Westhorpe Road, Spalding, PE11

The Cottage
Constructed in 1799, Fernlie Cottage (as recorded in the 1870 census) is a Grade II listed home of true historic interest. Built in distinctive red Flemish-bond brickwork, slate roof, the cottage was extended in the 1860s with matching brick and detailing. Its charming symmetrical frontage, segmental-headed sash windows, and dentilled eaves remain intact, making it one of the most characterful homes in this part of Lincolnshire.
Historical records and ownership papers for the property date as far back as 1800, offering a rare continuity of provenance. The house was once part of the Monks Hall estate, with its scale, placement, and detailing echoing the estate’s influence over the local vernacular.

Interior Accommodation
The property offers approximately 1,100 sq ft of internal living space arranged over two floors:

Ground Floor
Main Reception Room
A warm welcome through the front door into the main reception, where an original brick Inglenook fireplace with functioning wood-burning stove takes centre stage. The exposed brickwork, white-painted ceiling beams, and a three-pane sash window overlooking the front garden all enhance the sense of time-honoured charm. One corner has been cleverly adapted into a study nook, ideal for working from home. The main living area features an original interior brick wall, exposed to reveal centuries-old lime mortar and subtle shifts in handmade brick colour.

Second Reception Room / Library
An original timber door takes you into the second reception room, which is a cosy room painted a rich golden ochre, with exposed beams, built-in bookshelves, and a restored Victorian fireplace surround (non-functioning) in blackened slate with decorative tiling. A three-pane sash window overlooks established roses in the front garden. This space currently serves as a reading lounge or snug, but could easily become a formal dining room.

Dining Room
Accessed via a double-width opening, the dining room continues the sense of flow. Another non-working fireplace with mosaic tile surround,, and the room benefits from dual aspect windows — one to the north over the fields, the other west over the garden — flooding the space with natural light.

Kitchen
An original doorway leads from the dining room into a modern kitchen extension, equipped with sleek white cabinetry and integrated appliances. A dramatic panoramic kitchen window runs the width of the rear elevation — a true architectural intervention that draws the garden and surrounding landscape directly into the home. Timber cladding on the exterior marries well with the red brick of the older house, creating a tactile contrast.

Utility Room & WC
Tucked discreetly behind the dining area and staircase, the utility room houses a new washer and dryer and a view of the garden and well. A tidy downstairs WC completes this functional corner.

First Floor

Staircase
A true period highlight: the quarter-turn Victorian stair with winders, painted in a deep heritage green, rises to the upper floor. Original timber treads and a curved inner wall evoke centuries of footsteps past.

Principal Bedroom
Directly ahead from the stairs, the main bedroom has an exposed convex ceiling, original exposed beams, and a sash window to the south, overlooking farmland. Embedded ceiling lights complement the room’s restful palette. Original pine floorboards and the curved chimney breast add to the heritage of the cottage.

Second Bedroom
Another generously-sized double bedroom with similar exposed ceiling structure, embedded ceiling lights, original pine floorboards, and a retained Victorian cast-iron fireplace (non-working) sits adjacent at the top of the stairs. A south-facing sash window welcomes the golden afternoon sun.

Third Bedroom/Home Office
A charming smaller double, currently used as a study but easily functioning as a nursery or guest room, completes the upstairs living space. A dormer window looks north over fields, while a small window looks out over the drive. Original pine floorboards remain underfoot.

Bathroom
To the left at the top of the stairs, a beautifully appointed bathroom features a three-piece suite with overhead shower and tub, and dormer window to the north, offering open sky views. A small window looks out over the garden and the original well.

Grounds & Outbuildings

Gardens & Setting
The home is surrounded by mature hedging and a picket fence with thriving climbing roses, giving the frontage a storybook appeal. To the rear, you’ll find raised beds, a number of fruit trees (peach, pear, plum, and apple), and ample lawn space for play or leisure. A hammock-ready expanse of grass, a small but perfectly formed patio, and tucked-away original well complete the tranquil garden. The setting opens directly onto agricultural pastureland, with uninterrupted vistas and open skies.

Outbuildings
Attached barns with original clay pantile roofs and weathered timber doors present a rare opportunity for conversion — or continued use as studio, garden room or workshop.
A log store and outdoor utility hooks suggest potting shed potential. Planning permission also exists for the construction of a new garage/workshop on the western edge of the garden.
A newly laid gravel driveway provides secure off-road parking and clean access to the front and side of the property.

Location

Westhorpe & Gosberton
Westhorpe is a peaceful historic hamlet on the edge of Gosberton, a village with medieval roots, mentioned in the Domesday Book. The area is known for its long tradition of fenland agriculture and its charming drainage dykes, red-brick buildings, and open skies. Gosberton itself offers a post office, Co-op, butcher, and Victorian tea room, as well as a beautiful parish church of St Peter and St Paul.

Nearby Spalding
Just a short drive away, Spalding is a lively Georgian market town built along the River Welland, with a weekly market, riverside walks, Georgian façades, and a thriving arts scene. It offers direct train service to London Kings Cross via Peterborough in under 90 minutes — making it a convenient retreat for part-time Londoners or those seeking a slower pace with city connections.
This is a home that tells stories — not only in its 18th-century bricks and 19th-century fireplaces but in the daily rhythm of life it affords: garden sunrises, fireside evenings, veg patch harvests, and deep restful quiet.