Sunderland Hill, Ravensden, Bedford

From the very first step inside, Middle Grange impresses. The interiors are immaculate, with intricate details and quality finishes, and the accommodation is light and spacious. Built in 1854, many original features remain, and rich Georgian style is seen throughout.

The property is a fantastic family home today, but its past tells all sorts of stories. The building’s first resident was local landowner Reverend Thomas Sunderland, followed by his son, Colonel Sunderland, once High Sheriff of Bedfordshire. It was requisitioned during WWII as a residence for the U.S. Air Force, and it’s said Glenn Miller’s last private performance was here.

Conversion from one home into three occurred in the 1970s, with reconfiguration in the 1990s. The layout consists of two reception rooms at the front, with the kitchen across the back. There are useful spaces such as a utility room and a boot room, plus the convenience of a cloakroom and a downstairs shower room.

The reception rooms benefit from stunning outlooks, ornate ceilings, wall panelling, brick fireplaces, one of which has a wood burning stove, and oak floors. The smaller room is currently used as a lounge, the larger as a family-friendly area with space to play pool and the piano as well as to host parties.

The kitchen/dining room is divided yet cohesive and connected. There’s timeless cabinetry with stone and wood surfacing, and an island for informal seating. There’s a Franke ceramic Belfast sink, an integrated dishwasher, an alcove for a range and room for a fridge/freezer. The kitchen side has underfloor heating, while the dining side has a fireplace.

The grand hall separates the living spaces from the kitchen, and a stately staircase rises to the first floor from here. The landing is flooded with natural light, and high ceilings continue into the expansive primary bedroom.

There are storage provisions in every bedroom, including bespoke handmade wardrobes in bedrooms one and two, and access to the attic in bedroom two. Bedroom four, accessed via the bathroom, would make for an ideal dressing room or a secluded office if preferred.

The property sits on the outskirts of the village, on a plot sloping towards farmland, with fields in all directions. Middle Grange has the central section of the southerly grounds, along with a private courtyard on the northern side. The courtyard has mature planting and there’s a summerhouse for shelter and shade.

The main garden approaches an acre, with a rolling lawn interspersed with flowers and trees. There’s another summerhouse at the bottom, perfect as an art studio, and there’s also a hidden garden behind laurel hedging. Outbuildings consist of a gym/office and a garage/workshop, plus two handy stores. Parking is available for three cars to the section of shared driveway.

Middle Grange offers countryside on the doorstep. Amenities in Ravensden include a shop, pub, and primary school, with a wider selection within a short drive. Bedford’s town centre is less than 15 minutes away, offering retail, restaurants, and family-friendly parks. There are numerous secondary schools in Bedford including the highly regarded schools founded by the Harpur Trust. Bedford’s mainline station offers fast and frequent services into London in as little as 40 minutes.