12 bedroom house

History and Heritage

The Grange was originally built in 1906 for Mr Henry Curtis who was a notable farmer and landowner in the area. During the war it was used by the Armed Forces, and between the wars it was used as a private school. In 1950 The Grange was sold and converted into apartments and in the 1990s the property became a residential home. The current owners purchased it in 2010 and have sympathetically restored it to its current condition. The extensive steel infrastructure offers potential to extend the house further if required. A private single track carriageway leads to a gated entrance in the ornate wrought iron railings which surround the property and provide both privacy and security. The landscaped gardens and paddocks encircle the house and there is a second gated access. An elevated driveway accesses both the double garage and workshop and provides additional parking.

Specification

Careful attention has been paid to safety and security, including a high specification fire/burglar alarm and CCTV, a camera monitored entry system by the entrance gates, and fire exit crash doors onto a full metal fire escape. Energy saving improvements include Heritage style replacement double glazed windows, heavily insulated roof spaces and hidden roof mounted solar panels which provide regular payments from a feed in tariff. The two modern condensing gas boilers are controlled by automated systems that monitor external air temperature to optimise performance. Many of the radiators are controlled by intelligent electronic TRVs. The property also benefits from a comprehensive data network system which is housed in a dedicated server room located on the lower ground floor. It presently provides a business telephone system, wired broadband services and an advanced audio system. Full satellite TV distribution is provided to the majority of rooms in the house.

Lower Ground Floor

The lower ground floor can be accessed by the lift or by stairs from the ground floor. The laundry/utility room has a sink set into a base unit, a central island unit with a granite work surface, two large storage cupboards and a door to the rear courtyard. There is an integrated range style oven with extractor over, and a dishwasher. There is space and plumbing for an American style fridge/freezer, a washing machine and tumble dryer. The cloakroom has two WCs and a wash basin. There are four walk-in general storage rooms, a server room with the Network servers, Broadband, ISDN and telephone system, the Motor Room with the lift control system, a boot room and shower room. The cinema room/gym has a ceiling projector, a 150 inch screen and surround sound speakers. There is also a games room, a study and a sitting room with double doors to the rear courtyard garden.

Reception Hall

The oak entrance vestibule has an original mosaic tiled floor and leads into the reception hall which has the original exposed oak floorboards, an ornate plastered ceiling and deep cornices. All entrance doors have leaded light stained glass fanlights. An oak staircase leads up to the galleried first floor landing. The inner hallway has exposed porcelain floor tiles, a cloaks cupboard and a cupboard housing the electricity and wiring. The cloakroom is fitted in a modern white suite. The wet room has been refitted and includes a screened shower area with an adjacent cloakroom.

Reception Rooms

The drawing room and dining rooms both have mullioned bay windows, original marble fireplaces with open grates, ornate ceiling plaster work, deep ceiling mouldings and picture rails. The dining room also has exposed floorboards and a door to the side. The original conservatory has a fully tiled roof, a black and white chequered tile floor and countryside views. The study and library both overlook the side. The morning room is dual aspect with views of the garden and has a limestone fireplace, exposed oak floor, moulded ceilings, deep moulded covings and picture rails. The family room has a bespoke range of fitted contemporary furniture and includes an illuminated Corian wall unit and bespoke fitted cupboards with mirrored doors.

Kitchen/Breakfast Room

The kitchen/breakfast room has bespoke custom-built cabinets which include a dresser style unit, glazed display cabinets and a central island unit. Complementary granite worksurfaces incorporate a drainer, boiling water tap and breakfast bar area. Integrated appliances include a three oven Aga, a halogen hob, an electric companion unit, larder, fridge and freezers, two microwaves, a wine chiller and two dishwashers. There is a matching granite breakfast table to seat eight people.

First Floor Bedrooms

The galleried landing is on two levels. The upper landing has exposed oak floorboards with steps down to a lower landing which has the lift and a staircase to the second floor. A door leads to an external fire escape and a second staircase to the second floor. The dual aspect master bedroom has a traditional style Adam fireplace with an open grate, original detailed plasterwork to the ceiling, deep ceiling mouldings, picture rails and wall friezes. The dressing room has a traditional marble fireplace and the en suite shower room is fitted in a modern white suite. Bedroom two has an en suite bathroom and a dressing room. Bedroom three has an en suite shower room. All three en suites have travertine wall and floor tiles. Bedrooms four and six both have a dressing room and an en suite shower room. Bedrooms five and eight have en suite shower rooms and bedroom seven has an en suite cloakroom. There is one further bedroom and the family bathroom which is fitted in a (truncated)

Second Floor

There is a large landing which has a range of fitted bookshelves, access to the lift and a fire door to the fire escape at the side. There is a built-in storage cupboard and access to the roof space. Bedrooms ten and eleven both have walk-in wardrobes and en suite shower rooms. Bedroom twelve has a dressing room with a range of contemporary style wardrobes and an en suite shower room.

Gardens and Grounds

The Grange is accessed from the A6 through a remotely operated pillared entrance to a sweeping carriageway which provides access to it and one neighbouring property which is accessed separately. The Grange occupies a prominent elevated position with open views. The gravel driveway provides access to the double garage and workshop. The gardens and grounds extend to approximately 3.1 acres and are fully enclosed and stock proofed. They are principally lawned with well stocked borders, and mature trees which include Cedar trees. In the front garden there is a gazebo and marquee which the owners intend to leave. To the side there is a paved terrace and a Jacuzzi. The rear courtyard has a further paved terrace area.

Detached Double Garage and Workshop

The double garage is of brick construction under a pitched roof and has two remotely operated doors and power and water connected. The workshop is of timber framed construction and is fully insulated with double doors at either end. It has power connected, telephone and internet access.

Outbuildings and Paddocks

In the rear courtyard there are three brick built outbuildings arranged in an L-shape and including a home office with power and internet access, and a boiler room housing the electronically managed gas fired boiler system serving the heating and hot water systems. There is also a general storage room. The paddock has timber five bar gates and is fully enclosed by post and rail fencing. There are two separate detached timber stables with power connected and a haybarn.

Situation and Schooling

Local amenities in Milton Ernest include a lower school, a garden centre, hotel/public house/restaurant, a church and a village hall. It is approximately 5 miles from Bedford town centre which has the Harpur Trust schools and a railway station with services to St. Pancras International 47 minutes.