Broughton House, London Road, Sharlow - £750,000 (offers over)
From the moment this wonderful house comes into view, you can feel yourself transported through time. With a stunning façade of stone walls and large sash windows looking out upon the pillars and grand steps which guard the entrance, this is a home steeped in community, history, and family.
WELCOME
"I walked through the door, and just fell in love with it - despite its grandeur it has such a welcoming feel."
From the moment this wonderful house comes into view, you can feel yourself transported through time. With a stunning façade of stone walls and large sash windows looking out upon the pillars and grand steps which guard the entrance, this is a home steeped in community, history, and family.
A LITTLE PIECE OF HISTORY
Built in the late 18th century for James Sutton, one of the merchants who developed Shardlow as an inland port, the house is grade II listed and has many stories attached to it. From life as a small dame school to a boutique hotel, the home has been filled with servants, families, and even refugees.
"During World War 1 Zachary Smith, who owned the Shardlow Brewing Company,invited Flemish refugees to take shelter in the house. An elderly resident of the village remembered walking into the living room to see all the women sitting around with lace-making bobbins on their knees. Sometimes I imagine that scene when I enter the room.
It's like owning a piece of history."
ADAPTABLE TO DIFFERENT MOODS AND IDEAS.
"I love the fact that you can move from room to room when you're in different moods, and over the
years we've changed rooms to suit our needs. It's a very adaptable and flexible house."
The house boasts an impressive five bedrooms, two offices, utility room, a conservatory, gym, games room, sitting room, and dining room, as well as the usual bathrooms and kitchens; all of which can be adapted to your needs without too much work. The large space is fantastic for growing families, for
hosting parties and friends, and for children who want to get safely lost in adventures within the home.
THE HALLWAY
One of the original features of the home is the impressive cantilevered staircase with wrought iron
balusters and wreathed handrail, which comes into view as you step through the front door. It
makes for an incredibly grand entrance. On sunny days, light shows play on the wall as the sun
shines through.
THE DINING ROOM
Turn to your right as you enter and you come to a beautifully laid out dining room. With such a large space you can imagine the fascinating dinner parties that must have been held here over the centuries, and continue to be held by the current owners. "It's a wonderful party house and we love to entertain."
History permeates this room too. The gilt cornices were last painted by Italian prisoners in
World War 2, and it is said that the fireplace is from the original Alton Towers.
THE SITTING ROOM
Coming into the sitting room, you'll find another original fireplace, one with fossils embedded in the marble, as well as large sash windows which fill the space with a beautiful natural light. The high ceilings accentuate the bright and airy feel to the room, while the decorative touches work to make it feel like home.
THE BEDROOMS
Each bedroom feels grand and welcoming, and there's more than enough for a large family plus guests. One of the bedrooms opens out onto a magnificent wrought iron balcony with a dazzling view over the river and fields beyond. Such a solid house offers each member of the family privacy without the feeling of being cut off from the rest; four of the five bedrooms share the same floor, which gives parents peace of mind about their little ones sleeping in another room.
GYM, CONSERVATORY, OFFICES, AND GAMES ROOM
"This home enables me to have a big office for when I'm working, and one of my favourite things to do is to sit here in the morning with a coffee as the sunlight streams through the window."
Just off the kitchen are some circular iron steps which take you down into the basement rooms. These rooms could be adapted to the needs of the family, but are perfect to use as a gym or games room as the solidly built walls will block off any major noise from the rooms above.
Interestingly, the basement was used by the local village during World War 2 as an air raid shelter and these rooms were the original kitchens of the house.
The conservatory looks out towards the back of the house and is more than large enough to fill with plants and flowers and relax inside.
OUTSIDE
Outside the property there is a private courtyard garden offering a mature surrounding with a lovely patio area. There is gated access to the side off Wilne Lane and the driveway provides generous parking for multiple vehicles.
THE SURROUNDING AREA
The beautiful surrounding area attracts many visitors to the walks, canals, and industrial archaeology.
The next-door neighbours are described as really lovely people who have a young family and work as teachers.
The sense of community shines through as the history of the village ties everyone together.
"That, for us, was an important part of why we bought the house - the sense of history and all the lives that have been lived here."
If you would like more information or to arrange a viewing - CLICK HERE and one of the team will be in touch to take the next steps.