Grantchester - Cambridgeshire

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High Street
Grantchester, Cambridge, CB3 9NF

Description

Converted former Victorian village school with versatile accommodation and delightful landscaped gardens
Location

The Old School occupies a fine position in the heart of Grantchester, a picturesque and world-famous village which is widely recognised as the most sought-after of Cambridge's necklace villages. The village is separated from the city by Grantchester Meadows, with very fine walks there alongside the River Cam. Local amenities include the picturesque Parish Church with its 14th Century tower, the village hall, 4 public houses/restaurants and The Orchard Tea Garden. The large open-air section of the latter, popular establishment is particularly glorious in the spring and summer. It dates from 1897 and claims that more famous people have taken tea there than anywhere else in the world. Two famous English poets, Lord Byron and Rupert Brooke, were closely associated with Grantchester; currently it has become even better known from the photography throughout the highly successful television mystery series, “Grantchester” which is set therein.

The village is well placed for access to many of Cambridge's leading schools including St John's and King's College schools in Grange Road and The Perse, St Faiths and The Leys School in nearby Trumpington Road. The University city of Cambridge provides an attractive combination of ancient and modern buildings and roads as well as being a major centre of ‘high-tech' industry with many University research and development laboratories there, plus the internationally renowned Cambridge Science Park and other such scientific/commercial enterprises.

Commuters are well served with a mainline railway station 2.5 miles away providing frequent services to London's Kings Cross and Liverpool Street stations in approximately 52 minutes and 68 minutes respectively. By road, the M11 (Junction 12) 1.2 miles away provides fast access to Stansted Airport and to the London area. Construction of a second new station to the north of the City is under construction and expected to complete in 2016 for faster railway access to other important centres.
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Further Information

The Old School dates from 1865, built with brick elevations under tiled roofs. It was skilfully and thoughtfully converted to a private home in 1985 for the present vendor and their family, with alterations and improvements sympathetically undertaken to preserve its character and charms.

With lofty ceilings, exposed timbers and deep windows, the versatile accommodation provides larger than expected ground floor accommodation. The former school room benefits from a working fireplace with adjustable safety screen and offers ample space for both sitting and dining. There is a separate dining/breakfast room and kitchen (which was re-fitted 10 or so years ago) with a good range of base and wall units with central island, granite worktops, integrated appliances including double oven, 4 ring hob, a 2 ring hob with extractor fan above, dishwasher, space for a fridge/freezer and double doors to the garden.

There is also sufficient space for an independent ground floor annexe – with sitting room, bedroom with en-suite and potential kitchen (with underfloor heating), if required. Alternatively, these rooms could perhaps be used as a second sitting room, 5th bedroom with en suite and a small study.

The stairs lead from the old school room with a vaulted ceiling above and deep side window floods the stairs with natural light. The spacious landing leads via a vaulted arch to the master suite. This space is configured as a bathroom, separate shower room and bedroom with extensive wardrobes at the moment, but could perhaps be re-designed to create a larger bedroom, dressing room and shower room if preferred. There are three further bedrooms on this floor, one having a small en suite shower room, and another with a deep raised platform which provides a useful storage space or could perhaps become a raised sleeping area for the younger generation, and a family bathroom.

Outside
To the front of the house is a wide gravelled drive behind a brick wall which is bordered by well-stocked flower and shrub beds and leads to the garage with bi-folding timber doors to the front and double doors to the rear. The landscaped rear garden by Philippa Pearson (a garden designer with RHS medal recognition of her show gardens), is a particularly fine feature of the property. The large lawn is bordered by well-stocked flower and shrub beds and is well screened by established shrubs, bushes and trees creating a high level of privacy. We understand from the vendors that the garden works well for family games of badminton. It is bounded by three small paved terraces and a delightful kitchen garden with boxed vegetable, herb and fruit beds.