Old Rectory Lane, Alvechurch, B48 7SU

Summary
Originally built in the 1800s as the 'gardener's cottage' to an adjacent property and sympathetically extended during the mid-to-late 20th century, this remarkable country residence offers an impressive 4,767 sq. ft of highly flexible accommodation. Blending character, space, and versatility in equal measure, the property includes a self-contained annexe wing (also accessed from the main house)—perfect for multi-generational living or guest use—complete with its own private entrance and sunny courtyard garden. 

Set within a picturesque 0.67-acre plot (approx.), the grounds are truly special. To the rear lies a tranquil, south-easterly facing lawned and walled garden, accessed directly from two reception rooms. However, it is the breathtaking front gardens that truly steal the show. Lovingly landscaped to create a sense of journey and discovery, these exquisite gardens run alongside a peaceful channel of the River Arrow and have been proudly opened to the public for many consecutive years as part of the prestigious National Garden Scheme.

Enjoying a semi-rural location, this unique home offers seclusion and natural beauty while being just a short distance from the vibrant village of Alvechurch, with its amenities, train station, and easy access to the motorway network—offering the perfect balance of countryside charm and modern convenience.

Description
Upon entering, you are welcomed by an exceptionally spacious entrance hallway—large enough to accommodate a full dining set—setting the tone for the generous proportions throughout the property. The hall also provides access to a guest cloakroom and useful understairs storage.

To the back of the home are two well-proportioned reception rooms, each showcasing a handsome Victorian-style fireplace. Both reception room feature double doors that open onto the south-easterly facing, lawned walled garden—perfect for entertaining and al fresco dining. One reception room leads through further double doors into a formal dining room, which is also accessible from the hallway.

The kitchen features a dedicated breakfast seating area and a connecting passageway leads to the double garage, a heated office and to the rear of the property for added convenience.

The panelled staircase rises to a spacious first-floor landing, giving access to the master bedroom, which boasts impressive church-style windows, fitted wardrobes, and a contemporary en suite shower room. There are four further well-proportioned bedrooms, three of which benefit from their own en suite facilities, and a family bathroom.

Occupying the south-easterly wing is a well-conceived annexe, offering exceptional flexibility for multi-generational living, guests, or potential rental income. The annex is accessible both from within the main house and via a private entrance. The ground floor features a living room with French doors opening onto a secluded courtyard garden, a kitchen/diner, a bathroom, and a ground-floor bedroom (also accessed via external french doors) with its own shower room. Upstairs, there are two additional double bedrooms, which also connect to bedroom three in the main house, allowing for various layout options.

Services: All Mains 
Worcester Bosch boiler installed approx. 2015

Outside
Tucked away in a tranquil and highly private setting beside a peaceful channel of the River Arrow, this exceptional property is enveloped by approx. 0.67 acres of truly magical gardens—so special they have been proudly featured for many consecutive years in the prestigious National Garden Scheme. 

'The brick-lined channel is particularly prominent within the grounds of Rectory Cottage. Here, sluice gates framed within engineering-brick tunnels with segmental archways divide and subsequently reconnect the river in the west and east respectively over prominent stone weirs adjacent weir ponds. The channel deepens to the west, lined with brick and stone revetments and retaining-earthwork banks of earlier origin.'

The grounds are a serene, immersive experience, carefully landscaped to lead visitors on a journey of discovery. Meandering paths wind through densely planted borders, showcasing a spectacular array of mature trees, rare and unusual plants, and seasonal colour at every turn. A brick-built archway leads to an intimate patio area, ideal for alfresco dining or simply soaking in the peaceful surroundings.

The crowning feature is the stunning water garden: a tranquil, decked area set above a broad reflective pool, with a central walkway that takes you across the water, culminating at a cascading waterfall—a breathtaking focal point and a haven for wildlife.

Adjacent to a charming pond (formed by the river channel), a characterful brick-built outbuilding offers flexible use, currently divided into a garden store and a garden room with windows and ladder access leading to a mezzanine level—perfect as a creative retreat or reading nook.

The front of the property is equally impressive, with gates opening onto a spacious block-paved driveway providing ample parking and access to a double garage.

Location
The property is located approximately 1/2 a mile from central Alvechurch and is also conveniently located for Sandhills Nursery, Crown Meadow First School, Alvechurch C of E Middle School as well as shopping and eating facilities within the village itself. The M42 (Junction 2) is easily accessible and Alvechurch railway station lies approximately 0.4 miles away. Also nearby are the facilities offered by both Barnt Green village (2.0 miles), Redditch (4.5 miles), Bromsgrove (5.6 miles) and Birmingham (12 miles).

Room Dimensions
Kitchen/Breakfast Room:  7.06m x 3.22m (23'1" x 10'6")
Living Room: 5.2m (max) x 5.79m (17'0" x 18'11")
Sitting Room: 4.94m x 5.4m (16'2" x 17'8")
Dining Room: 3.83m x 2.75m (12'6" x 9'0")
Entrance Hall: 4.05m x 5.61m (13'3" x 18'4")
Office: 2.87m x 1.79m (9'4" x 5'10")
Double Garage: 8.64m (max) x 5.02m (max) (28'4" x 16'5")
 
Annexe Living Room: 4.37m x 4.77m (14'4" x 15'7")
Annexe Kitchen/Diner: 3.94m x 4.77m (12'11" x 15'7")
Annexe Ground Floor Bedroom: 3.74m x 4.89m (max) (12'3" x 16'0")
Annexe Ground Floor En Suite: 1.9m x 1.74m (6'2" x 5'8")
Annexe Ground Floor Bathroom: 2.1m x 1.66m (6'10" x 5'5")
Annexe First Floor Bedrooms: 
Bedroom 6: 3.71m x 4.78m (12'2" x 15'8")
Bedroom 7: 3.92m x 4.77m (12'10" x 15'7")
 
Bedroom 1: 3.9m x 5m (12'9" x 16'4") 
En Suite: 2.19m (max) x 3.13m (7'2" x 10'3"
Bedroom 2: 4.3m x 5.21m (14'1" x 17'1")
En Suite: 2.17m x 2.02m (7'1" x 6'7")
Bedroom 3: 4.25m x 5.26m (13'11" x 17'3")
En Suite: 1.59m x 2.28m (5'2" x 7'5")
Bedroom 4: 4.86m x 4.96m (15'11" x 16'3")
En Suite: 1.74m x 2.1m (5'8" x 6'10")
Bedroom 5: 4.43m (max) x 3.04m (14'6" x 9'11") 
Bathroom: 2.17m x 3.09m (7'1" x 10'1")
 

Garden Room (Mezzanine Above): 5.38m x 2.85m (17'7" x 9'4")
Garden Store: 3.04m x 3.1m (9'11" x 10'2")
 
 
 

Please read the following: These particulars are for general guidance only and are based on information supplied and approved by the seller. Complete accuracy cannot be guaranteed and may be subject to errors and/or omissions. They do not constitute a contract or part of a contract in any way. We are not surveyors or conveyancing experts therefore we cannot and do not comment on the condition, issues relating to title or other legal issues that may affect this property. Interested parties should employ their own professionals to make enquiries before carrying out any transactional decisions. Photographs are provided for illustrative purposes only and the items shown in these are not necessarily included in the sale, unless specifically stated. The mention of any fixtures, fittings and/or appliances does not imply that they are in full efficient working order, and they have not been tested. All dimensions are approximate. We are not liable for any loss arising from the use of these details. 

Regulations require us to conduct identity and AML checks and gather information about every buyer's financial circumstances. These checks are essential in fulfilling our Customer Due Diligence obligations, which must be done before any property can be marked as sold subject to contract. The rules are set by law and enforced by trading standards.

We will start these checks once you have made a provisionally agreeable offer on a property. The cost is £30 (including VAT) per property. This fee covers the expense of obtaining relevant data and any necessary manual checks and monitoring. It's paid in advance via our onboarding system, Kotini.