Village Farmhouse

OUTSTANDING 17TH CENTURY FARMHOUSE WITH 3 ACRES AND SUPERB STONE BARNS

Set in the heart of the conservation area of the lovely little North Bedfordshire riverside village of Odell, Village Farmhouse is not only a wonderful and hugely interesting family home with some 3600 square feet and six bedrooms, but it comes with multiple income earning possibilities from its land and stone barns. The magnificent attached former threshing barn and the charming detached former dairy could be turned into something truly special. There’s no doubt this is an opportunity to create a lifestyle that most can only dream of.

Described by H.E.Bates in ‘‘Down the River’’ as “a village embued with a timeless natural beauty”, there’s a sense that Odell has taken more care than many a village to avoid spoiling what has served it well for centuries. Village Farmhouse is one of many beautiful stone homes once belonging to the Castle, which stands on the hill overlooking the 15th century perpendicular Church of All Saints to one side and, to the other, the Bell Inn, which was built alongside the village green at a similar time as the farmhouse. Whilst the historic nature of Odell is apparent at every turn, its friendly community has never stood still – the village was even one of the first in the Country to launch its own web site and its hall hosts all manner of popular events.

Odell lies between Harrold and Sharnbrook, both a short cycle ride away, with their sought-after schools for all ages, independent shops, Co-ops, theatre, pubs and restaurants. A lovely walk through Harrold and Odell country park, with its nature reserve, three lakes and café, and on over the ancient bridge spanning the River Great Ouse, takes you to Carlton, to pick up fresh bread and local produce from the quaint little stores there. Odell is blessed with many super walks, not least through Odell Great Wood, “the noblest wood in this county”, part of the forest that once stretched as far as the Fens. Just 9 miles away is the County town, its world-renowned Harpur Trust private schools and fast trains to the Capital. An amazing home in an amazing location.

ABOUT THE PROPERTY 

Re-thatched just a few years ago in 2014, Village Farmhouse was built around 1650 from stone which came from its own land. Long ago, the old double doors leading from the garden into the drawing room were the main entrance to the farmhouse. Although vehicular access could be opened again from the lane to the land, the main approach today is where the farmyard used to be, with some of the neighbouring homes once farm barns. The best though has been retained.

Try walking into the old threshing barn without saying “Wow!” Whether you or a tenant runs a business from here, you use it as an entertainment space, you join it to the house, or it becomes a separate home with the rear paddock its garden, the barn’s queen post roof is simply stunning. Some villagers recall climbing a wooden staircase in the barn as children to play on the top floor of the farmhouse, following in the footsteps of former farm hands on their way to their sleeping quarters. Others tell of engines from Poddington airfield’s wartime bombers being serviced in this barn – it’s fascinating to see the pulley still in place on the mezzanine.

It’s not only the threshing barn that offers exciting possibilities. Could the old dairy in the garden, along with the adjoining wood store and former privy, become a holiday let, or an annexe for elderly parents perhaps? Ask us too about a possible addition to the front of the farmhouse. A family home ready to welcome you, yet with so much more.

FURTHER DETAILS

Wander around the farmhouse and it’s clear that the interior has evolved throughout the ages, without sacrificing the immense character of each room. Victorian tiles vie for attention with lovely old wooden, terracotta and quarry tiled floors. You might duck under some doorways, but you’ll stand tall in all the rooms. You’ll lose count of the various and interesting knobs on the old doors. Beautiful timbers demand attention throughout, some studded with ironwork and others wound with original rope reed ties, providing additional talking points.

Just as generations of families have used the farmhouse in different ways, the space is such that there is still an unusual amount of flexibility to suit your lifestyle perfectly. Whether it’s a dinner party or a major function, can there be anywhere better than Village Farmhouse for entertaining? And can there be anywhere more cosy to come home to following a winter walk along the river or through the ancient woods, logs ablaze in the stoves, warming soup simmering on the AGA in the farmhouse kitchen?

Deep sills set into thick stone walls provide window seats in some rooms to sit and gaze out at the old orchard and the rest of the land. What will you see in the future? Will it be a haven for hens, sheep and goats as it is today, or will you keep horses? Might you design a beautiful landscaped garden, the natural spring feeding a wildlife pond perhaps, wonderful views across to the lakes in the valley below, and to the higher fields where owls and other birds of prey launch themselves from towering trees. House, barns and land combining to form a uniquely special property.

Joint Sole Agents: Artistry x Savills