A bright, welcoming entrance hall catches the midday light; an inviting spot to enjoy lunch looking out to the garden. The main living space lies to one side of the hall, a beautifully bright room with expansive timber-framed glazing on three sides and glass doors that open directly onto the terrace. Clay tiles run underfoot and a large log-burning stove is the centrepiece of the space.
The interconnected dining room and kitchen are located in the oldest section of the house. These rooms are full of warmth and character and are replete with original details such as thick beams, flagstones and solid elm floorboards; there is also a log-burning stove. The kitchen has been sensitively finished with hand-crafted cabinetry, freestanding workstations, a sunny window seat and a large Aga set into the stone hearth. In addition to storage in the kitchen, there is a pantry (plus further storage space) in the large, full-height cellar, which can be accessed via the external door.
The adjoining east-facing garden room visually connects the interior and exterior spaces and is ideally orientated to enjoy the morning sun. There are lovely views from here onto the bountiful kitchen gardens where organic vegetables, herbs and flowers spill over raised beds and the rolling hills provide a bucolic backdrop.
Access to the upper storey is via the central open-tread staircase. Two bedrooms are positioned on one side, each with cleverly conceived storage space and cosy sleeping areas. The family bathroom, set centrally from the landing, has a large shower and Marmoleum flooring. Occupying the opposite side of the first floor is the main bedroom, a quiet and peaceful room with a pair of glass doors and expanses of glazing filtering the soft westerly light. A snug sleeping area has been built into the eaves overhead.
The studio/workshop annexe sits opposite the main house and offers over 900 sq ft of additional living and working space. Currently used as an artist’s studio and workshop, the two-storey annexe has a pitched roof that creates a sense of volume and space, and expansive glazing that provides an excellent quality of natural light. The views from here are impressive and as far-reaching as Callow Tower. The studio is equipped with power and water; it has a shower and WC on the ground floor and a small log-burning stove on the upper level.
The Great Outdoors
The surrounding gardens are rich and diverse. They have been lovingly developed and maintained over several decades, with dense hedging and a variety of trees providing shade and privacy. Abundant beds of flowering perennials and swathes of wild meadowland attract a plethora of local wildlife.
The kitchen gardens offer a wide selection of organic vegetables, while apples and plums can be picked from the orchard. There is also a greenhouse and three sheds: one for potting, one for logs and the largest with a covered veranda for rainy summer evenings. Natural drainage is provided in the adjoining ditch.
Out and About
The area is renowned for the unspoiled Shropshire countryside; the Cheyney Longville Estate are custodians of much of the surrounding agricultural land. Numerous public footpaths create idyllic walks through the meadows down to the River Onny, which eventually joins with the River Teme near Ludlow.
The surrounding towns and villages offer a good provision of daily amenities. Craven Arms is within easy reach, a lively market town with origins in the 17th century. It has a good selection of shops, supermarkets and a garden centre. For a broader selection, Shrewsbury is a 40-minute drive north or approximately 23 minutes by train.
Direct rail services run from Craven Arms to Crewe in approximately one hour, Hereford in one hour, Worcester in around one hour and 20 minutes, and Birmingham in around 90 minutes.
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