A sumptuous Grade II-listed building in a picturesque Cumbrian market town, this stunning property is surrounded by a superb garden and makes a fantastic holiday home for friends and larger families.
Sleeping up to ten adults and two children, this is a Grade II-listed cottage in the market town of Appleby. Featuring over an acre of wild gardens, this dog-friendly cottage has been fully and sensitively refurbished to offer its guests a warm and comfortable stay, whilst retaining its charming 19th-century character. The high ceilings you would expect to see in any house of this period are matched by triptych and diptych windows in every room; the original frames now hold double-glazed panes. The ample interior spaces are well-lit by natural daylight and the heritage colours used in the interior complement the changing colours of the foliage outside, no matter what the season.
Built for by the Heelis family in around 1800, it was lived in by subsequent generations of that family until 1948. Indeed, Beatrix Potter married William Heelis and it is rumoured that she graced ‘Bongate Cottage’ (to use this cottage's original name) with her presence for family visits. The cottage was sold in 1948 to George and Frances Sowerby, when it was renamed Beechcroft and the grounds were converted to a ‘nurseryman's business’, the remains of which are obvious today within the acre of grounds.
Comprising of six bedrooms in various configurations, the cottage is ideal for an extended family get-together or a group of families and friends. It has two super-king-size bedrooms, which can be split into two singles, two double bedrooms and two bunk-bed rooms, one of which is reserved especially for children. Despite the fact that it is located in Appleby itself and a stone’s throw from local amenities, the cottage feels secluded and is bathed in a feeling of calm tranquillity; happy memories are sure to be created here.
As well as priding itself as the County Town of Westmorland, Appleby also boasts it's own stop on the famous Settle to Carlisle ralilway line. The Flying Scotsman has recently stopped here on the lines re-opening and for the steam enthusiasts amongst you it's a great opportunity to see the two steam engines that pass through the station on a weekly basis!
The cottage boasts a grand castellated entrance into a large lobby and is topped by a balcony. As sun floods through the double front doors and its stained-glass panes, the lobby is used less as an entrance nowadays but, more suitably, as a lounging area in which to relax with your tipple of choice, doors thrown open to watch the ducks paddling in the pond. The entrance is via the side door and is clearly signposted from the car parking area.
Traditional high ceilings are featured throughout the cottage, with intricate woodwork lattices picked out in sage green. Nowhere is this better demonstrated than in the living room, which has a double aspect to the gardens beyond and a view of the ancient giant redwood, a dominant feature of the garden. Two three-seater leather settees surround a convincing gas-effect fire in a marble surround and slate hearth. A large Welsh dresser is stocked with books and games and a Smart TV sits in the corner of the room, so come armed with your Netflix login details. The cottage has been restored with its original servants' bells and the living room is a good place to start children off on a hunt to see how many they can find around the house.
The kitchen is sensitively modern and well-stocked, its old oak dining table seating up to 12 guests in marvellously mismatched chairs. A kitchen island seats a further two people at the breakfast bar. The kitchen comprises of a double electric oven with a six-ring gas hob and extractor fan, a microwave, dishwasher and large fridge/freezer with an ice-maker. A washing machine is concealed in a cupboard along the long hall, near to the utility room.
There are three bathrooms, two on the ground floor and one upstairs. All are fitted with heritage bathroom fittings, including a WC, walk-in shower and wash basin, one upstairs and one downstairs. For those craving a little more luxury, you can also relax in roll-top bath in the second bathroom on the ground floor. The six bedrooms are spread across both floors. There are two super-king-size bedrooms on the ground floor; ample in size with plenty of storage, these beds can also be made up as two singles upon request. A small room containing bunkbeds with reading lights adjoins to one of the super-king-size rooms and would be suitable for adults and children alike. Views from each of the rooms are of the gardens beyond.
Upstairs are two king-size bedrooms and a small room with a set of bunk beds suitable for children. Each room has plenty of storage. The front king-size room opens to the balcony above the grand main entrance.
A tall handmade red brick wall runs along the length of the property; the greenhouses of the nursery business used to line the length of the wall opposite the raised beds in which the flowers were planted. This is a garden meant for exploring and for stoking the imagination of children, young and old. The architect and previous owner, Mr Brown, built a superb treehouse in the grounds; challenging the children to find it will give you well-deserved 'down time' in which to unpack!