The Bede House

The Grand Tour

Entry to The Bede House is via a cherry red-painted front door opening to a generous hallway. An original doorway here leads to the ground-floor living spaces which, in their open-plan configuration, are brilliantly flexible.

The living room is arranged around a cosy, original fire and is lit by dual-aspect windows. White-painted period beams span overhead. Oak floorboards run from here into the dining room, which is set beneath a voluminous monopitched roof and in front of French doors to the garden.

An opening guides towards the kitchen, where playful star motif tiles run underfoot. Sleek white cabinetry follows the shape of the room, providing plenty of storage space and generous quartz worktops. A range-style oven and hob sits centrally, and subtly cut-out sink rests beneath a window overlooking the garden. Glazed doors to the garden make for fuss-free summertime hosting.

Tucked beneath stairs to the first floor is a neat WC. The upstairs landing is bright, care of an internal window that borrows brightness from the living spaces below.

On the first floor, all three of the bedrooms are peacefully set beneath the roof’s cocooning slope. Soft, cream-coloured carpet runs underfoot in each, while simply finished walls allow the verdant views centre stage. Two of the rooms have built-in storage, while the third has a smart, skylight-lit en suite shower room with underfloor heating.

A family bathroom with a soaking bathtub sits centrally, with the same starry tiles as the kitchen below. Underfloor heating warms from beneath and there is a heated towel radiator.

The Great Outdoors

The Bede House has delightful private gardens in the front and the rear. The former is largely left to lawn, save for a mature hawthorn tree and a tall yew hedge. There is also a summerhouse here, along with fruit trees. A side access provides passage to the rear garden, where borders teem with fragrant, established planting. The views are far-reaching, drawing the eye across field upon field of open countryside.

As well as the private front and rear garden, there is private residents’ parking.

Out and About

Stapleford is a brilliantly located village nestled in the rolling Leicestershire countryside. It is perhaps best known as the home of Stapleford Park, a Grade I-listed house for which this home was built. In the mid-20th century, a miniature railway was constructed within the grounds and became a major tourist attraction in the 1960s and 70s. Although now closed, both the railway and parkland are occasionally opened for charity.

Melton Mowbray – known as the home of the namesake pork pie and as one of only six licensed makers of Stilton – is easily reached. There are some stellar pub options in the town, including The Anne of Cleeves, Berkeley Arms and The Tap and Run. Belvoir Castle, a Grade I-listed ‘mock castle’ built in the early 19th century, is 10 miles from Melton Mowbray and has a year-round roster of events – as well as an excellent afternoon tea.

The bucolic topography that surrounding the house provides plenty of scope for walking and cycling. Melton Country Park can be easily reached and has playing fields, playgrounds and a café. Rutland Water – among England’s largest reservoirs – is a 20-minute drive away. It covers 4,200 acres and provides an unparalleled setting for everything from strolls to watersports. It also encompasses a nature reserve, and is partly recognised as a Site of Special Scientific Interest.

There are several highly regarded schooling options in Melton Mowbray, Oakham and Grantham (both private and state).

Kings Cross station is a 50 minute train journey from Grantham, while St Pancras is just over an hour from Leicester with a handy station at Melton Mowbray. The A1 is a short distance away for travel north and south.

Council Tax Band: D