Crofts End, Sherington, Buckinghamshire, MK16

IMPRESSIVE MODERN COUNTRY HOME IN HISTORIC SETTING WITH 0.5 ACRES OF SURROUNDING GARDENS AND SCOPE FOR OUTDOOR OFFICE OR ANNEXE

A hugely attractive, nearly 4000 sq. ft., 5-double bedroom, 4-bathroom, white rose-clad Buckinghamshire home, surrounded by its own completely private gardens of half an acre. Double wooden gates open to the long, gravelled drive that leads between tall native hedging to the detached double garage, which has a room above that would make a super office or gym, perhaps – or even form part of an annexe. Beginning life as a bungalow in 1960, The Croft, as it is today, was built by the current owner for his own family to a design strongly influenced by the early work of the great architect, Sir Edwin Lutyens, in the Arts & Crafts style. This is the first opportunity for any other fortunate family to live here.

The historic village of Sherington could barely be better placed, less than 3 miles equidistant of the market towns of Olney, with its supermarkets and independent shops, and Newport Pagnell, with its surgery and catchment schools. Just 15 minutes away is Milton Keynes Shopping Centre, and the railway station from where fast trains reach London in just over half an hour.

Within 20 minutes you can be in Bedford, providing another option for fast trains to the Capital, not to mention the world-renowned Harpur Trust private schools. There’s a bus service to all these schools and others. Emberton Country Park is 5 minutes away and the M1 is just 7 miles, making travelling by road a breeze.

How lovely to come home to such a peaceful village – in an Area of Attractive Landscape (AAL) - with its friendly community feel and gorgeous old buildings, including the 17th century, neighbouring houses. Children can walk to their pre and infant schools in the village. Cricket, football and playpark facilities are all on the doorstep.

Wander to Sunday service at the Grade I-listed Norman Church of St Laud, which has the distinction of being the only church in the country with that name. Walk for miles through the ‘Bancroft’ field opposite your new home, where General Fairfax held a Council of War before the Battle of Naseby. Look out for the ancient tumulus burial mound, Pop into the 18th century country inn afterwards with your dog for a meal, coffee, a pint of real ale, or a bowl of water. A lovely environment for all the family in which to live.

MORE ABOUT THE PROPERTY 

Your gravelled driveway was, until 1959, the main entrance to the Old Rectory, and is so hidden between nature-filled beech, hawthorn and hornbeam hedging, that it’s only when you reach the garage that you can appreciate the scale of the house and its south-facing front garden. Indeed, neither the house, its extensive lawns, or its ‘contemplation garden’, beyond the most attractive shed you’ve ever come across, can be seen at all from the lane or neighbouring properties.

Take a moment to appreciate the beauty of the Croft, with its weatherboarding and wonderful, reclaimed clay-tiled rooflines. Notice the three-circle motif on the chimneys that appears throughout the home, not least within the leaded, stained-glass panels aside the chunky-oak front door that has been reclaimed from an Arts & Crafts house, the style that has heavily influenced the design of your new home.

Step through the wooden porch into the granite-floored hall and you soon realise the remarkable attention to detail throughout the many versatile and spacious rooms. The balusters of the staircase leading to the galleried landing, as well as the chandelier high above your head, echo the motif. Every painted internal door is solid elm. Notice the unusual ceiling rose and cornicing in the lovely sitting room.

Along with that sitting room, which stretches the entire depth of the house, with winter woodburner and beautiful, reclaimed parquet - as in the dining room – you also have a family room, a survivor of the original bungalow, with its oak floor and stone fireplace. It’s your choice how you use the studio – it would make a great study – but there’s no doubt about the hub of the home; the limestone-floored kitchen, with its huge, quartz-topped island, is central to the house and to life at The Croft. And each room opens to outside - perfect for entertaining throughout the year.

With plenty of space for guests to stay - five lovely double bedrooms, including your main suite, most with their own bathrooms, all full of character and with a super outlook over your lovely gardens and the Old Rectory barns, towards magnificent bird-filled trees. And it’s the beautiful, wisteria-clad stone wall and old clay-tiled roof of one of those barns that borders your back garden, providing the perfect backdrop to beds of pollinator-friendly planting - peonies, poppies, roses and alliums vying for attention, watched over by apple and plum trees, as well as a striking topiary bay. With various al fresco table and sitting areas around the house from which to eat, drink and enjoy it all.