is the seller's agent for this property. Your conveyancer is legally responsible for ensuring any purchase agreement fully protects your position. We make detailed enquiries of the seller to ensure the information provided is as accurate as possible. Please inform us if you become aware of any information being inaccurate.