It’s presented for sale with an adjoining ultra-luxe property, the recently revamped three-bedroom 'Big Little Shack', perfect for a home office, guest accommodation, granny/nanny annexe or an income-producing holiday let. In addition, there is planning permission to create more space with a triple garage with annexe above.
We’ll start with Honeysuckle Lodge, built in the 1850s and formerly the gatehouse to the Rothschild dynasty’s impressive Mentmore Towers – described as one of the finest houses of the Victorian era. Sequestered in the hamlet of Crafton, amidst the rolling Buckinghamshire countryside at the foot of the Chiltern Hills, the handsome half-timbered lodge offers country living at its finest, yet it’s not remote – there’s a pub within walking distance at Mentmore, a mainline station, primary school, shop and two pubs in Cheddington (three miles), and bigger places such as Tring, Leighton Buzzard and Aylesbury are within a short drive.
You know you’re in for a treat as soon as you set eyes on this fine house with its Victorian stained glass entrance and elegant double-height window giving an electrifying glimpse of the uber-modern interior across two storeys – it’s a carefully curated merger of traditional and new that works in perfect harmony.
The majority of the 2,983 sq ft of accommodation is at ground level, encompassing a sensational 29x22ft open-plan kitchen/family room, equally spacious living room and conservatory, and four double bedrooms – two of them en-suite – plus a family bathroom. Upstairs, a luxurious principal bedroom suite enjoys panoramic views of the countryside.
Honeysuckle Lodge has considerable appeal to a variety of buyers from families to downsizers. It makes a fabulous turnkey escape from the city hustle-bustle or, alternatively, it’s ideal as an AirBnB-style letting - beautifully presented and ready to go.
The Big Little Shack is a designer-led timber-clad house with a wonderfully light and airy 30ft open-plan kitchen/diner and living room, three lovely bedrooms – one on the ground floor and two upstairs - and two lush bathrooms. Its landscaped walled garden even has a little putting green! Both properties have oil-fired central heating.
Let’s fill you in on all the finer details . . .
A luxe home that has it all . . .
Electrically-operated wrought iron gates swing open onto the gravelled drive of Honeysuckle Lodge where there’s parking for multiple cars in front of the house.
Step through the beautiful stained glass front door for a first glimpse of this light and spacious country home. The pale grey décor, oak flooring and deep carpets in the sitting room create a luxurious, neutral backdrop and relaxing ambience.
The chic white staircase rises from the entrance hall to the first floor. To the left is the 27x14ft sitting room, a gorgeous light-filled oasis with windows at both ends plus a French door to the side which opens onto a patio and the huge expanse of manicured lawn. The focus of this impressive high-ceilinged room is the heritage ornate white marble fireplace, now fitted with a woodburner, and this room is the favourite of the current owners who adore the “cosy, relaxed ambience”.
Next to the living room is a big, 20x12ft Victorian-style conservatory with stained glass feature windows and French doors to the garden – it’s the perfect spot for relaxing or summertime entertaining.
On the other side of the entrance hall, double doors open into the fabulous kitchen/family room. You can really appreciate the harmonious merger of the historic lodge and the ultra-cool trappings of modern life in this characterful space, dominated by the double-height original leaded window which rises to the first-floor landing.
If you love cooking, this carefully conceived kitchen is a dream. The elegant grey units are bespoke and have white quartz worktops. Meals are prepared is done on the range cooker with induction hob, plus there’s an integral fridge/freezer, dishwasher and microwave. In the centre is a chic table-style breakfast bar with space for up to six high stools – perfect for informal meals or for children to do their homework. An adjoining utility room contains the laundry appliances, and there’s a door to the garden.
The family area flows seamlessly from the kitchen, offering total flexibility of use. It can be furnished with squashy sofas for family time together, or could become a formal dining area for elegant entertaining.
Sweet dreams
The spacious 21x14ft principal bedroom enjoys those fabulous views too. It has a designer en-suite bathroom with a freestanding tub and twin washbasins. There’s a spacious walk-in wardrobe leading off the bathroom.
Climb the stairs to the landing where there’s an idyllic cosy nook overlooking the family area below with panoramic views across the open countryside. It’s the perfect place for placing a couple of comfy chairs to relax with a book and a coffee.
A couple of steps lead to the four ground-floor bedrooms, offering excellent future-proofed living. They are all good-sized doubles and two have en-suite shower-rooms. There’s also a family bathroom. All the bathrooms at Honeysuckle Lodge were refitted three years ago, so they’re state of the art.
Garden delights
Across the lawn, a fantastic detached and vaulted games room with bar (the ‘Easy Tiger’) is a real bonus and perfect for a young family or holiday rentals – measuring 22x17ft, it is currently set up with a pool table, darts mat and a bar with seating.
There’s a paved patio next to the living room and conservatory and another larger terrace to the rear of the house with ornamental features and an avenue of flower-draped arbours. Enclosed by walls and fencing, the gardens enjoy inspirational countryside views all-year-round.
The large garden at Honeysuckle Lodge features a substantial expanse of manicured lawn with ornamental borders and a variety of mature trees. There’s loads of space for children to run and kick a ball or for installation of play equipment. Keen gardeners could cultivate a vegetable garden.
The Big Little Shack
Landscaped and manageable, The Big Little Shack has a private, fully enclosed garden with a number of patio areas to make the most of the sunshine throughout the day, and there’s even a cute putting green. There’s off-road parking for three cars.
A funky open-step timber and steel staircase rises to the first floor and the vaulted and beamed landing with glass banister. Up here are two gloriously light and airy bedrooms which share a lovely modern shower room.
Perfect for future-proofed living, there’s a double bedroom on the ground floor with en-suite shower room with state of the art fittings including twin washbasins. If not required as a bedroom it would also make a great office or snug.
Sleek white kitchen units reflect the pared-back style and include integral oven and hob, fridge/freezer, dishwasher and washer/dryer. It’s all enhanced by designer crescent wall tiles and slate grey chevron flooring, which extends throughout the house.
The open-plan kitchen/diner and living room are flooded with natural light via a wall of bifold doors and an enormous single-pane window, creating a calm and convivial vibe.
Recently converted, The Big Little Shack is an immaculate 1,206 sq ft country home featuring the latest fixtures and fittings in an ultra-cool setting.
Round and about
If you fancy a stroll before lunch or dinner, The Stag pub at Mentmore is at the end of a pleasant 25-minute walk - it’s a real community-led hostelry offering well-kept ales and reasonably priced food. There’s a choice of two excellent foodie pubs in Cheddington too – the 17th-century thatched Old Swan and the family-friendly Three Horseshoes.
Delightful walking, cycling and riding is a given in this pretty rural location, and there’s a great choice of routes including a bridlepath round Mentmore Towers. Or maybe stroll another mile or so to Bridego Bridge – scene of 1963’s Great Train Robbery!
The nearest primary schools are Cheddington Combined and Wingrave CE Combined Schools, while there’s a choice of three secondaries, all Ofsted-rated good, in Leighton Buzzard. Private schools in the vicinity include Swanbourne House, Berkhamsted, Egerton-Rothesay and Stowe schools.
Peacefully secluded in the hamlet of Crafton, Honeysuckle Lodge and The Little Big Shack enjoy close proximity to the sought-after village of Cheddington where grocery essentials can be picked up from Mason’s General Store. Supermarkets, a choice of high street shopping and leisure options are found within a short drive at Leighton Buzzard (five miles) Aylesbury and Tring (both eight miles).
You are well connected with a mainline train station at Cheddington linking to London Euston in just 30 minutes. The A41 is within a short drive and provides a direct link to the M25 while the M1 takes you to Luton airport in half an hour.
Leisure pursuits are numerous in these parts. Cultural must-sees include Bletchley Park, home of the WWII code-breakers, and the National Trust’s Ascott House. Children will love visiting the animals at Whipsnade Zoo or playing on Dunstable Downs. Another treat for the grown-ups is the world-famous Champneys Spa at Tring.
The Finer Details:
Square footage: Main House: 2,983 square feet | 277 square metres
Games Room: 379 square feet | 25 square metres
Big Little Shack: 1206 square feet | 112 square metres
Council tax band: G
Local Authority: Aylesbury Vale | www.aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk
Central Heating: Oil-fired
EPC: D
Distances:
Central London: 44.5 miles
Leighton Buzzard: 8.2 miles
Aylesbury: 8.4 miles
Heathrow Airport: 39 miles
Trains to London Euston: 31 minutes
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