High Street, Collingbourne Ducis, SN8 3EQ

Behind its enchanting soft pink façade, this remarkable detached cottage reveals a home filled with history, warmth and individuality. Believed to date from before 1845 and understood to have originally served as the village blacksmith’s, it has been comprehensively and sensitively renovated by the current owners, preserving the character that makes it so special while introducing beautifully considered modern finishes, improved energy efficiency and a wonderfully practical layout.

Every part of the property has been thoughtfully enhanced by the current owners, from the restored beams, fireplaces and original timber floors to the elegant kitchen, limestone flooring and beautifully redesigned gardens.

At the heart of the home, between the principal reception rooms there is a striking dual aspect wood burning stove. This impressive feature can be enjoyed from both the living room and the dining room, creating a natural connection between the generous sitting room and dining room while providing a warm and atmospheric focal point during the colder months.

The spacious living room is a wonderfully inviting place to relax, with windows drawing in plenty of natural light in from two sides and double doors opening directly onto the rear garden. Whether filled with family on a Sunday afternoon or enjoyed quietly beside the fire, this is a room that immediately feels welcoming.

The adjoining dining room offers plenty of space for entertaining and everyday family life. Its proximity to both the living room and kitchen makes the ground floor flow beautifully, while exposed beams and brickwork, the central wood burner and the original bread oven provide a constant reminder of the cottage’s fascinating past.

The kitchen has been completely redesigned to maximise natural light, space and practicality, and the result is truly stunning. Finished with Halesworth Sage Green cabinetry and elegant Calacatta Gold quartz worktops, it sits beautifully alongside the cottage’s original exposed beams, creating the perfect balance of period character and modern design.

At the centre of the room, a generous breakfast bar provides a relaxed seating area and the perfect place for friends and family to gather while meals are prepared. The kitchen is equipped with a Neff Slide and Hide oven, induction hob, integrated fridge freezer, integrated dishwasher and a ceramic double butler sink.

Flooded with natural light and filled with warmth and character, this is a kitchen designed not only for cooking, but for everyday family life, entertaining and spending time together.

Tucked discreetly into one corner is a useful utility area with space for laundry appliances, alongside a practical storage cupboard, keeping the main kitchen beautifully organised and clutter free.

Two side doors leads directly from the kitchen into the garden on both sides, making it effortless to carry food and drinks outside during the summer months and allowing everyday life to spill naturally onto the patio. Plumbing, electrics and the floor construction were all upgraded as part of the renovation, ensuring the kitchen is as practical behind the scenes as it is beautiful to look at.

The additional ground floor room is currently used as a study but offers excellent flexibility as a snug, playroom or guest room. This is a beautiful room with the original fireplace housing a wood burning stove, creating another charming period focal point.

The ground floor has been carefully reconfigured to improve the sense of light, flow and connection between the rooms. Premium Dijon tumbled limestone flooring now extends throughout, complemented by matching stone skirting to create a wonderfully cohesive finish that feels both timeless and practical.

Upstairs, the original timber floors have been uncovered and carefully restored, bringing warmth and authenticity to the three generous bedrooms. The impressive principal bedroom is an exceptionally spacious and tranquil retreat, measuring approximately 20'10" x 15'9". Its generous proportions and vaulted ceiling, easily accommodate a substantial bed, comfortable seating and additional furniture, while built in cupboards provide excellent storage.
Completing the space is a private ensuite wet room, creating a beautifully practical main bedroom suite.

The two further first floor bedrooms are both comfortable doubles, one fitting a king size bed, the other with a large built in cupboard, making the accommodation ideal for family life, visiting guests or anyone requiring additional working space.

The family bathroom has been completely refurbished with a bespoke vanity, upgraded fittings, panelling and moisture resistant flooring. One of its most striking features is the exposed nineteenth century handmade brickwork, believed to be Gault clay, set between the original oak timbers.

The renovation has extended far beyond the visible finishes. The original tank based hot water system has been replaced with a modern LPG combi boiler, plumbing has been selectively upgraded and a new consumer unit has been installed. Both chimneys have been professionally cleaned and lined, while low energy lighting has been introduced throughout the majority of the home.

Externally, the gardens have been thoughtfully transformed into a series of attractive, practical and beautifully usable outdoor spaces. To the rear, the main patio has been re-laid to create a more inviting setting for outdoor dining and entertaining, while productive beds provide space for growing fruit, vegetables and herbs. Beneath a mature tree is a dedicated area where the owners’ chickens currently roam, adding to the wonderful sense of country living and offering the opportunity to embrace a more self-sufficient way of life, with homegrown produce and fresh eggs just steps from the kitchen.

An added bonus is the provision of hot and cold water taps, creating exciting potential for an outdoor kitchen and making the garden even more suited to relaxed summer entertaining.

The side garden is a peaceful space, mainly laid to lawn and surrounded by pollinator friendly planting and subtle solar lighting. A bespoke above ground pond creates an attractive landscaped feature, while gravelled areas, further productive beds and low-maintenance fencing ensure the garden remains both beautiful and manageable. Together, these spaces offer the chance to enjoy a slower pace of life, grow your own produce, keep chickens and make the most of the countryside setting.

Bespoke brick planters, seasonal planting and newly introduced pear and plum trees soften the frontage, while the original driveway has been replaced with an attractive brick and stone surface. New timber driveway gates open to provide generous off road parking for several vehicles.

A large detached outbuilding provides a garage alongside a dedicated office, offering an ideal solution for anyone working from home. The office could also lend itself to use as a creative studio, consulting room, gym or hobby space, subject to individual requirements.

The river boundary wall has also been professionally restored and finished with new capstones, enhancing both its appearance and long term durability.

Following a flooding event in January 2024, the owners invested in a range of targeted resilience and drainage measures. These include a new soakaway system, non return valves on river facing drainage, enhanced surface water management, replacement guttering, weatherproofing works and redesigned external paving. Further improvements have also been undertaken within the wider local drainage network.

This is far more than a beautifully renovated cottage. It is a home with a story, a sense of place and an atmosphere that is impossible to recreate. Historic character, thoughtful design, flexible accommodation and enchanting gardens come together to create an exceptional village home that is ready to be loved for generations to come.

Area - Collingbourne Ducis is a thriving and well connected village surrounded by beautiful countryside. The village offers a shop with Post Office, two pubs, a primary school, church and village hall, while the surrounding downland provides wonderful opportunities for walking, riding and exploring.

Andover lies approximately nine miles away, offering a comprehensive range of amenities, access to the A303 and direct rail services to London Waterloo. Marlborough is around ten miles to the north, with its excellent independent shops, cafés and restaurants, while rail services to London Paddington are available from Pewsey and Hungerford.

Services: Mains water, drainage and electricity. LPG central heating.
EPC: E
Council Tax Band: E