5 bedroom house

A fine example of an important Grade 2 listed farmhouse with attached former Mill standing in gardens and paddocks of 5.3 acres. Upton Mill is pleasantly situated on the edge of Northampton adjacent to Upton Country Park and offers substantial accommodation with the option to convert the former Mill into additional accommodation subject to the appropriate consents being obtained. Lapsed planning consent was granted in 2001 for the change of use of the Mill to further living accommodation. There is a mill race leading to the mill pond offering refuge for a variety of wildlife.

Upon entering the property, the hall leads to all receptions which include the sitting room, study, breakfast room and dining room. The kitchen is of a good size having an oil fired Aga and separate electric module with door to the utility room and cloakroom/shower room. On the first floor is the main bedroom with refitted ensuite, two further bedrooms and a refitted family bathroom. To the second floor there are two further double bedrooms and a shower room having access through to the former mill.

OUTSIDE

The property stands at the end of an adopted road and is then approached by a private drive having gardens to either side with a range of maturing trees, flower and shrub borders. In turn this leads to the main house with parking for several vehicles and on to an attached double with further double leaf gates to the side leading to a central courtyard with a range of stables and open hovel to the side. The garden areas include a mature orchard, mill pond and various fine specimen mature trees with gated access into the paddock areas which are enclosed by post and rail fencing with a bund enclosing the paddocks.

HISTORICAL NOTE

“Optone” was the name given to Upton in the Doomsday Book of 1086 and the books records an existing mill here. At that time the mill was let by King William I for 12 s, 8d. During the medieval period the ownership of the mill as part of the Manor of Upton passed between several hands, with the tenure granted to the Abbey of St James, Northampton. In 1790 Thomas Samwell inherited the mill who profited from the Dissolution and in 1812 the tenancy of the mill was taken over by the Spokes family.

In 1815 the earlier mill house and living areas were demolished and rebuilt in locally quarried Duston stone. In 1817 the mill was gristing bushels of wheat from farm labourers and small farmers operating locally at Northampton market. The miller sent a horse and van around the district every week collecting the grist and delivering flour. For this service the miller was paid 6d per bushel for wheat and 4.5d for barely.

During this time Upton Mill continued to be rented by the Spokes family who ran several mills throughout Northamptonshire. The mills supplied grains for a range of different budgets. It produced a fine white flour that was sieved several times and made into fine white bread for wealthy households. The mill ceased to be used for grinding in 1900 and the buildings were altered in the 20th Century with the removal of the mill wheel machinery and also the large mill pond was much reduced in size.

In 1976 Upton Mill House and the Mill with attached bridge became Grade II listed of architectural and historical interest and is currently occupied by the 5th generation of the Spokes family with the property being offered for the first time for sale since the Mill was purchased in 1812.



Marketed by: Jackson-Stops, Northampton