Contact Tim or Julia from Stowhill Estates Berkshire for more information about this property – 0118-207-3030
A quintessentially English cottage
Chantry Cottage is every-bit the quintessential English cottage. Set in the heart of Waltham St Lawrence village, adjacent to the historic 11th Century church, the house itself dates from the 16th Century with subsequent extensions and improvements sensitively added over its life, the last of which by the current owners 12 years ago. It’s under a minute’s walk to The Bell Inn and village centre, yet tucked away on a quiet, exclusive road. This is a real gem!
Enviably handsome, both outside and in
Kerb appeal is in no short supply here. The charming timber-beam and white brick exterior is complimented by the lattice windows and clay roof tiles and the house feels almost woven into the fabric of the village by the various climbing roses and mature shrubs and flowers adorning the front garden. The brick laid path draws you towards the original front door with its porch roof and nameplate proudly sitting above the entrance.
To the right-hand side of the house house sits the garage door. Next to this is another entrance which has been more widely used in recent years so that is where we will start …
A warm welcome
As you step in to the lobby, in front of you is a door to the downstairs Bathroom with shower and airing cupboard. To your right, another doorway takes you into the Dining Room. This is a lovely, light room with timber-framed French doors in one corner out to the courtyard garden. The tiled stone flooring and exposed beams contribute to the homely, character feel and there’s ample room for a good-sized table. A second window on the wall opposite you brings in lots of natural light and recessed space on the right makes an excellent location for a dresser or other furniture.
Directly opposite is a door into the most recent part of the house having been added only ~12 years ago. A beautiful, spacious Kitchen / Breakfast Room with vaulted, beamed ceiling and a delightful stained-glass window of a Narcissus at the far end. The Kitchen is well equipped and features a Rangemaster oven with gas hob, a butler sink, built-in dishwasher and plenty of space for a large fridge-freezer. There is an excellent amount of storage, worktop and floor space, making it a great place for a breakfast table to amplify the sociable aspects of time spent in the Kitchen. In the far corner is a door to the three-quarter length Garage and on the opposite wall is another set of French doors to the courtyard garden, flanked on either side by large windows.
You may not expect it in a house of this age and character, but all the downstairs rooms mentioned so far are underfloor heated – the lobby, downstairs Bathroom, Dining Room and Kitchen / Breakfast Room; collectively an example of the level of attention to detail applied throughout this exceptional house.
Back through the Dining Room and exiting via the opposite corner, a small step down takes you into the Sitting Room. This is now the original 16th century part of the house and it has a wonderful, cosy, homely feel. The pretty beamed ceiling and lattice windows further complimented by the log burner and the secret snug at the far end.
Leaving by the other door, you pass a handy under-stairs cupboard followed by the bottom of the bi-directional staircase before seeing the original front door on your left. Just before the front door is another room on your right which is an ideal office or hobby room, or for those who want an extra or occasional ground-floor bedroom – you can rest assured it has performed that duty in the past, also (especially with the added practicality of the downstairs shower!).
Back in the hall, a swift left turn takes you into the large utility space. Itself a fully functional kitchen with space for a small table or a great place for taking care of washing and ironing. The two Velux windows bring in plenty of light and in the far corner is an external door which gives convenient access to log stores, bin stores and another pedestrian gate by which you can leave the cottage and pop up the road to the village.
And so to bed
From the bottom of the stairs, the staircase extends up both to the left and the right. The right flank leads you past the main Bathroom door and into the Master Bedroom – the first of the three bedrooms upstairs. A lovely sized double room with built in wardrobe and double aspect windows over-looking both the front garden and rear views.
Back on the small landing you head through the door into the well-appointed four-piece Bathroom. A large, freestanding shower with rainfall head sits in one corner, while on the other side of the room the free-standing roll-top bath nestles under the window. As with the rest of the house, the character feel is ever present here with beamed walls and ceilings, a pretty, wooden floor and a “secret” three-quarter height door on one wall leading directly into Bedroom 2.
You can of course use this door (turning this bedroom into an ensuite) or you can leave the Bathroom via the main (more conventional) door back onto the landing, turning left down the stairs before ascending the opposite flight.
On your left is the main door to Bedroom 2. Another attractive and characterful double bedroom with a built-in wardrobe and window overlooking the front garden. Back on the landing and to your left is Bedroom 3. Before you enter however, take a second to note the view from the small clock window on the landing with its unobstructed view of the church clock – a must for residents in a time before watches and clocks were common place at home. Bedroom 3 itself is a cosy, characterful room with its own WC and basin in a separate room at one end.
An outdoor oasis
The front garden is every bit the archetypal English village cottage garden. The good-sized lawn is separated only by the pretty brick-laid path accessed by a charming small gate. The far boarder of the lawn where the property adjoins the lane has a lovely selection of mature shrubs, small trees and manicured hedges and the flowerbeds themselves are bursting with colour and intrigue.
On the right-hand side of the plot, the shingle drive is flanked by brick gate pillars and a five-bar gate allows additional privacy if required. The drive is capable of accommodating three cars directly in front of the three-quarter length garage. On the opposite side of the plot to the left of the house, there is a log store and a handy bin store to ensure the beautiful aesthetic isn’t in any way marred by the practicalities of modern refuse collection! There is also a second small gate here leading you to the church gate entrance.
At the rear of the property, the low maintenance walled courtyard is a lovely place to spend time; private, secluded, quiet and as with everything here, incredibly pretty. From the flint and brick boundary wall itself, to the charming rear elevation of the property and everything in between, such as the ornamental fountain, hanging baskets, statues, water pump and landscaped planting. With French doors from both the Dining Room and the Kitchen accessing the space, the walled garden has a lovely sociable flow and is a terrific place to entertain. In one corner is the attractively implemented Garden Office with double doors looking back out to the courtyard which can be opened to connect this covered space to the outdoors.
Round and about
Waltham St Lawrence is a fantastic village full of character and in a great location for accessing things like commuter links by road or rail, as well as the charming rural qualities and curiosities that this part of Berkshire has to offer. From village pubs to village cricket, from country walks to outdoor pursuits, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. But part of living on one of the most desirable roads in the heart of a village like this is benefitting from all that brings with it. In the current owners own words, “The village has a fabulous community spirit and we have made lots of friends here.” Things like the monthly community café, church teas, carols at Christmas or the annual inter-Waltham charity cricket match are perfect examples of just how special an area this is. Living just a stone’s throw from such a fantastic local pub and such an historic church isn’t something many people are privileged enough to be able to achieve. Having stunning countryside and delightful walks on your doorstep is a real privilege. Combine that with convenient access to everything else this part of Berkshire has to offer and you start to understand why it’s not easy to ever leave!
