Station Road, Oakley, Bedfordshire, MK43

RENOVATED DUKE OF BEDFORD COTTAGE, WITH OUTDOOR OFFICE AND LARGER THAN EXPECTED GARDEN, IN SOUGHT-AFTER RIVERSIDE VILLAGE

A lovely, clay-tiled, stone, Grade II-listed, Victorian, 2-bedroom cottage, with a super, reclaimed brick and tile, insulated office in its surprisingly large garden of nearly a quarter of an acre, not to mention a garage and gravelled parking space for several cars. At the end of a row of similarly beautiful Duke of Bedford cottages in the North Bedfordshire village of Oakley, though facing away from the road unlike its neighbours, it has recently been completely renovated, including rewiring and plumbing, and is now ready to welcome another fortunate family.

Oakley villagers have the best of all worlds in living in a distinctly rural, peaceful place, though less than 4 miles from the County town of Bedford, with its fast trains to London in 40 minutes running on the electrified line that passes the end of your long garden, and with an unusual number of facilities and amenities in the village itself. It’s little wonder that it’s so popular with families.

Children can walk to schools for all ages up to sixth form, rated by Ofsted ‘Good’ or ‘Outstanding’ in all areas, as well as meet up with friends at the scout hut or playing fields. There’s always something going on at the village hall, and the 18th century Bedford Arms, just a few hundred yards from your new home, serves great coffee, real ale and homemade meals.

Play golf and pick up the Sunday joint from the farm in the adjoining village of Pavenham. Supermarkets are only 3 miles from your front door, alongside the Brewpoint Brewery, Taproom & Beer Garden. Bromham surgery is just five minutes away. The Ouse Valley cycle route is on your doorstep, and your dog will love to take you along the River Great Ouse beyond the beautiful 12th century Church of St Mary, and Oakley’s iconic twin bridges.

By car, you can be on the A6 in a couple of minutes, and at Luton Airport, just 25 miles away, in less than forty. Oakley is so convenient for travelling, but what a super village to come home to.

MORE ABOUT THE PROPERTY

Take a moment to appreciate the beauty of your new home, with its cast-iron windows, local stone and yellow brick dressings, and ‘dentil’ corbels beneath its clay-tiled roof – even its lime-pointed garden wall. Your enclosed porch stands proud with its lovely arched fanlight, original front door and boot scraper. The cottage was built in 1865 by the 8th Duke of Bedford, who followed in his father’s footsteps by using the best materials available to avoid needless repairs.

Possibly the first tenant, John Panter, was a prominent Methodist, described in the Bedfordshire Times as one of the “giants” who “went through Oakley like flaming torches, arresting the heedless and calling sinners to repentance.” You have a lot to live up to. It seems John’s son, George, bought the cottage when it was sold by the Bedford Estate in 1918 - then known as No. 8 The Village.

The Panters collected their water from across the road and had an outdoor privy. They’d be amazed at your quartz-topped Shaker kitchen, shower room downstairs and fabulous bathroom upstairs, with its slipper bath, separate shower and beautiful marble-topped vanity. It was a bold move to sacrifice one of the original three bedrooms, but nothing beats a large bathroom – and this one in particular.

The bedrooms are a great size, too, one with a cast-iron fireplace, both with picture rails and bullnosed stone sills still in place, and with the high ceilings that the duke insisted upon for good air circulation and the health of his workers.

The limestone-floored rooms downstairs are mostly open plan, though lovely, latch doors close off storage cupboards, and a gorgeous door separates the breakfast garden room – or will it be a snug – from your kitchen, with stained glass that picks up the colours of the exposed, industrial-style RSJ and the bricks of the sitting room fireplace. How cosy your new home is in winter, with logs ablaze in the Stovax stove, warmth spreading through the dining room to the bedrooms via the open staircase.

And how wonderful it is in summertime, with the cottage opening to the stone terrace aside your outdoor office, its pergola awaiting a wisteria or grape vine, the long lawn stretching past the bird-filled pussy willow and beautifully blossoming apple and plum trees, to the perfect place for a log cabin - perhaps a games room or gym? Look forward to planting your favourite flowers and shrubs, front and back. It’s said that the duke’s tenants felt privileged to rent the cottage - one thing’s for sure, it’s a joy to own it.