Dine out in style in all weathers
IT’S hard to believe that the magnificent gardens at this Georgian property were little more than lawns and paddocks 13 years ago.
Owners Bridget and Gerry Towns are keen gardeners and it shows.
They have created formal areas, patios, herbaceous borders, a pond, an orchard, vegetable garden and even an outdoor dining room.
“All it had when we bought it was two trees, an apple and a weeping birch, but it was ideal because it gave us a blank canvas,” says Bridget.
The couple have also modernised the house replacing the windows and heating system. They fitted new bathrooms, modified the country-style kitchen and added a cinema room and wine cellar.
The property, which was built in 1800, has a reception hall, drawing room with Jotul multifuel room stove, a dining room, sitting room, cinema room, breakfast kitchen with Aga, utility room, cloakroom and shower room.
On the first floor, there are five bedrooms, a study and two bathrooms. On the second floor, there is a sixth bedroom and a games room.
Outside, is a garage, shed, wine store and an extensive parking area. The outdoor dining area, which measures 18ft 7ins x 9ft 6ins, boasts a flagged floor and overlooks the orchard.The grounds stretch to one acre.
“We created the outdoor room with cedar wood about three years ago because we love to eat outside. It’s also lovely to sit there with a morning coffee. We have a large dining table, old church pews for furniture and an old chandelier,” says Bridget.
She and Gerry are selling to buy a property in Harrogate now that their children have grown-up.
“It has been the most wonderful family house and we have really enjoyed creating the garden,” she says. “But it is too big for just the two of us and I feel it really needs another family.”