Almost twenty years ago James and Caroline Hughes found the perfect cottage to do up, only to find that it was already being bought by someone else.
When later they received a call to say that it had become available again they quickly snapped it up, knowing exactly what they wanted to do with it.
At that time Myrtle Cottage in the village of Crudgington was just a two up two down Duke of Sutherland cottage with a family bathroom.
Now it has become a stunning five bedroomed home with a breakfast room/kitchen, three further reception rooms and a conservatory among its extended accommodation.
The Hughes have done a beautiful job enlarging their home which sits in a gorgeous position next to the River Strine, with a fenced off stream serving the river meandering along its boundary.
The very best of materials and features, including reclaimed English bricks and roof tiles, Egyptian floor tiles, a gas Aga, and a hand moulded Egyptian limestone fireplace which the couple commissioned and had made in Egypt to their own design, as well as the stunning garden, give a clue to the time, expense and attention to detail the couple have invested in their home.
A former cow shed and pigsty amid the one acre of grounds also has planning permission for a garage/annexe.
Now the Hughes are having to move as they are relocating for work and Myrtle Cottage is up for sale with Barbers of Church Street, Wellington and Nock Deighton of Telford centre for around £599,000 with no chain.
The property’s charming exterior, added to by climbing clematis, is mirrored in the interior. Beautifully finished and decorated, other areas to catch the eye include the family bathroom with original claw foot roll top bath, the sunny sitting room with Victorian-style fireplace and an attractive part galleried landing leading to a long L-shaped rear corridor landing to the remaining first floor rooms.
In total Myrtle Cottage has a porch, reception hall with limestone floor tiles, cloakroom , laundry room (with double shower), sitting room with feature fireplace and French doors, family room with limestone fireplace, dining room with limestone floor tiles, breakfast kitchen with a good range of fitted units, a gas Aga and French doors to the conservatory. The conservatory has its own large radiator, meaning it can be used year-round.
Upstairs is the master bedroom with en suite bathroom with bath, Victorian style main bathroom and four good sized bedrooms.
You drive down a private lane and over the stream to get to Myrtle Cottage. The south facing property has a large gravelled driveway that can accommodate several cars. Its enclosed lawn garden has several mature trees and it spreads to the sides of the property.
Since being there James and Caroline have knocked down walls to create a larger kitchen, added the conservatory, added the extension which included the entrance hall, porch, sitting room, cloakroom, laundry/shower room, family room, dining room and three more bedrooms and an en suite bathroom.
As James is a civil engineer, he did most of the work himself, and what he didn’t do himself he supervised. As the family were intending to stay at their home indefinitely they have put a lot into it.
Caroline, who is a teacher of children with special needs, said: “When we moved here there was an outside chemical loo. The people before us had lived in the kitchen and another room and upstairs there were two bedrooms and a bathroom. We have considerably extended it. The garden had obviously been well cared for once upon a time, but it was overgrown.”
Although the stream is a charming part of the garden, the Hughes sensibly fenced it off, making it safe for little ones. Crudgington has a primary school with a good reputation and easy links to the road networks.
Caroline said: “Crudgington is lovely, absolutely smashing and really quiet. Some people have been here for years but more young families are coming in.”
There are two entrance doors to Myrtle Cottage. The main one in the centre of the property and another through a porch to the left hand side.
Entering from the central doorway, you immediately walk into the spacious reception hall. To the right of the hall is the front facing sitting room. Behind the sitting room is the rear facing family room.
To the left of the family room is the rear facing laundry/shower room. You continue walking left to reach the dining room and then the turned staircase and then the breakfast kitchen and conservatory.
Upstairs, the master bedroom en suite is above the sitting room and again is south facing. The family bathroom faces front at the other end of the property.
Two more bedrooms face the front while another two lie at opposite ends of the property, both facing the rear.
Myrtle Cottage is a substantial and stunning home and its new owners will be able to move straight into it.
Further details are available from Barbers of Wellington on 01952 221200 or Nock Deighton of Telford Centre on 01952 292300.
By Cathy Stanworth.
* All prices and information correct at time of publication.
One Comment
This cottage has been tastefully done and the Aga completes it.