Churchill Old FarmChurchill | Kidderminster | Worcestershire

CHURCHILL OLD FARMA rare opportunity to acquire a fine and handsome Grade II listed Georgian residence in the extremely sought after village of Churchill and located in an idyllic setting within 8 acres of land. Road and rail links are conveniently located with nearby motorway access to Junctions 3, 4 and 5 of the M5. The neighbouring village of Blakedown has its own railway station, which is less than a mile away, with direct trains to London (Marylebone), Birmingham and Hereford.

Churchill Old Farm is approached via electric gates that lead onto a long sweeping driveway to the rear of property. There is ample parking adjacent to the purpose build two storey, triple bay garage and workshop. The detached Coach House provides additional garaging for one further car.

The property has been much improved by the current owner and provides well-appointed, spacious and flexible accommodation. The main reception rooms have feature fireplaces and all rooms have been well maintained.

It is believed that Churchill Old Farm was originally constructed as the village rectory, with the basic design of the property being three storeys and laid out in a four-square design. Originally the front-rooms were used by the master of the house with the rear for the household staff. Each corridor or landing was closed off by a doorway between the front and rear with access between floors being by separate staircases. A wonderful and spacious characterful family home: a perfect place for young folk to play hide and seek.

The hallway features a tiled floor in black and red 6” tiles, with doors leading to the sitting room, drawing room, dining room, kitchen and another main door to the rear of the property.

GROUND FLOOR ACCOMMODATIONEntrance Hallway l Sitting Room l Drawing Room l Dining RoomKitchen l Cellars l Conservatory l Brew House

The reception rooms are the epitome of classic elegance, exuding character and benefiting from having open-hearth fireplaces. Many doors are original and the large sash windows have been extremely well maintained, having been replaced some years ago by the current owner. The décor is classic throughout with wallpaper being either William Morris or Osborne & Little.

The kitchen is a wonderfully spacious room featuring units that were hand built from century old re-claimed pine by Smallbone of Devises.

There is a large family dining table and settle, both antique and being at least 130 years old. The settle was in fact, built in the kitchen itself. The flooring is a continuation of the red and black tiles from the entrance hallway so flows well. The cooking area, which would have originally housed an open range, contains an early example of a two-oven Aga, converted from solid fuel to oil, next to which is an original Coalbrookdale bread oven. The kitchen has direct access to many parts of the house with doors to the sitting room, hallway, rear staircase, pantry, utility/boiler room which leads to a cloakroom, cellars & coal-bunker and to the garden via the conservatory.

The conservatory is the perfect place to dine al fresco and enjoy the view out towards the garden. The Brew House was completely restored in 2014. It is accessed from the conservatory and houses plumbing for a butler’s sink, washing machine and tumble dryer, features a Victorian open cooking range and a storage room.

Seller Insight

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 verification and do not necessarily reflect the views of the agent.

This handsome Georgian home, which dates back to circa 1750, enjoys a superb location right in the heart of the pretty Worcestershire

village of Churchill. “When I purchased this property 31 years ago it was a combination of the size and look of the house and the lovely location that attracted me.” says the vendor. “Back then, Churchill was a sleepy little village but extremely convenient for places such as Birmingham and Worcester. The house was, and still is, just beautiful. It was pouring with rain on the day we came to view the property but, as we drew up in the car, I immediately said ‘That’s it!’; I fell for it without even walking through the front door.”

“It is thought the house was originally the village Rectory but, from 1838, was lived in by tenant farmers, becoming somewhat neglected over the next 130 years. Around 20 years before I purchased the house it was almost derelict but was gradually brought back to life by a succession of owners. A lot of the lovely period features survived and some were reinstated, so it’s an extremely characterful home with lots of exposed beams and attractive fireplaces. It is also very spacious, incredibly comfortable and great for entertaining.”

This lovely home boasts just under an acre of formal gardens and around seven acres of grazing land. “One of the owners in the 1970’s was a Professor of Botany who planted some beautiful yew hedges and a variety of specimen plants. These hedges are now of course very mature and the plants very well established so, all in all, it’s a very attractive space. It’s a real gardeners’ garden; a joy to just sit in it and enjoy the surroundings.”

“One of the nicest rooms in the house is the kitchen, which is fitted with beautiful antique pine units, by Smallbone, plus a huge old farmhouse settle that I acquired when I bought the property. The settle was originally built in the kitchen to keep out the drafts. It’s a hugely characterful room and a lovely place for entertaining. The house is arranged over three floors, the third always having been used as a guest suite. It’s a fantastic house in which to entertain; on one occasion we managed to accommodate 18 guests overnight.”

“What I’ve loved most about the location is that, although it’s extremely picturesque, everything is relatively close at hand. The main business centres are within easy reach, the transport links are excellent and there’s an array of really good schools in the local area.”

FIRST FLOOR ACCOMMODATIONLanding l Master Bedroom with En-suite l Bedroom TwoWardrobe Room l Bedroom Three l Family Bathroom

All bedrooms are fitted with open hearth fireplaces, which means there are twelve chimneys in four stacks. Unusually, these stacks are built into the north, south and west elevations rather than into the central spine of the house.

There are three parts to the landing area. One part, off the main staircase from the entrance hall, takes you to the master bedroom with en-suite and bedroom two. The second part of the landing leads you to a walk-in wardrobe room, family bathroom and bedroom three. There is another doorway leading to the third part the landing where separate staircases lead straight down to the kitchen and up to the second floor. This is perfect for guests or could be ideal for multi-generational living, as the rear part of the house has its own private staircases allowing privacy and independence for family members or guests.

SECOND FLOOR ACCOMMODATIONRear Landing l Bedroom Four l Bedroom Five l BathroomFront Landing l Bedroom Six l Bedroom Seven

The owners have used the second floor as a guest suite but this could also be treated as a large annex as it has its own separate staircase.

The stylish shower room has been fitted to an extremely high standard with riven slate flooring, wall tiles and spotlights in the ceiling.

The bedrooms are all a wonderful size with feature fireplaces, of which one of the fireplaces includes the original kettle hook, so full of charm and character.

The rear landing is a generous size with doors leading to the shower room plus bedrooms four and five. A further door leads to the front landing serving bedrooms six and seven, one of which is currently being used as a sitting room, having spectacular views across farmland to Hagley Hall. The landing serving bedrooms six and seven also has a separate door leading to the front staircase down to the first floor.

OUTSIDE

The property retains a variety of useful outbuildings which include:

Garages – three bays with a first floor workshopThe Coach House – used as a single garage, having lighting and electricsThe Pig Sty – storage, lights and electrics Thunderbox – the original outside privy with ‘his & hers’ seatSteel storage shed – 10x10 feetWooden garden shed – 10x6 feet

The exterior brickwork of the house follows the practice of the period. The front elevation is in high quality, smooth-faced brick in Flemish bond with lime mortar pointing finished in V-cut, white lime putty. The other elevations are in top quality, hand-made ‘commons’ laid in ‘English garden wall’ form with lime mortar finished ‘cut and struck’.

Churchill Old Farm is approached via a delightful private sweeping driveway that leads to the rear of the property.

The garden is approximately 1 acre and enjoys a splendid view over the two fields totalling 7 acres. The house and land are in the green belt as well as being part of the local Conservation Area.

The garden is divided into seven distinct areas, all of which have been extremely well maintained. It contains well-established shrubberies, borders, an orchard, vegetable patch and a diverse range of specimen and indigenous trees.

GARAGE

The garage and workshop was built in 2010 to the owner’s specification, to enable the storage and maintenance of vintage and classic cars. The bricks and tiles were all hand made to match the surface and colour of the surrounding buildings. The three-bay garage is constructed with a second floor workshop above bays two and three. Bay one includes double-height space in which to locate a vehicle hoist. Also the floor has an increased concrete depth of 250mm to accommodate the point loading of the hoist. Access to the upper floor is by a staircase in the corner of the third bay. The ceiling, adjacent to the staircase, contains a hinged trapdoor through which machinery and heavy components can be lifted using the electric winch attached to the steel roof frame above. The staircase is designed so that it can be folded into the ceiling to give clear access on the ground floor. The floor to the upper storey above bay three is strengthened to allow the installation of engineering machinery. The doors to bay one are conventionally hinged, made of wood, with stays to ensure safety when they are open. Bays two and three have remote controlled electric, up-and-over sectional doors with exterior patterning to match those of bay one. The electrical supply is a single-phase, dedicated circuit containing ample outlet sockets and lighting for all requirements. There is no water supply into the building to obviate the risk of frost damage during winter.

Width Bay 1: 11’3” (3429mm) Bays 2 & 3 together: 19’3” (5867mm) Overall: 30’6” (9296mm) Depth 21’4” (6502mm) Each bay is designed with a width that allows cars to have all doors open without the disk of damage to adjacent vehicles.

CHURCHILLChurchill is a small village just to the north of neighbouring Blakedown. Both villages nestle amongst gently rolling hills and are surrounded by beautiful countryside; the area being popular with walkers, horse riders and cyclists. There are open fields and brooks which run down from the Clent Hills, feeding numerous pools in the area on its way, to the River Stour (at Kidderminster) which, itself, is a tributary of the River Severn. There are also quiet woodlands, a large variety of wildlife and, from the brows of hills, fantastic views across Worcestershire (the Malvern Hills can be seen on a clear day to the south).

Churchill and Blakedown are mainly residential villages, although there are a number of farms and other businesses in the area. Blakedown has a school (Blakedown Primary School), a church, a sports club and playing fields, two public houses, a post office and a few shops. The nearest high school is Haybridge High school which has an ‘outstanding’ Ofsted school report. Public schools nearby include Winterfold Preparatory School, Bromsgrove School, Kings and The Royal Grammar school in Worcester. Between the two villages is the Churchill and Blakedown Golf Club and, in Churchill itself, the old Churchill Forge Mill which is open to the public on certain days of the year.

Many local people travel to nearby Hagley and slightly further afield to the towns of Kidderminster, Stourbridge, Bromsgrove or even beyond to Birmingham, for work, schools, colleges, shopping, entertainment and leisure. That is the beauty of the area – it has the best of all worlds within very easy reach.

BIRMINGHAMLying at the seat of England’s industrial and commercial heartland, the “Second City” is the very model of a beaming cosmopolitan global city that sets the standard for others to mirror. Increasingly recognised as an important cultural hub with the Birmingham Royal Ballet based in the city, along with a magnificent and striking new library.

Birmingham also boasts some of the best shopping in Europe with the superb Bullring Shopping Centre containing over 140 shops including a flagship Selfridges department store. The exclusive Mailbox development is host to a range of designer stores including Armani and Harvey Nichols.

Alongside outstanding museums and galleries you will find an increasing number of gastronomic restaurants, cool and/or secret cocktail bars and picturesque canals with waterside bars, restaurants, attractions and cruises. Thriving legacies of Birmingham’s industrial heritage include its Jewellery Quarter, Cadbury manufacturing plant and a former custard factory that’s been transformed into a cutting-edge creative hub.

With construction on the High Speed Rail (HS2) line – connecting London with Birmingham in just 45 minutes by 2026 – set to boost employment and the economy, ‘Brum’, as it’s dubbed by locals, is buzzing.

Fine & Country West MidlandsRegistered in England and Wales. Company Reg No. 04018410 l VAT Reg No: 754062833Registered Office: Newman Property Services, 1 Regent Street, Rugby, Warwickshire, CV21 2PE

CHURCHILL WORCESTERSHIRE• 126 miles from London• Easy access to M5, M6, M6 Toll, M40, M42• Local train links: Blakedown, Kidderminster, Stourbridge, Worcester Forgate Street, Birmingham New Street

Location

The property is located off a quiet lane in Churchill, a small village between the A449 and A456. Travelling distances are approximately 3 miles to Hagley, 4 to Kidderminster, 15 to Worcester and 19 to Birmingham.

Motorways

The property is conveniently located just 8 miles from the M5 where you can join the M42 and the wider Midlands motorway network.

Railway Stations

Situated less than one mile from the property, Blakedown station offers a regular passenger service to Birmingham, Stourbridge, Kidderminster, Worcester and Hereford plus a direct train into London Marylebone.

Airports

Birmingham Airport is approximately 30 miles away, to which there is a direct rail link via Birmingham International.

M40

Agents notes: All measurements are approximate and quoted in metric with imperial equivalents 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 06/06/2016

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Agents Notes

Oil Fired Central HeatingMains Electric & WaterTelephone/Broadband

Local Authority

Wyre Forest District Council Council Tax Band G

Viewing Arrangements

Strictly via the vendors sole agents Fine & Country on 0121 746 6400

Opening Hours

Monday to Friday 8:30am – 6:30pmSaturday 9:00am – 4:00pmSunday viewings/appointments available

Approximate Gross Internal Area

Main House: 440.8 sq m / 4745 sq ftCellar: 56.2 sq m / 605 sq ftOutbuildings: 97.3 sq m / 1047 sq ftStore: 4.8 sq m / 51 sq ftTotal: 599.1 sq m / 6448 sq ftIllustration for identification purposes only. Measurements are approximate only.

B

Bedroom4.88 x 4.4316'0 x 14'6

Bedroom4.87 x 4.8616'0 x 15'11

Bedroom5.70 x 4.8518'8 x 15'11

Bedroom4.28 x 4.2814'1 x 14'1

Bedroom4.86 x 4.72

15'11 x 15'6

Bedroom4.87 x 4.8616'0 x 15'11

Bedroom4.45 x 4.0914'7 x 13'5

Drawing Room5.77 x 4.8718'11 x 16'0

Dining Room4.25 x 4.23

13'11 x 13'11

Kitchen6.60 x 4.8921'8 x 16'1

Sitting Room4.88 x 4.8616'0 x 15'11

Conservatory4.13 x 3.1013'7 x 10'2

Brew House4.40 x 4.3514'5 x 14'3

Garage9.30 x 6.6030'6 x 21'8

Coach House4.20 x 2.8013'9 x 9'2

Workshop5.90 x 5.9019'4 x 19'4

Dressing Room

4.28 x 1.2514'1 x 4'1

Second Floor

Up

Up

Up Up

Up

Dn

Dn

Dn

Dn

Dn

Up

Ground Floor First Floor

(Not Shown In ActualLocation / Orientation)

Outbuildings Up

Up

4.85 x 4.0215'11 x 13'2

4.85 x 4.8515'11 x 15'11

Dn

IN

Ground Floor First FloorCellars

= Reduced headroom below 1.5m / 5'0

Approximate Gross Internal Area = 440.8 sq m / 4745 sq ftCellar = 56.2 sq m / 605 sq ft

Outbuildings = 97.3 sq m / 1047 sq ftStore = 4.8 sq m / 51 sq ft

Total = 599.1 sq m / 6448 sq ft

Churchill Old Farm, Churchill, Kidderminster, DY10 3LZ

FLOORPLANZ © 2016 0845 6344080 Ref: 166334This plan is for layout guidance only. Drawn in accordance with RICS guidelines. Not drawn to scale unless stated. Windows & door openings are approximate.

Whilst every care is taken in the preparation of this plan, please check all dimensions, shapes & compass bearings before making any decisions reliant upon them.

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