4 bedroom house for sale

Overview

Positioned within the conservation area of the small Leicestershire village of Leire, Ash House is a four bedroom detached house on Main Street. It is one of several period properties that together form the roadside houses that shape the centre of the village. Originally built in 1860, it has the characterful appeal, intrinsic charm and notable characteristics of a Victorian country home: vertical sliding sash windows, a narrowly mortared red brick exterior, chimney pots and an original panelled front door with fan light. Ash House has been carefully maintained and enjoyed by its present owner for over forty years. In that time it has been tastefully extended to provide an additional reception room and fourth bedroom. It has a generous garden room that overlooks a wonderful cottage garden at the bottom of which a double garage is carefully tucked away.Victorian features An open drive can be entered from the street and runs along the entire rear garden to the double garage. Parking for two vehicles to the side of the property, allows easy access into the house through a tiled rear porch. This is a perfect back door entrance and has provision for coats and shoes, with a door to the right opening into the downstairs cloakroom, comprising of a two piece white suite. The main front door opens immediately from the street into a central entrance hall. This has Victorian coving and deep skirting boards. It has a carpeted staircase to the front and right of the space. The original staircase is particularly attractive. Made from pitch pine, it has polished newel posts, spindles, panelling and a handrail. A large arched window on the landing allows light to flood down into the hall and panelled pine interior doors open into three of the four reception rooms: dining room, garden room and lounge.The reception roomsThe carpeted dining room overlooks the front of the property and links through two sets of double doors into the kitchen and porch at the rear. This room has a Jetmaster open fire set within a period fireplace and a large floor to ceiling fitted cupboard. The proximity to the kitchen permits entertaining to be as formal or informal as required, and certainly allows flexibility, as this house has ample space for dining tables in the kitchen and garden room. The snug is the fourth reception room and has duel aspect sash windows fitted with blinds looking to the front and side. As suggested by its name, it is a beautifully decorated, cosy retreat. The lounge is an elegant and spacious room. It benefits from duel aspect windows and an integral pine cupboard next to the fireplace. The fireplace is made from marble, originally from Ullesthorpe Hall, and is fitted with a Jetmaster open fire. Original pine floorboards have been exposed and beautifully compliment the deep skirting boards bordering the room, where the height is extenuated by the depth of layered Victorian coving on the ceiling. It is a light and airy room benefitting from the internal windows and French doors dividing it from the garden room next door.The basement is directly below the lounge. It is accessed through a door under the staircase and reached by descending another set of steps. The basement provides additional storage and could be used for various purposes.Last, but certainly not least, the garden room is the combined width of the lounge and hall, and allows views of the garden to be enjoyed in all seasons. The opaque roof slants away from the main house, where an exposed brick wall compliments the tiled floor. It is reminiscent of a Victorian conservatory that would have been filled with botanical treasures. At Ash House, this lovely space presently accommodates furniture for semi alfresco entertaining. A country kitchen Fitted with a generous selection of pine, wall and floor units the kitchen has ample space for a breakfast table. The ceiling is lined with matching wood panels and fitted with adjustable spot lights. There are windows on three sides including one that looks into the garden room with a separate back door opening into the garden, making this a comfortably light space to work in. The double oven and extractor fan remain and there is space for a dishwasher, washing machine, tumble drier and fridge freezer. work tops allow ample space for food preparation and appliances, with contrasting tiled areas providing splash backs. To the first floorThere are fitted carpets in three of the bedrooms and in the two largest rooms, deep Victorian skirting boards remain an original feature. The prime bedroom has windows on three sides and the second largest overlooks the garden. It is presently being used as an office. Bedroom three has fitted wardrobes and like number four, is large enough for a double bed.Ash House has a family shower room and a family bathroom on the first level. The shower room comprises of a walk in shower, basin and toilet, with tiles and a hard floor covering. The bathroom is particularly charming and features half wood panelling on the walls, a lion paw free standing bathtub, heated towel rail, basin and toilet. All bathing facilities in Ash House have white fixtures and have been well maintained. A kaleidoscope of colourThe garden at Ash House has been carefully nurtured and contains perennials, fruit trees, shrubs and bulbs of many different varieties. Carefully designed to provide privacy, a patio area behind a hedge allows the garden to be enjoyed while providing a delightful view of the house. Lawns and borders separate areas for safe play.Leire is a small village in a region known as the East Midlands, in the southern part of the county of Leicestershire. Leire lies three miles north-east of the Warwickshire border and falls within the district council of Harborough, under the county council of Leicestershire. It is in the LE17 postcode district and the post town for Leire is Lutterworth, which is four miles away along the A426. The Midlands are essentially central to everything in England: airports, motorways and train stations are easily accessible. Rugby railway stations is within easy reach, with regular high speed trains to London Euston. The nearest airports are East Midlands, Birmingham and Coventry. London is approximately 83 miles away and it is possible to visit the seaside for a day trip! The A5, M1, M69 and M6 maximise the potential for travel by road from this central location, with the major city of Leicester being only ten miles to the south-west. Leicester city is a culturally diverse attraction for those wishing to visit museums, galleries, theatres or simply indulge in local markets and retail therapy. Likewise, Leire lies 14 miles north-east of Coventry, 29 miles east of Birmingham and 31 miles south of Nottingham. There is a bus service operating from the village.Historically, the name of the village is believed to originate from the old British name for the River Soar or Legra, which has a tributary south of the village. In times past, residents have earned their living by farming and Leire still has prominent ridge and furrow land divisions to show the change in the post medieval period from arable to pastoral farming. The conservation area of Leire follows a linear line along the core of the village, Main Street, and various periods of dwellings including Edwardian, can be seen. As the village is set in flat, well hedged countryside, from a distance, only the spire of the church, St Peters, is visible. The church is built from angular pink granite but has an earlier medieval sandstone tower. Today, one of the original buildings, the village school, is used as the village hall. It is used for community organisations and events like the Leire and Dunton Scouts Beavers and Cubs combined pre-school groups or Pilates class. The village can offer locally sourced food in the public houses, The Queens Arms and The Crab and Cow. The village has a reputation for being a sociable community with involvement in all national celebrations like coronations or jubilees. There are many countryside based attractions nearby including riding schools, golf clubs and country parks. Wider afield, ocal days out could be enjoyed in such places as Belvoir Castle, Bradgate park or Twycross Zoo.The locality provides many schools across the educational age range; nursery, primary, secondary, including private establishments offering bordering facilities. The Office for Standards in Education - OFSTED is best researched to provide a comprehensive review of currently rated standards of practice.