Church Lane, Swineshead, Boston, Lincolnshire, PE20

A magnificent, unlisted Victorian country residence, dating from the 1890s, occupies a splendid position in the picturesque conservation village of Swineshead.
Set in approximately 1.8 acres (STS) of enchanting gardens with a spectacular terrace surrounding the south easterly aspect, this exceptional period home combines grand architectural elegance with a sense of intimate charm.

Immaculately presented throughout, the main house boasts a wealth of original features and extends over three floors, offering over 5,500 sq. ft. of luxurious accommodation, including four formal reception rooms. The first and second floors include a principal suite with private balcony and six further generously sized bedrooms. A superb self-contained one-bedroom studio on the ground floor and a detached one-bedroom annexe ensure flexibility for guests and extended family.

The grounds are equally impressive with sweeping gravel drive accessed through electric gates; the mature trees and high fences ensure privacy, whilst the immaculate gardens, featuring kitchen garden, rose beds and cottage borders, offer a tranquil escape. The swim spa, with retractable pool house, offers year-round enjoyment regardless of the weather.

Nearby trunk roads provide easy access to further destinations, with Grantham approximately half an hour away. From Grantham, fast trains to London take around an hour, making this home perfect for the commuter seeking a country retreat.


• Magnificent nine-bedroom, unlisted Victorian country home
• Immaculately presented throughout, boasting a wealth of original features
• Extending over three floors, offering more than 5,500 sq. ft. of accommodation
• Set in approximately 1.3 acres (STS) of mature and private gardens
• Grand entrance with stone steps and double doors to an inner porch
• Double-glazed inner doors open to the elegant reception hall with original wooden floors
• Imposing, ornate staircase with feature stained glass feature window and Italian chandeliers
• Opulent 18 ft drawing room with Clearview log burner set in marble surround
• Impressive kitchen-breakfast room complimented by a separate utility room with wine cooler.
• Dining room and linked sitting room with French doors onto the terrace and south facing formal garden
• Study with original cast iron fireplace with oak surround
• French doors with original shutters, to the study and drawing room, open out onto the huge south easterly terrace and formal gardens
• Spectacular principal bedroom suite complete with dressing room, luxurious en-suite and French doors to a spacious, private balcony with stunning views over the gardens
• Two further formal ensuite bedrooms on the 1st floor and elegant family bathroom with jacuzzi bathtub
• The second floor offers four further bedrooms, one ensuite and a well-appointed family bathroom, some rooms with Victorian fireplaces, exposed beams and Velux windows
• Located within the main house is a spacious ground floor self-contained one bedroom annex ‘The Studio’
• ‘The Cottage’, is a detached, single storey, one bedroom annex with recently added garden room and French doors to the kitchen gardens
• 21ft Catalina Swimspa with jacuzzi area, housed under a retractable pool house, offering year-round enjoyment regardless of the weather
• Kitchen-breakfast room is fitted with bespoke American oak units, two islands, granite worktops and a beautiful bay window seat
• Integrated kitchen appliances include; La Canache Range cooker, dishwasher, microwave and American style fridge/freezer
• ‘The Studio’ has a dining room and lounge and access to the courtyard
• Utility room, adjacent to kitchen has direct access to both the courtyard and The Studio
• Ground shower room and separate cloakroom
• Double glazed windows throughout
• Sweeping gravel drive accessed through two sets of full height electric gates
• Mature trees and high fences providing complete privacy
• Landscaped gardens include formal long boarders, meadow and formal lawns, cottage gardens, kitchen garden, fruit trees and traditional rose garden
• Garden pond with private decked area and summer house
• Secret terrace with gazebo
• Detached garage, garden and log stores
• Set against the stunning backdrop of the Grade 1 listed parish Church of St Mary The Virgin, built in the thirteenth century

Seller’s Insight
‘After an extensive search for the perfect country retreat away from London, we arrived at The Old Vicarage. The moment we approached its handsome façade and stepped into the impressive entrance hall we knew we had discovered something truly special, this was the home we had been waiting for.’

‘The timeless grandeur and elegance of the house ensures we can entertain effortlessly, both inside and out. The spacious rooms, tall ceilings and Victorian charm allow for large gatherings, particularly at Christmas when festive décor transforms the home into a winter wonderland, with large trees gracing the halls and meals prepared in the heart of the kitchen on the traditional range. Outside we have hosted many celebrations, whether it’s a marquee on the formal lawn or intimate candlelit dinner parties on the terrace. Thanks to the swim spa with retractable pool house we have had many pool parties without the English weather dampening our enjoyment!’

‘Yet, despite its size, the house has always remained very much our beloved home, exuding a warm and inviting atmosphere. Countless evenings have been spent by the comforting glow of the log burner, while the garden offers many peaceful spots, one of our favourites being the hidden terrace in the cottage garden, where we can relax with a G&T, soaking in the last rays of sunshine in the gazebo’

‘The house is steeped in history, we understand it was once the cherished home of Reverend Cragg and his eight children for over 60 years, a sanctuary for family life and community within the village before becoming a private residence. The stone-carved shields and sculpted heads adorning the façade have intrigued historians and stonemasons alike, and we rather love that The Old Vicarage continues to hold onto some of its secrets’.

‘We have taken immense pride in transforming the gardens over the last decade. Every season is a joy, from the burst of life from the cottage garden boarders in Spring, the elegance of the roses throughout the Summer to the rich colours provided by holly bushes and many varieties of native trees throughout Autumn and Winter. The kitchen garden, with raised beds, provide us with a wealth of produce and we are lucky to have an abundance of wildlife including birds, hedgehogs, frogs and newts that thrive in the gardens, making the property feel like a natural retreat.’

‘Whilst the property is within walking distances of all the village amenities it is just a stone's throw away from the vast countryside and open skies of the Fens which stretch out into endless miles of country tracks, perfect for long, leisurely dog walks.’

‘Despite its grandeur, the Old Vicarage never forgets that it is first and foremost a home and one we will miss terribly but it is time for us to start a new chapter. Whether full of family and friends or enjoyed in peaceful solitude, it offers the perfect balance of space, luxury and comfort in a truly idyllic village setting, with the beauty of the countryside and the rich natural world right on its doorstep.’

Location
Located within the well served, village of Swineshead which has a Co-op, a post office, bakery, pharmacy, medical centre, fish and chip shop and long-established pubs. There is a Tesco Superstore just 5 miles away with Boston and Spalding provide a range of shops, sports clubs, a hospital and many other facilities.

Convenient road links are nearby with the A17 and A52 within easy reach, the A52 taking you to Grantham and the A1 in just over half an hour, where the fast rail service to London King’s Cross takes around an hour. Swineshead also has a train station on the Nottingham to Skegness line, eastwards for the Lincolnshire coast. The A1 is also accessed at Newark, about 30 miles (40 mins) to the northwest and at Peterborough being the same distance to the south. The historic city of Lincoln is 30 miles (45 mins) north.

Schools
There is a choice of local primary schools with the nearest, Swineshead St. Mary’s Primary School rated Good by Ofsted just a few minutes’ walk away. Boston has popular grammar schools, The Boston Grammar School (for boys) and The Boston High School (for girls), both rated Good and just over 8 miles away. In the private sector, Ayscoughfee Hall is a sought after, private prep school in Spalding, 16 miles south.

Services:
Mains electricity, water and sewerage, gas fired central heating with underfloor heating to the sitting room, dining room and studio dining room and kitchen
Solar panels, installed 2015 and owned outright
Local Authority: Borough of Boston
Council Tax Band: G
Tenure: Freehold
EPC Rating: D