The Old Rectory

Kingston

An incredible restoration of a Grade II* listed medieval masterpiece

The Old Rectory, Rectory Lane, Kingston, Cambridgeshire CB23 2NL

Cambridge 7 miles, Comberton 2 miles, Royston Railway Station 10 miles (Trains to Kings Cross in 37 minutes)

Features:

5 bedrooms including master suite with dressing room5 bath/shower rooms (4 en suite)

4 reception roomsKitchen/breakfast room

Games roomInglenook fireplace, Cusped windows and

Exposed stone archways

Double garage with office/studio above

Extensive array of workshops, stores and stabling within the old thatched barn

Planning permission to extend kitchen

Planning to convert thatched barn to ancillary accommodation.

Approximately 2.7 acres in all

LocationThe Old Rectory, sits in the middle of 2.7 acres of beautiful landscaped grounds in the heart of the village of Kingston, neighbouring the All Saints and Saint Andrews Church. The position in the village with an exceptional open outlook makes it a very peaceful and enjoyable position.

Kingston itself is an attractive village lying approximately 7 miles to the west of Cambridge and is surrounded predominantly by arable agricultural land and accordingly much of the village is a designated conservation area.

The neighbouring villages of Bourn and Toft have many facilities between them including two post offices/shops, a doctors surgery, nursery school, three restaurants and two 18 hole golf courses, including one with a gymnasium and indoor pool. There is a primary school in Bourn and the property is in the catchment area of Comberton Village College, one of the most highly respected regional village colleges in the Cambridgeshire area. Cambridge offers a wider range of private schools of including the well known Perse School, St. Faiths, The Leys and St. Johns.

Historical NoteThe Old Rectory is a Grade II* Listed property and as the name suggests, carries an historic connection to the neighbouring church. The original house dates from as early as the thirteenth century and was added to later in the 15th Century. Many of the features within the house are mirrored in the neighbouring church including the cusped windows which were believed to have been installed in the early 14th Century. There was however a greater accolade still to be placed on the Old Rectory when in 1457 the property was acquired by King Henry VI at which point it was gifted to his new Cambridge foundation, which stands today, better known as Kings College. The property then remained in college ownership for centuries, housing many of the past great fellows of this notable institution. It was only relatively recently in 1926 that the property was sold to a private buyer. The Old Rectory is one of the oldest remaining residential properties in Cambridgeshire and with only three previous private owners, this would be seen as a rare opportunity to become part of a marvellous history, to be told in years to come.

DescriptionThe Old Rectory is a standing testimony to a piece of residential history that has been painstakingly and sympathetically restored and improved, to present what now stands as one of the finest houses in the county. The property is Grade II* Listed which has protected so many of the irreplaceable features, such as the inglenook fireplaces with Herringbone brick work, the garderobe and newel staircase, the stained glass windows and stone archways throughout the property. As well as retaining reception rooms that, put simply, are of a scale and elegance that is rarely seen in the modern era. One of the most notable features would be the fireplace found in the family room, which was restored back to the original Tudor bricks over a period of ten years to preserve yet another piece of history within this wonderful home.

The ground floor accommodation flows neatly from a warm and welcoming reception hall with one of the aforementioned inglenook fireplaces. Continuing straight ahead would lead you into a modern kitchen with a large central island with a wooden surface, whilst the kitchen units are topped with a pale marble. The seating area to the far end offers one of many fantastic viewing points to admire the historic walled garden and interesting landscaping of the property. The kitchen also benefits from an electric total control Aga with an additional electric hob module and a ceramic Belfast sink.

Turning left from the hallway would provide the first real glimpse of originality with an arched corridor leading to the family room and drawing room. The latter with a wood burning stove set into an inglenook fireplace, wooden floors, original exposed stone walls, whilst the family room offers similar comfort but also a raised wooden music platform which is currently home to a beautiful grand piano (not included in the sale!)

From the ground floor an exquisite stone staircase spirals to a split level landing. The property provides five bedrooms currently, whilst a large landing area that has been opened out was once a further bedroom and could be again. Three of the bedrooms benefit from en-suite facilities and each and every room enjoying wonderful views of either the church, the gardens or the surrounding countryside. The master bedroom is spacious, bright and with lovely high ceilings. The modern extension over the kitchen provided a better balance bedroom and accordingly a former bedroom has been altered to create a beautiful en-suite bathroom fitted with a Lefroy Brookes bath and sanitary ware and an additional dressing room.

The property offers a remarkable blend of modern touches and historic grandeur to create an atmosphere of comfort, contentedness and a quality of living that the majority can only aspire to enjoy.

Painstakingly and sympathetically restored and improved

Gardens & GroundsThe Old Rectory is as impressive when looking from the inside out, as it is from the outside in, particularly due to the undulating countryside the property looks across. Accessed via a private driveway with a pair of five bar wooden gates, the driveway is immediately flanked by an expanse of lawn on either side. To the East and South the lawns run away past the old thatched barn towards the naturally fed duck ponds and former paddock lands.

To the North a paved pathway skirts around the house where a wonderful wooden pergola leads towards an elevated dining area which serves as a fabulous viewing point to each corner of the grounds. To the North lies the former walled gardens with the historic red bricked wall still standing and forming the northern perimeter. Neat box hedging remains and, sitting in an elevated position, the site provides views down towards the grass tennis court.

To the west the focal point remains the striking church. The old driveway can still be seen and the perimeter wall still stands with the few steps that many have taken when making their weekly pilgrimage.

The grounds in all sit at approximately 2.7 acres but remain low maintenance with lavender borders surrounding the property and a wash of seasonal colour from over two thousand planted daffodils and blossoms on the beautiful specimen trees throughout the grounds. Many of which have stood unaided for a substantial time and one would imagine will stand for many more.

OutbuildingsA timber clad, brick built, garage block stands off a gravel courtyard. The building not only provides parking for two cars but has been converted upstairs into a superb office with exposed timber arches and, hand made oak cupboards and enough space suitable for accommodating conferences and board meetings. There is a flag stone entrance hall, a cloak room and a storage cupboard to the left and right. Downstairs leads to a games room/music room which has been used for recording live music, although this area would also lend itself to being a fabulous home cinema room.

To the East of the gravel courtyard stands an old thatched barn which is made up of stabling, log stores and garden workshops. Planning permission (detailed below) has been granted to convert to ancillary accommodation.

Planning PermissionsThe following planning permissions have been granted but have as yet not been instigated.

1) The property has full planning consent for the extension of the kitchen by removing the eastern wall and pushing out to create a large kitchen with separate breakfast area that would be installed on two sides with concertina doors bringing the inside out and vice versa. This area is denoted by the red line on the floorplans.

2) The Old Rectory has planning permission for the refurbishment and conversion of the thatches stables outbuilding to ancillary accommodation and for storage, for use in association with the main dwelling. The accommodation provided would be two bedrooms a kitchen, sitting room and a shower room. The former timber framed hay loft would remain.

Property detailsFixtures and Fittings: Fitted carpets, and fitted units will be included in the sale. All other items may be available by separate negotiation.

Services: Mains water and electricity, drainage is to private septic tank. Oil fired central heating.

Local Authority: South Cambridgeshire District Council. Council Tax Band G

Post Code: CB23 2NL

Directions: From Cambridge take the A603 towards Sandy. After crossing the M11, take right turning into Barton, signposted Comberton. Follow the road through Barton, Comberton and onto Toft. Once passing through Toft take the left hand turning signposted to Kingston and The Eversdens. On site of the Church turn left shortly after onto Rectory Lane. The property is accessed via white wooden gates and found on the left hand side.

Games Room7.74 x 6.2825'5" x 20'7"

Garage6.94 x 6.8622'9" x 22'6"

Kitchen2.84 x 2.109'4" x 6'11"

Store

Office10.42 x 6.5334'2" x 21'5"(Maximum)

BasementGround Floor First Floor

F/PF/P

F/P

Drawing Room8.74 x 5.0328'8" x 16'6"

Hall4.42 x 3.69

14'6" x 12'1"

Dining Room5.33 x 4.15

17'6" x 13'7"

Utility4.38 x 2.0314'4" x 6'8"

Kitchen/Breakfast Room

7.11 x 3.8623'4" x 12'8"

Ground Floor

Family Room10.05 x 4.7233'0" x 15'6"

F/P

Master Bedroom5.40 x 4.69

17'9" x 15'5"

Bedroom 24.37 x 4.30

14'4" x 14'1"

Bedroom 44.33 x 3.88

14'2" x 12'9"(Maximum)

Bedroom 54.32 x 4.26

14'2" x 14'0"(Maximum)

Sky

Sky

Bedroom 34.55 x 3.97

14'11" x 13'0"

6.38 x 3.0820'11" x 10'1"(Maximum)

First Floor

The position & size of doors, windows, appliances and other features are approximate only.

© ehouse. Unauthorised reproduction prohibited. Drawing ref. dig/8248710/SSDenotes restricted head height

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Floorplans for The Old Rectory, Kingston

Total internal area: 6,422 ft2 (597 m2)

Illustration for identification purposes only. Not to scale.

IMPORTANT NOTICE Strutt & Parker LLP gives notice that: 1. These particulars do not constitute an offer or contract or part thereof. 2. All descriptions, photographs and plans are for guidance only and should not be relied upon as statements or representations of fact. All measurements are approximateand not necessarily to scale. Any prospective purchaser must satisfy themselves of the correctness of the information within the particulars by inspection or otherwise. 3. Strutt & Parker LLP does not have any authority to give any representations or warranties whatsoever in relation to this property(including but not limited to planning/building regulations), nor can it enter into any contract on behalf of the Vendor. 4. Strutt & Parker LLP does not accept responsibility for any expenses incurred byprospective purchasers in inspecting properties which have been sold, let or withdrawn. 5. If there isanything of particular importance to you, please contact this office and Strutt & Parker will try to have the information checked for you. Photographs taken March 2016. Particulars prepared March 2016.

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