Bitchfield

Set against the extraordinary backdrop of the Boothby Wildland rewilding project, The Copper Barns is a Grade II listed home that perfectly balances historic character with modern flexibility. Built from local stone and dating from around 1750, it was originally the coach house and stables for the inn next door, before later serving as the top yard of a working farm. Its conversion in the late 1980s retained a wealth of period detail, whilst also creating a wonderfully adaptable home that today offers scope for multi-generational living, income potential and a superb quality of life in the Lincolnshire countryside.

From the outside, the house has instant impact. Its traditional stone walls and timber detailing hint at its history, but step through the double doors and you are greeted with a welcoming entrance hall that immediately sets the tone. The kitchen and breakfast room, locally handcrafted, is fitted with a butler sink, granite worktops and a range cooker, and is large enough for family meals around the table. A pantry ensures there is always space to keep things tidy and practical, while the adjoining conservatory provides setting for more formal dining, with French doors opening directly onto the garden.

The reception room is without doubt the heart of the house. Once a function room when the property was part of the inn, it has an extraordinary sense of scale, with a vaulted ceiling, exposed timbers and a huge stone inglenook fireplace with log burner. A mezzanine level overlooks the room, creating a flexible area that could be used as a study, library, music room or den. It is a space made for gatherings, whether that means quiet family evenings by the fire or larger celebrations.

Also on the ground floor is a study, family bathroom and a store, while upstairs there are three bedrooms and a shower room. Each of the bedrooms has its own charm, and several have window seats from which to take in the surrounding countryside. The thick stone walls are complemented by internal cavity wall insulation which gives the house a solid, cocooning quality. It stays cool in summer, warm in winter, and is remarkably quiet inside, something that visitors often remark upon.

The true flexibility of The Copper Barns becomes clear when you explore the adjoining wing, which has its own separate entrance and could be completely self-contained. At present it is arranged as a generous principal suite, with bedroom, dressing room, shower room and conservatory, along with an office and a laundry room. In the past, however, this wing has served as a full annexe and could easily be returned to that layout if required. For those seeking a multi-generational set-up, or perhaps wishing to create a holiday let or long-term rental, it is an ideal arrangement.

Beyond the house itself lies another surprise: a detached studio with vaulted ceiling and en suite shower room. This versatile building has been used as additional guest accommodation, but could as easily serve as a home office, creative studio, or a holiday let, subject to consents. Together with the main house and annexe it offers almost limitless possibilities for how the property might be used.

The grounds complement the house beautifully. Close to the conservatory is a sheltered garden with lawns, flower beds and patios, ideal for summer meals outside. Beyond lies a larger lawned area with mature hedges and an orchard of fruit trees, and at the far end is a fenced games court that now provides a useful hardstanding. In the past it has been used for a caravan and for additional entertaining space with marquees, as well as games for children and teenagers. From here there is direct access to the surrounding countryside, with footpaths and bridleways leading straight out into the Boothby Wildland.

Practicalities have been well considered too. The driveway provides ample gravelled parking and access to a large four-bay garage with electric roller doors. The property benefits from high-speed internet, with a fibre street cabinet in the village ensuring reliable connectivity, which has been a great advantage for working from home. The garden is securely enclosed, making it safe for children and pets, and the thick stone walls ensure excellent insulation.

Over the years the house has been steadily improved. The roof has been renewed, landscaping has been carried out extensively, and various outbuildings converted to add further space. The work has preserved the historic atmosphere of the barns while ensuring they meet the demands of modern family life.

The setting in Bitchfield combines rural seclusion with surprising convenience. The market town of Corby Glen is only three miles away and provides everything from a primary school and doctors’ surgery to cafés, a greengrocer and a choice of public houses. Grantham is eight miles away, with a fast rail service to London King’s Cross in just over an hour, while Stamford, Bourne and Oakham are all within easy reach and offer renowned independent schools. The village is served by school buses to Grantham’s grammar schools and to Stamford, and the bus route itself runs directly past the house. The road is always gritted in winter, adding a reassuring sense of accessibility.