Bishopfield ByreAllendale | Hexham | Northumberland | NE47 9EJ

BISHOPFIELD BYRE

LocationBishopfield Byre, near Allendale, is situated in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, known as ‘The Valley of the Shining Water’.

This lovely stone property is approached down a pretty country lane, situated at the bottom of a private shared drive. Set amongst a small number of other dwellings, this was once a farm steading. The hamlet is surrounded by countryside yet is only 1 mile to the beautiful town of Allendale, with good facilities. The larger town of Hexham is approximately 10 miles away, and Newcastle airport approximately 30 miles.

Bishopfied ByreThis unique barn conversion has been sympathetically renovated; still retaining the original charm and character of the property including beamed ceilings. The stone arches, and ventilation slits are now feature windows. This character property is stone built with a slate roof and is attached on one side. It has a cobbled courtyard garden to the front, ideal for sitting out and enjoying the country environment, as well as separate parking. Unusually, this property also has a large steel framed barn, which has the potential for many uses. There is also a garage, which could possibly be incorporated into the main house for extra accommodation.

This charming property has considerable accommodation, including 4 double bedrooms, all with en-suite bathrooms. The extremely spacious reception room is approximately 10m x 5.5m and has a feature fireplace with multifuel stove. There is a well-equipped kitchen/dining room.

With its well-proportioned accommodation, there is so much scope for this lovely property. It is perfect as a large family home or second home, and subject to all necessary consents and permissions, the barn could provide additional accommodation to the main house if required.

Outside, the picturesque courtyard garden provides an extension of the indoor living accommodation, perfect for relaxed al fresco afternoons and summer entertaining. “The beautiful cobbled courtyard is gloriously sunny for most of the day,” say the owners. “It’s lovely to sit outside and enjoy a nice cup of tea, a good book or simply enjoy the peaceful surroundings and fresh air.”

Seller Insight A beautiful stone building in an area of outstanding natural beauty, we fell in love with Bishopfield Byre straight away,” say the current owners, “and felt like we had come home as soon as we stepped inside. The house is

a barn conversion, so we are the first people to have lived in the building, though documents exist to suggest that Bishopfield Farm existed as early as the 1600s, and the farm buildings had later been used as Bed and Breakfast accommodation. The B&B was then divided into three private dwellings, one of which has now been our home for 26 years!”

During that time, the owners have made various improvements to the property. “The house we bought was the former reception and lounge area of the B&B,” they say, “so we removed the bar in order to open up the space. We also knocked a few walls down, put a kitchen in where there was a fifth bedroom and bathroom downstairs, and renovated the four other en suite bathrooms. Some practical improvements also included cleaning out the loft and replacing the insulation with double thickness; replacing much of the plumbing; and extensive rewiring. A particular favourite addition is the multi-fuel fire in the living room, however. It makes everything so cosy and warm and I love to watch the flames dance – it can be quite hypnotic and soothing.”

Beyond the farm itself, the location of the property also has much to recommend it. “Allendale is an extremely friendly area where there is a surprising amount going on for the size of the place,” say the owners, “with supportive neighbours and an active calendar of community events including the Tar Barrels on New Year’s Eve, village fayres, and firework displays. Bishopfield is set just outside Allendale, meaning that when you want you can join in, and when you prefer peace and tranquillity you can stay at home. If you prefer more activity you can walk along the river, cycle along one of the excellent routes to the south and west, or join one of the many local community and sports groups and exercise classes at various village halls in the area. For us, however, what we will miss most is the countryside: the beautiful walks; the riverside; watching the clear dark night skies; stargazing, sunsets and sunrises; the changing colours of the landscape as the seasons change; the smell of earth after the rain; watching the wildlife and the spectacular events such as the aurora borealis, meteor showers, moonbows (rainbows at night) and eclipses, to name but a few.”

Not only beautiful, the location offers much in the way of convenience, too. “Allendale has great amenities,” say the owners, “with a fabulous independent co-op store with everything you could need including DIY items; a butcher’s shop; a chemist; a doctors’ surgery; and a brilliant newsagents with post office and cash machine. The village also takes great pride in its food culture, with 3 gastropubs; the Allen Mill which has a fantastic local brewery, cafe and Indian restaurant; not to mention the various artisan food trucks that visit regularly, such as ‘Fire and Dough’ with its delicious fresh homemade pizzas. Further, there is the Forge Studios, a local arts and media centre which has a lovely cafe and gift store inside; an amazing sci-fi museum; great local garages such as the Allendale Motor Company; and a range of good schools in Allendale and other nearby villages.”*

* These comments are the personal views of the current owner and are included as an insight into life at the property. They have not been independently verified, should not be relied on without verifica-tion and do not necessarily reflect the views of the agent.

Accommodation

Ground Floor:

Entrance hall leading to staircase. Door to kitchen and Sitting/Dining Room

Kitchen/Dining RoomWith a range of oak fitted storage units. 1.5 bowl stainless steel sink. Ceramic hob and extractor canopy above. Integrated electric double ovens. Plumbing for washing machine. Tiled floor. Generous space for dining table. Door to Sitting/Dining room. Door to courtyard.

Sitting Room/Dining RoomExtremely spacious room, with beamed ceiling. Feature fireplace with multi-fuel stove and stone hearth. Steps down to 2 arched windows, with doors to courtyard garden.

We will always remember having our first big family Christmas at Bishopfield Byre, with our nieces and nephew enjoying the fresh sparkling snow and sledging down the hills. It was truly a magical time. Good food, great company and lots of fun!”

Stairs to First Floor:

LandingRunning the full length of the house, with an internal stone wall and unusual slit windows with feature lighting.

Bedroom 1Very spacious room, with window to front of house and feature slit windows to rear.

En-suiteWindow to front. Large walk-in shower, WC and pedestal handbasin. Tiled shower and splash back.

Bedroom 2Large double room with window to front.

En-suiteShower, WC and pedestal handbasin. Tiled shower and splash back. Hatch to loft.

Bedroom 3Large double bedroom with window to front.

En-suiteShower, WC and pedestal handbasin. Tiled shower and splash back.

Bedroom 4Large double bedroom with window to front. Fitted cupboard.

En-suitePaneled bath with shower attachment. WC and pedestal handbasin. Window to front.

External

Attached GarageWith oil boiler. The garage is heated and has water and electricity.

Courtyard gardenWith large sitting area, surrounded by stone walls.

Steel Framed Barn With an old stable and tack room to the rear. Suitable for many purposes, including workshop, garaging or possible development to further accommodation (subject to all necessary consents and permissions).

MREA Commercial Ltd trading as Fine & Country Northumberland. Registered in England and Wales. Company Reg No. 11394947 Registered office: MREA Commercial Limited, 16 Laburnum Terrace, Ashington, Northumberland, NE63 0XXcopyright © 2021 Fine & Country Ltd.

Tenure Freehold

ServicesMains water supply. Private drainage (shared). Mains electricity. Oil fired central heating. Double glazing. These services have not been tested and no warranty is given by the agents.

Local Authority: Northumberland County Council Tax Band E

Viewing Arrangements Strictly via the vendor’s sole agents Fine & Country on 01670 708018. Website www.fineandcountry.com/uk/northumberland. For more information visit www.fineandcountry.com

AreaThe picturesque village of Allendale is set in Northumberland’s North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. With silver and lead ore running through its rivers, there is no doubt why Allendale means ‘valley of the shining water’. This stone-built village is in the heart of the Allen Valleys. Shimmering rivers, beautiful waterfalls, and stunning moorland, with wildlife in abundance; Allendale is a picturesque and unforgettable part of Northumberland. This breath-taking beauty spot sits in the south-west corner of the county, offering everything from undiscovered hidden gems to eclectic events and festivals.

With so little light pollution, this area in Northumberland is home to England’s first and largest Dark Sky Park, with over 570 square miles, and is classed as the best place to stargaze in the UK. There are several observatories in the area for unrivaled stargazing. The Northern Lights and the Milky Way can regularly be seen with the naked eye.

Allendale has been home to the Tar Bar’l Festival since 1858. Swap the fireworks display for a fire festival at New Year with Allendale Tar Bar’l. This sizzling hot ceremony has been celebrated for centuries and sees 45 local men carrying burning whiskey barrels in a dazzling procession through Allendale’s centre on New Year’s Eve.

Amongst the many amenities in Allendale, there is a primary school, Cricket Club, Golf Club, several pubs and various local shops and Doctors’ surgery. Within walking distance of Bishopfield Byre is Allen Mill, a converted old mill, home to Allendale Brewery, a café and gift shop, an Indian restaurant, gallery and veterinary practice.

At Haydon Bridge (6 miles) and Hexham (10 miles), there is a comprehensive range of shops and supermarkets, along with good schools and sports facilities. There are also rail links to the city of Newcastle. Hexham is home to the stunning Hexham Abbey and also Hexham Racecourse.

Agents notes: All measurements are approximate and for general guidance only and whilst every attempt has been made to ensure accuracy, they must not be relied on. The fixtures, fittings and appliances referred to have not been tested and therefore no guarantee can be given that they are in working order. Internal photographs are reproduced for general information and it must not be inferred that any item shown is included with the property. For a free valuation, contact the numbers listed on the brochure. Printed 26.08.2021

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