hardingstone, northamptonshire

The Old Dairy15 High Street | Hardingstone | NN4 7BT

The Old Dairy.indd 1 30/04/2015 11:30

The Old DairyThis versatile four-to-five-bedroom house, which has a separate annexe, a tandem garage and an outdoor heated swimming pool, is located in the heart of the village of Hardingstone on the south-east side of Northampton.

“In 1984 we bought the house because it was in the centre of a quiet village yet very close to Northampton,” recalls Stella. “Its location on a bus route was important, so the children need not be car-dependent for schooling and so on – its proximity to the independent Northampton High School for girls was another consideration. Hardingstone also offered all the necessary local amenities such as a Post Office, corner shops, a village hall, a nursery and so on.”

“As a self-employed person, communications were also important,” explains Phil. “The house is about two miles from the station, which has trains to Birmingham and London in around an hour, while Junction 15 of the M1 is three miles. The house itself, at times a dairy and a Post Office, offered the opportunity to extend. It had a single storey telephone exchange next to it; the service was digitising in 1984, so we knew it would soon be empty. We bought it and connected the two buildings with a roof, creating a vaulted breakfast area between.”

“The extension proved very useful and versatile,” elaborates Stella. “In the early days it provided a bedroom, bathroom and kitchenette for a live-in nanny with a playroom alongside. The bedroom has double doors opening to the terrace and has at times been a snug but combined with the bathroom is ideal as a guest bedroom. The playroom can provide a sitting room but has latterly been my office.”

“In the main house I have a wood-panelled study fitted with every modern office facility,” continues Phil. “However, the versatile annexe, which we converted from a former electricity sub-station in 1999, has also provided office space for meetings. It has huge doors at the front and a large, light internal space, which is panelled to optimise the acoustics, so it’s mainly been used as a music and recording studio. However, it’s also been a bachelor pad, having a mezzanine bedroom, a ground floor shower room and a kitchenette. It makes excellent entertaining space as well.”

“Having a large family, we made sure there was plenty of parking,” adds Stella. “In addition to five off-road spaces at the front, there’s space for several vehicles behind both sets of gates. The tandem garage, which also provides an insulated workshop, has solar panels to heat the outdoor pool, which we built ourselves 20 years ago; with the adjoining lawn it forms the top tier of the garden. The middle terrace is an herbaceous border, while the lower level is a terrace – it’s all south facing and not overlooked.”

“We need to downsize now and relocate to be near our family in Scotland,” conclude Phil and Stella. “We’re sad to be leaving what is a very friendly and neighbourly community but we’ll be taking away 32 years of happy memories.”*

* These comments are the personal views of the current owner and are included as an insight into life at the property. They have not been independently verified, should not be relied on without verification and do not necessarily reflect the views of the agent.


This fine and versatile dwelling known as The Old Dairy primarily comprises of a family sized detached four/five bedroom main house built in the 1920’s era and a separate detached annexe which perfectly lends itself for use as either a home work premises with the provision of broadband network throughout or for an older child seeking independence or dependant relatives. Located within the Conservation area of this popular village which lies on the southern outskirts of Northampton as well as its good amenities there is convenient access to two highly regarded schools nearby namely Northampton School for Girls and the Caroline Chisholm School at Wootton Fields and road links in particular to Junction 15 of the M1 which is approximately three miles away.

The list of accommodation for both dwellings and external features are in brief a hall, a sitting room with a sunny rear box bay having French doors leading out to a terrace which is south facing, separate dining room, study, a spacious and sociable open plan kitchen with an arch to a breakfast room which has a part vaulted ceiling with exposed beams and solid oak floor, refitted utility room and a secondary ground floor bathroom. Accessed from the breakfast room through oak double doors there is a an additional reception room which could be used as an alternative study or day room as its fitted out with oak furniture and a dresser unit as well as having a solid oak floor. From this room there are stairs to a usable carpeted loft area with Velux windows and a fitted desk and a door to an adjoining snug or maybe fifth bedroom which again has a solid oak floor and french doors accessing the rear garden.

On the first floor there are four bedrooms and a family bathroom. The detached annexe has been tastefully converted and features a high wood panelled vaulted

ceiling, exposed floorboards, a contemporary kitchenette, wet room and a staircase to a mezzanine bedroom. Externally although the property is central in the village the rear of the property which boasts a south facing aspect is private and with two sets of double wooden gates leading to two separate drives there is secure and ample parking for either cars, a caravan and/or boat. The rear garden is made up of a sizeable sunken block paved terrace at the rear of the main house, well stocked flower and shrub beds behind retaining walls and conifer borders, a top lawn sitting next to an outdoor heated swimming pool, and a garage/workshop of tandem length with an attached pool room. At the rear of the annexe there is a private paved courtyard garden with an attractive central water feature. There are two separate pedestrian gates to the front where there is stone boundary wall and car hardstanding.

Ground FloorA strip glazed door leads to a hall with tiled floor giving further access via oak doors to an impressive breakfast room with part vaulted ceiling, solid oak floor, exposed beams embedded with spotlights and a casement door leading to the rear garden. The breakfast room is open to the kitchen via a feature arch thus creating a very sociable and contemporary open plan space.

The kitchen is well fitted with an extensive range of matching base and eye level units complimented by granite work surfaces and a marble floor. Built-in Bosch double oven with a Neff four ring gas hob and extractor hood. Space and plumbing for dishwasher as well as recess for a fridge/freezer. Franke sink and drainer unit and a part concealed wall mounted boiler. Complementing the kitchen is a refitted utility room with Belfast style sink, fitted units, an oak work top, space for two appliances, a marble floor and inset ceiling spotlights. Next to

the utility room is a secondary bathroom with a contemporary white three piece suite comprising a shaped spa bath, low flush WC and pedestal wash hand basin encased in vanity unit, marble tiled walls and floor, heated towel rail and inset ceiling spotlights.

From an inner hall where there is a staircase to the first floor there are three reception rooms including a sitting room with focal fireplace and marble surround and a rear box bay that draws in lots of natural light and allows access via french doors to the rear garden, a separate dining room with sash window and wood panelling to dado height and a study again with a sash window which has a range of fitted furniture to include a desk and floor to ceiling book shelving.

Completing the accommodation on the ground floor there is an additional reception room that’s accessed via oak double doors from the breakfast room which can be used as an alternative study or day room. This room has the benefit of a solid oak floor, fitted furniture including a dresser and inset ceiling spotlights. In one corner there is a stairs takes you up to a usable carpeted loft space which has two Velux windows and a fitted desk. At the rear of this reception room there is a snug or possible fifth ground floor bedroom which again has a solid oak floor and french doors to the rear garden.

First FloorOn this floor there are four bedrooms and a family bathroom. The master bedroom which sits over the sitting rooms boasts a sunny rear box bay window, and a range of bespoke fitted furniture in walnut. Bedroom two also has a range of bespoke fitted furniture as well as dual aspect windows. The marble tiled family bathroom has a three piece suite with a fitted shower over the bath.


OutsideThe front of the house is retained behind a stone wall and to either side there is ample off road parking leading via two sets of wooden gates to the rear garden. There are also two separate pedestrian gates leading to the rear. Benefitting from a south facing aspect the rear of the house offers a measurable amount of privacy and security.

Behind the main house there is a large block paved sunken terrace ideal for outdoor entertaining which leads up via steps to a top lawn and heated outdoor swimming pool which is walled round. Bordering the terrace and the lawn are well stocked flower and shrub beds and a conifer hedge. Both drives have space for either cars, a caravan and/or boat.

One of the drives leads to a detached brick built garage/workshop which is of tandem length and has a metal up and over door, multiple fluorescent strip lights, two double glazed windows and a personal door. Attached to the garage is a pool room which houses all the controls for the pool which is heated by solar panels and an economy seven system. Directly behind the annexe is a private paved courtyard garden with an attractive central water feature.

LocationThe village of Hardingstone is conveniently situated on the southern outskirts of Northampton and boasts a good range of local amenities including a primary school, a post office and supermarket as well as two public houses and a hairdressers. Just outside the village there is are two highly regarded schools Northampton School for Girls and the Caroline Chisholm School at Wootton Fields. Preparatory schools and Independent schools in the area include Quinton,

Upton, Spratton and Maidwell. From the village there is easy access to the A45 taking you east towards Cambridge and west towards junction 15 of the M1 (approximately three miles), and Milton Keynes (approximately 19 miles).

Northampton town has a vast range of both shopping and leisure facilities and is the home of the locally very well supported Saints premiership rugby team. The train station provides a link to the south London via Euston station and to the north Birmingham.

DirectionsFrom Northampton town centre take the A508 south until you reach the Nene Valley Way/A45 roundabout. Take the second exit signposted Hardingstone which will take you into the high street and the property can be found on the right hand side.

ServicesMains gas, water, drainage and electricity are connected to this property. The heating system in the main house is a combination of gas to radiators and economy seven storage heaters and in the annexe economy seven storage heaters. The main house and annexe are metered separately.

Local AuthorityNorthampton Borough CouncilCouncil tax band EViewing ArrangementsStrictly via the vendor’s sole agents Fine and Country on (01604) 309030.

Website AddressFor more information visit the property’s unique website address www.fineandcountry.com/50033278

Opening HoursMonday to Friday 9.0 am – 5.30 pmSaturday 9.00 am – 4.30 pm

Agents Notes. All measurements are approximate and quoted in metric with imperial equivalents and for general guidance only and whilst every attempt has been made to ensure accuracy, they must not be relied on. The fixtures, fittings and appliances referred to have not been tested and therefore no guarantee can be given and that they are in working order. Internal photographs are reproduced for general information and it must not be inferred that any item shown is included with the property. For a free valuation, contact the numbers listed on the brochure.


Agents notes: All measurements are approximate and quoted in metric with imperial equivalents and for general guidance only and whilst every attempt has been made to ensure accuracy, they must not be relied on. The fixtures, fittings and appliances referred to have not been tested and therefore no guarantee can be given that they are in working order. Internal photographs are reproduced for general information and it must not be inferred that any item shown is included with the property. For a free valuation, contact the numbers listed on the brochure. Printed 30.04.2015

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Fine & Country Northampton 2 Mercers Row, Northampton NN1 2QL

Tel 01604 309030


hardingstone, northamptonshire

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