The Grange

A home with heritage in its foundations and laughter in its walls, welcome to The Grange, a prestigious home of around 10 acres, hidden away along a private lane off Station Road in Crowton.

THE ULTIMATE FAMILY HOME
Idyllically set, with stables, lake, paddocks and plenty of privacy, cross the bridge over the large lake, fed by two streams, before arriving along the newly laid driveway at the electric wooden gated entrance to The Grange. Ample parking is available on the courtyard, alongside a large car port.

OWNER QUOTE: “It’s so private, no one realises we’re here.”

Built in 1878 and once owned by the affluent and locally renowned Gandy family, so well-loved is The Grange that it has had a total of only 4 owners in its near 150-year history. More recently, it served as the childhood home of comedian and actress Jennifer Saunders, who wed Ade Edmondson at the local Crowton Church, before hosting the reception in the grounds of The Grange.

PERIOD FEATURES
Make your way to the impressive porch before emerging onto the Minton tiled floor of the entrance hall. Broad, bright and welcoming, high ceilings laced with elegant cornicing and ornate plaster corbels set the scene for a home where classic and contemporary coexist in harmony, courtesy of interior designer-led décor from Arighi Bianchi throughout.

Formal feasting is best enjoyed in the impressive dining room, beyond the broad period door on the right. Ideal for entertaining guests, dinner parties and carving the Christmas joint, a broad bay window delivers light through, framing views out over the front. Layered cornicing above lends character, whilst warmth emanates from the marbled fireplace.

FORMAL FINESSE
Across the entrance hall, make your way through to the drawing room, where the large front window provides breath-taking views out over the gardens, a haze of pinks and purples with the rhododendrons in bloom in springtime. Carpeted in cream, its proportions mirror those of the dining room, as a log-burning stove crackles and chuckles within its marble surround.

Light, bright and providing fine views out over the gardens and lake, continue through into the garden room. Rebuilt four years ago, bathe in the warmth of the afternoon sun as it moves around the front. A wonderful room in which to relax and unwind with a book or a morning coffee, this spacious room offers ample room for a piano and entertaining.

Returning to the entrance hall, directly ahead from the front door, turn left to find the useful downstairs cloakroom, with wash basin and WC.

Also located along this inner hallway is the sitting room; a relaxed and intimate space that could also serve as a playroom. Gather for movie night with the Aga log burner roaring on chilly winter evenings.

HEART OF THE HOME
Returning to, and crossing the entrance hall, feast your eyes on the heart of the home: the family kitchen. Rustic farmhouse warmth resonates with chic country style as earthy flagstone flooring and duck egg cabinetry combine, whilst spotlighting adds a New England vibe to the spotlit ceiling overhead.

OWNER QUOTE “We spend lots of time in the kitchen and the snug.”

In wintertime, cook up warming, hearty meals in the brilliant Aga, set within an inglenook, before switching to the electric hob, oven and microwave in the summer months. Integrated appliances include a dishwasher and a fridge in the central island (another fridge is located in the handy pantry and a third downstairs in the cellar). Keeping the kitchen clutter free, a handy utility room houses the washer, dryer and a sink. In the kitchen, wide windows draw in the light, providing leafy views out to the mature rhododendrons, ablaze with colour in late spring. So spacious, there is ample room for a dining table.

ENTERTAINING HAVEN
Coming out of the kitchen into the back hall discover a handy boot room area with a church pew. Note the stairs leading down to the dry cellar, a versatile space great for storing wine and with two rooms used as games rooms currently featuring fusball and snooker tables. Ideal for parties, outside steps lead up to the fire pit patio. Why not consider tanking the cellar to create an atmospheric cinema room and bar?

Returning to the entrance hall, ascend the stairs to the first floor, turning immediately right into the lobby of the main bedroom.

SOAK & SLEEP
Refresh and revive in the contemporary wet-room ensuite, where olive green-grey tiles coat the walls with greige tiles underfoot. Spritz your way into a new day beneath the rainfall shower (controls conveniently set outside of the enclosure). The ensuite also features a wash basin and WC.

Also located off the lobby is a light and bright dressing room, replete with two walls of floor to ceiling fitted wardrobes. Carpeted and awash with light courtesy of tall windows to two sides, the spacious dressing room currently doubles as a home office and could also make the perfect nursery.

Make your way through to the main bedroom, where the high ceiling and spaciousness creates an instant sense of calm. Attractive cornicing, a marbled fireplace and original picture rails add character, as light streams in through a window to the side and a large front facing window, which provides picturesque views out over the lake.

OWNER QUOTE: “When you open the curtains and have that amazing lake view – it’s what you would pay for in a hotel. Quite often when we have parties people comment that it’s like holidaying at a country manor.”

Coming out of the main bedroom, traverse the large, light-filled landing and make your way through to bedroom two, nestled to the front of the home. Carpeted in cream underfoot and perfectly proportioned, subtle lilac tones dress the walls, with an impressive, white marbled feature fireplace. Wake up to sublime views out over the lake, a pleasure throughout the seasons.

OWNER QUOTE: “The views from the front bedroom really are the best views from anywhere in the home.”

Tiled in classic black and white underfoot, a period door opens to the ensuite, furnished with bath containing overhead shower, wash basin and WC. Light and lake views enter through a large window facing the front.

Turning right out of this room, step into an inner landing where ahead, bedroom three/four awaits. Spacious and swimming in light, a large window draws in views over the gardens.

ROOM FOR ALL
Perfect for older children craving their own independence, make your way to the second floor where there are a further three bedrooms. Bedroom five, dressed in tonal greys frames leafy views out over the garden. A cast iron fireplace harks back to the heritage of the home. So spacious, every bedroom at The Grange is notable for its size and great proportions.

Cupboards along the upper landing offer deep eaves along the landing a large, boarded attic is the ideal space for stashing suitcases and Christmas decorations.

Next, discover a single bedroom which could be great as a playroom or perhaps as a homework room or gaming room for computers.

Serving the second-floor bedrooms is a spacious and renovated bathroom, tiled underfoot and to the walls, and furnished with bath containing overhead shower, wall mounted wash basin and WC.

At the end of the landing, a final double bedroom spacious and bright, light streams in through a large window overlooking the main entrance gate and acres of fields.

IDYLLIC GARDENS
Wrapped up in around ten acres of garden and grounds, the outdoor space at The Grange is a natural playground for children, with a large orchard containing dozens of apple and pear trees, and a formal tree garden running down to the lake, where there is a boathouse for days out on the water.

Enjoy a spot of fishing or simply a picnic by the water’s edge, followed by a game of badminton or croquet on the main lawn.

Tend the vegetable patches where you can grow your own seasonal vegetables and from April to May, marvel at the show of colour from the mature rhododendrons and azaleas. Dine alfresco throughout the spring and summer months, and in winter gather around the fire pit, hidden from view by the rhododendrons and high hedging but with great views of the lake.

At the rear of the garden discover the large paddocks for the horses to graze, alongside a four-stable block replete with two tack sheds and a menage.

Beyond the haybarns and work shed, stables and paddocks discover the ‘Theatre of Dreams’, a paddock featuring full size football nets and the setting for countless Dads versus Lads football matches.

OWNER QUOTE: “We wanted a home with a menage and stables on site, so that we could keep a horse without flitting around Cheshire.”

NEAR AND FAR
The consummate family home, The Grange is perfectly placed for the local impressive independent school The Grange – less than ten minutes’ drive away.

Commuters are well situated for travel – both domestic and international, with both Liverpool and Manchester Airports less than a 30-minute drive from The Grange. Meanwhile, Acton Bridge and Hartford stations are both on the main line for travel into London, only a half mile from the front door. Motorway links are also close by, approximately 6 miles to the M56.

For leisure and pleasure, explore the abundance of walks within your own grounds and on the doorstep. Acton Bridge Tennis Club is only a stone’s throw away, with family membership deals available.

Pop the dog on the lead and walk out to the Hare and Hounds or the Hazel Pear pubs around half a mile away, or head to the Riverside Inn for views over the River Weaver.

Hartford is close by with a good variety of village stores for the essentials and also a range of eating places, whilst a more diverse range of shops are also available in nearby Northwich.

The ultimate country retreat for families with older children, with ample space for entertaining indoors and out, The Grange beckons. Safe, secure, secluded, yet not isolated, The Grange offers everything you could want for a great family experience.

Marketed by: Storeys of Cheshire, Cheshire