Great North Road, St Neots

Pulling on their wellies, the current owners of the country house at Buckden Hill head out on a country walk with their children and grandchildren. Their Cambridgeshire property has been a magnificent family home for the past eight years, offering them all the internal and external space have needed, as well as an exceptional quality of life. “Our family was growing and we were looking for somewhere that would have privacy and plenty of room for all of us,” one of them remembers. “There are just two houses in this location and, despite passing them on my way to work, I had no idea they were here.” She adds: “It was perfect for our family – it was such a lovely find.”

READY AND WAITING

Dating back to 1921, the three-bedroom house has been extended over the years. “It was in superb condition when we bought it,” she recalls. “We have redecorated a couple of times and added wooden flooring but other than that we have simply been able to enjoy living here.” Indeed, the house has been so well maintained that new owners will be able to simply move in with their furniture and furnishings. Yet, there is great potential here for further development (subject to the relevant planning permissions) should that be of interest. “There is a huge workshop in the garden that could be converted for all sorts of uses. The previous owner used it as his office and there is electricity and a wood burner in there. This could be ideal as a work space for someone else or perhaps as a summer house, studio or even self-contained annexe.”

A WARM RECEPTION

Above all, it is the superb reception space that has suited the family. “We have two large sitting rooms here, which means that on family occasions such as Christmas the children can be in one place playing their games while we can be in another. There is a lot of room for everyone to spread out.” The arrangement of rooms is ideal for anyone who enjoys entertaining and hosting large parties. One of the sitting rooms is especially elegant, featuring an open fireplace. “We have had lots of special occasions here over the years, from family gatherings to children’s birthday parties,” she adds. “This is a very versatile home.”

CHEF’S DREAM

The beating heart of the house is the splendid kitchen dining room. “This is my favourite place to be,” she admits. “There is space in here for a large central island, as well as the table and chairs – it is where everyone gathers.” With light cabinets, dark work surfaces and integrated appliances, the kitchen dining room is an immaculate, contemporary space. Its position next to the main sitting room makes it perfect for dinner parties and family events. Its layout and integrated ovens ensure it is a chef’s dream. “We have enjoyed so many happy times together in here together.” Also downstairs are a utility room, cloakroom and conservatory. “The conservatory is another very useful extra space,” she adds.

COUNTRY VIEWS

The first floor of the house encompasses three double bedrooms, as well as the family bathroom. Two of the rooms look out over the garden while the third benefits from far-reaching rural views. “The master bedroom and a guest room each have a dressing room,” she explains. “Certainly in the master bedroom there could be potential to turn part of this into an en suite shower room.” The master bedroom also has great glass doors that slide open to a balcony. “It is lovely to sit out here in the late afternoon in the summer, watching the sun go down over the fields,” she observes. The garden is also a fabulous place to enjoy the sunshine. Here there are pockets of shade and sun to move between as the family chooses. “The garden is fully landscaped,” she says. “We extended the koi carp pond and there is a nice decked area beside it.” There is ample space for children to play out on the lawn and for outside dining.

FOND MEMORIES

On fine days, the owners have also enjoyed heading off on long walks, including to Grafham Water, a firm favourite. There are also many pretty villages in the area. “Buckden has a primary school, shops and pubs and we are well positioned for Huntingdon and St Neots, so we are close to everything we need.” The owner admits they are sad to be moving but says they will take many happy memories with them. “We will miss everything about being here, from the space to the country setting,” she adds. “It is such a convenient place to live and yet when you are in the house or out in the garden you enjoy such privacy.”