There's life in the old mill yet

Steve and Tracey Ward live in one of the most unique and fascinating homes in Shropshire.

Bouldon Mill at Bouldon, near Ludlow, is a pure slice of history. It is a beautiful Grade II listed home, set in wonderful countryside in a picture-perfect setting, with Pye Brook running through its garden.

The mill's workings have incredibly survived in tact, and are a stunning feature of the home, travelling up each of the three floors of the house.

The house, itself, is very much a home - and a spacious one at that. It has everything - and more - that anyone could want from a large country property.

The Wards have renovated and improved the mill over the last six years. They work from home, running their business Garden Buildings Centres, www.gbcgroup.co.uk, from a garden office on site.

As they are now ready for another project. They have put Bouldon Mill up for sale through Strutt & Parker of Ludlow for £775,000. nextpage

It has a kitchen/breakfast room, utility, snug, garden room, dining room (pictured above), music room, first-floor drawing room, master bedroom, family bathroom, three further bedrooms, a shower room and a mezzanine study area which overlooks the mill workings in the drawing room.

The property stands in glorious gardens, where you'll also find a garden office, barn/single garage, which could be converted, and fabulous views.

Bouldon Mill also has planning permission to add an additional bedroom and bathroom if desired.

It also has a paddock and, where the greenhouses stand today used to be stables, which could easily be put back. There is a bridleway at the back of the house and the area is great for walks, and the Shropshire Way is close by. nextpage

Pictured above: the drawing room. The property lies in an area of outstanding natural beauty, being part of the Shropshire Hills area. The present mill buildings date back from around 1790 and remained in use until the 1930s. The original mill was founded in the Middle Ages, probably by the Knights Templar.

Bouldon Mill is packed with original features and has been very sympathetically converted and tastefully decorated. It lies at the end of a pretty country lane and is one of a handful of picturesque properties nestled in breathtakingly beautiful countryside.

From the rear of the home a door leads into the kitchen/breakfast room, off which is a large utility. The kitchen is well equipped with solid oak cabinets, a five-ring gas hob range cooker and microwave and space for a dishwasher.

Off the kitchen is a magnificent garden room and a snug/sitting room with open fireplace and exposed stone walls. nextpage

The splendid dining room has mill workings, which give a dramatic backdrop to the room. It also has an inglenook fireplace with a wood-burning stove. Off the dining room is the music room, a dual aspect room.

There are two good-sized bedrooms on the first floor, each with fine views, and a stunning family bathroom with roll-top bath and under-floor heating.

A further gorgeous wide staircase rises to the second floor, where there are two more bedrooms, with exposed beams, a shower room and a galleried studies/hobbies room overlooking the drawing room.

The Wards have worked tirelessly on the mill. They revamped the kitchen, created the garden room, had an exterior wall re-pointed, worked on the windows, created the utility room, worked on one of the bedrooms, snug/sitting room, dining room and entrance hall/music room and had the entire garden landscaped.

Steve said: "Recently we received a visit from a Dr Pattison of Shrewsbury who wanted to look at the mill workings.

It was his belief that the mill was an example of the work of William Hazeldine of Shrewsbury, whose work was used by Thomas Telford as the blueprint for his treatise on mills in 1796."

Further details from Strutt & Parker of Ludlow on 01584 873711.