Property description
An exquisitely restored, extended and improved 18th Century farmhouse in a stunning location with a two bedroom annexe, superb rural views, and links to Benjamin Disreali.<br/></br>
<b>Situation</b>
Home Farm is situated on the edge of the picturesque village of Bretby in South Derbyshire, close to Repton and Newton Solney. Bretby is quiet and secluded and sits within some of South Derbyshire's most attractive countryside.
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The village lies within a conservation area incorporating the sites of a 13th Century Norman Castle, a 17th Century mansion variously built and rebuilt by the Stanhope family, Earls of Chesterfield (and latterly owned by the Earl of Caernarvon) with its pleasure grounds, and the present Hall (now converted into private apartments) within extensive grounds. Bretby is believed to be the site of a major battle between the Danes and Kingdom of Mercia in 880 and the Manor was mentioned in the Domesday Book in 1086.
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There is excellent local state and private schooling available within close proximity. Repton School (3.5 miles), Repton Prep (4.5 miles), Twycross House, Derby High School and Derby Grammar School, Dixie Grammar School, Trent College, and Denstone College are all easily accessible.
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The area offers a wide range of sporting facilities including sailing clubs at Foremark Reservoir and Staunton Harold Reservoir, and motor racing at Donington Park. There is also very easy access to footpaths and bridleways from the village.
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<b>Description</b>
Home Farm is a hugely impressive period house believed to date from the 1740’s and sits within very special gardens and grounds. Believed to be the original model farm for Bretby Hall, this outstanding home displays a wealth of delightful architectural features.
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The property offers generously proportioned and particularly versatile living accommodation over two floors.
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An attached two bedroom annexe can be used as part of the main accommodation or can provide semi-independent accommodation for relatives. Or, as in recent years, can be let as a source of income. Please refer to the brochure where further links are listed.
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In total the accommodation extends to about 5,891 sq. Ft (gross internal area - gia).
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The current owners have carried out a significant scheme of modernisation and extension, which has included internal insulation, new double glazed windows, re-wiring and re-plumbing, resulting in a wonderfully light and airy family home, whilst maintaining a range of period features throughout.
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<b>Historical Note</b>
Home Farm has an interesting historical background. The Prime Minister between 1874 and 1880, Benjamin Disraeli, used to visit the house in the 1870’s due to his long-term friendship with Lord & Lady Forester and in particular their daughters Anne, married to the Earl of Chesterfield, and Selina, the wife of Lord Newport and, afterwards, the Earl of Bradford.
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Following Disraeli’s wife’s death in 1873, his friendship with the two sisters - now Anne, Countess of Chesterfield and Selina, Lady Bradford, was lifted onto an entirely different plane. They exchanged many intimate letters during his time as Prime Minister and his letters to these two high society ladies have been preserved and reproduced in two books titled “The letters of Disraeli to Lady Bradford and Lady Chesterfield”. The two volumes make reference to Disraeli’s visits to meet the sisters in the Cheese Room of Home Farm when they were staying at Bretby Hall - he wrote on 31st March 1874: “Dearest Lady Chesterfield......I long to see the farm again and the room full of cheeses” - now the dining room of Home Farm.
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<b>The Accommodation</b>
From the driveway, a covered porch canopy with heavy oak framing leads through to the glazed oak framed entrance hallway with engineered oak flooring and underfloor heating. The spindled ash staircase rises up to the first floor and a soundproofed door leads to the annexe. Off the hallway, there is also a guest WC, formal dining room, formal sitting room and to the easterly side of the house, the living-dining kitchen. The underfloor heating continues into the spectacular, bespoke Tom Howley kitchen, this time under porcelain tiles. This fabulous room features hand painted in frame style units to include a full height larder cupboard, gas fired aga, Belfast sink and a range of integrated Neff appliances, surmounted by Silestone work surfaces. A superb island unit incorporates an integrated electric oven and breakfast bar seating.
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The large dining area has bi-fold doors providing views over the pretty garden and fields beyond. There is a built in Tom Howley dresser to match the kitchen and a roof lantern allows further light. The snug, family room, and the boot room can all be accessed from the dining area. Of note is the impressive family room, with floor to ceiling glazing and bi-fold doors, pouring light through the rear elevation of the house. This unique room boasts a full height ceiling and a spacious mezzanine study area, accessed via a winder staircase or direct from the master bedroom suite, with a lit glass balustrade and staircase. There is an integrated TV unit and a Dik Geurts wood burner.
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The adjoining boot room includes bespoke storage for coats and shoes. An external door leads to the oak framed undercroft; this extensive area has a blue brick floor and the carefully considered design means that cars can be unloaded under cover directly into the house. There is a secondary guest WC and the utility room which has a ceramic sink and housing for the Worcester Bosch gas fired boiler.
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The reception rooms include a formal sitting room with fireplace and Town and Country woodburner, and a snug sitting room with fireplace and Clearview woodburner, both overlooking the south facing garden.
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Accessed from the formal sitting room via oak double doors, and from the hallway, is the dining room, formerly the Cheese Room visited by Benjamin Disreali with Lady Chesterfield. This room features the original marble shelving and marble floors, reportedly moved from the original Bretby Hall when it was demolished, which the vendors painstakingly lifted to install underfloor heating. Further features include half crescent windows, recessed lighting coving and a domed ceiling with ceiling rose.
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To the first floor, the landing is carpeted with underfloor heating and includes a large window. There are two double bedrooms overlooking the front of the property, one en suite, incorporating double shower and underfloor heating, both with built in storage. To the rear of the property there are two further double bedrooms and the three piece family bathroom with Villeroy & Boch tiles and a Victorian towel rail. Of these, the master suite has a large dressing room with fitted furniture and an en suite with twin wash basins, freestanding bath, heated mirror and Villeroy & Boch sanitary ware. There is access from the en suite to the mezzanine study area.
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<b>Annexe</b>
The property benefits from an excellent attached annexe which could be used for a variety of purposes including as semi-independent accommodation for guests, relatives, or as let accommodation to provide an income. It would also make an excellent home office space. Whilst there is access internally to the annexe, it also has a separate entrance door leading into the breakfast kitchen from the driveway. The kitchen has electric underfloor heating which continues into the sitting room, and a range of appliances and units with granite worksurfaces. The sitting room has French doors out onto a stone patio, and on the first floor there are two double bedrooms and a shower room with toilet and washbasin.
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<b>Outbuildings and Garaging</b>
The westerly side of the house incorporates the double garage, oak framed undercroft and brick-built workshop. The garage has two sets of double doors and lighting. An oak staircase provides access to a large first floor room with plenty of storage in the eaves. This room is very versatile and could be used as an office or gym or even further accommodation, as water and drainage are in place ready for connection, and it has been constructed with insulated cavity walls and roof.
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<b>Outside</b>
Home Farm sits within an attractive plot of approximately 0.5 acres in total, and is approached via automated hardwood entrance gates set within a beech hedge. A high stone wall on the north-eastern boundary is believed to be made from stone taken from Bretby Castle and provides the property with a high degree of privacy. The cobble edged tarmac and gravel driveway is flanked by fruit trees and runs through the lawned front garden to the ample parking area, the garaging and undercroft. The cellar is accessed from the driveway through a steel access hatch, and includes a number of chambers and thrawls with further potential for development.
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The property enjoys delightful rear gardens which are laid mainly to lawn with a magnificent magnolia and cherry tree and superb views over the adjoining fields and woods beyond. There are established herbaceous borders with climbing roses, pleached hornbeams, and a wisteria on the house’s rear elevation. A stone seating terrace adjoins the house and is easily accessed from the living-dining kitchen areas via a range bi-fold doors to provide great indoor-outdoor living. A high brick wall on the eastern boundary includes an arch door leading to Bretby village and directly onto the footpaths to Bretby Hall and the surrounding area.
AmenitiesLiving-dining kitchen with breakfast, dining & sitting areas
4 reception rooms incl the 18th Century cheese room
Large utility room/boot room & 2 guest WCs
Master bedroom with en suite and dressing room
3 further double bedrooms, one en suite, family bathroom
A two bedroom annexe with kitchen and sitting room
Beautiful south-east facing gardens & gated driveway
Double garage with home office/gym above
Oak framed undercroft providing parking & storage
Brick-built workshop & cellar