Mill Road, Husbourne Crawley

HIDDEN CHARM

Believed to date back at least 450 years, the Grade II-listed, four-bedroom house is thought to have been one of two bakeries in the village. It still retains features such as fireplaces, exposed brickwork and oak beams. “It even still has a priest hole upstairs in the middle bedroom,” he says. Priest holes were secret hiding places that were used to conceal men of the cloth during periods of persecution in Tudor and Stuart times. “My grandfather was looking for a period house at the time and he liked the location of this place,” he says. “It is a nice village and it feels reasonably rural, but it is also very convenient for getting to everything that you need.”

ENTICING ROOMS

Entered from the front via a lobby, the handsome house also offers flexible living space. To one side is the triple-aspect sitting room, with its beamed ceiling and brick fireplace. “This is a cosy room,” he agrees. “This was where we would all gather for family occasions and whenever my parents were entertaining. This house was always the place the rest of the family would head to.” To the other side of the lobby is the dining room, another gorgeous space that is overflowing with character. This room features an impressive brick inglenook fireplace and presents the perfect ambience for Sunday lunches and Christmas dinners. “The fireplaces are not currently working, but this is something new owners could certainly look into,” he observes.

VERSATILE SPACE

The kitchen conveniently adjoins the dining room and the sitting room. It also has a door to an inner hall and opens onto the back garden. This has worked well for both family living and entertaining over the years. A family bathroom is also positioned in this part of the house and there is a room that could be a snug, playroom, office, leisure space or even a ground-floor bedroom. “This was originally my father’s carpentry workshop, but we have now brought it into the main accommodation of the house,” he explains. “This means that for an older home, this property now has a lot of flexibility.” Indeed, because of the downstairs bathroom, it could even be treated as something of an annexe for a family member seeking privacy and independence. “It also has its own entrance,” he points out.

INDIVIDUAL APPEAL

One of the property’s two sets of stairs also rises up from here. These lead to a bedroom with an upstairs shower room. This bedroom could be used within the possible annexe or as part of the main house. Three further cottage-style bedrooms, two of which are adjoining, can be accessed via the other staircase, which is hidden behind a door in the dining room. “It is a wonderful house – all the rooms have their own individual appeal.”

UNIQUE HOME

The large garden has given the family great pleasure over the years. With mature trees and shrubs, it offers ample space for children to play outside and adults to entertain on the terrace. Wildlife is often spotted in the garden itself and on rural walks in the area. “It is a lovely countryside location that could suit someone wishing to be within easy reach of Milton Keynes, the train station, the motorway and Woburn,” he agrees. “It is a unique house and a brilliant place to live. I have very happy memories of all the time I have spent there over the course of my life.”

Outside

The good-sized family garden is very much a highlight of the property. This features areas of lawn and patio. To one side, the house overlooks a field. To the other side, there is a driveway where three cars can park comfortably

Disclaimer

Chewton Rose Estate Agents is the seller's agent for this property. Your conveyancer is legally responsible for ensuring any purchase agreement fully protects your position. We make detailed enquiries of the seller to ensure the information provided is as accurate as possible. Please inform us if you become aware of any information being inaccurate.