Property in the Cotswolds: Thatched Cottages
Date : 24 January 2012
It is no surprise that thatched houses and cottages are popular. They are seen to be quintessentially English and house hunters who are looking for the ideal bolt hole or who want to relocate from towns and cities often covet these manifestations of the English country dream.
Thatching is the oldest roofing material in Britain; archaeologists have found evidence of straw roofs dating back as far as 500 BC. Buyers may sometimes assume that thatch means constant maintenance. However, this is a misconception and as Rupert Wakley, partner and office head at Knight Frank’s Stratford upon Avon office points out, this is “highly dependent on the quality of the thatching”.
“The most important part of the roof is the ridge, which needs to be checked every four to five years. If it needs replacing, the costs are not high and a well thatched roof can have a life expectancy of thirty years or more”.
While thatched properties in the Cotswolds deter some people, they attract others in droves, because of their undeniable character and special beauty. “Indeed, many people are attracted to them because of their tradition and history and their iconic status in the English rural landscape,” Wakley concludes.
Knight Frank is currently marketing Thatch Cottage in the picturesque Cotswolds borders village of Stretton on Fosse. This beautifully restored 16th century Cotswold stone cottage is Grade II listed and retains many of the original features including open fires and exposed beams, which have been complemented by the recent additions of oak doors and quality fittings.
Accommodation on the ground floor includes a drawing room with open fire; dual aspect dining room; kitchen and separate utility. Upstairs there are two bedrooms, the master with a beautiful vaulted ceiling; and a family bathroom. In addition to the main house there is a useful guest annexe comprising a large guest bedroom with en suite shower room
The attractive garden, which surrounds the cottage, is mainly laid to lawn with views towards the church and open countryside beyond. There is a substantial parking area and a double garage with store room to the side, which could be converted to additional accommodation subject to the necessary consents.
Thatch Cottage is being marketed with a guide price of £499,000.
Field Farm House is a quintessentially English thatched house located within Ipsley village on the outskirts of Redditch. This beautifully timber framed property dates from the late 1600s and has a pitch thatched roof with new thatched ridge, which has been recently added to the property.
There is a spacious reception hall with exposed timbers and oak staircase; garden room with full height windows; drawing/dining room with inglnook fireplace; well-proportioned sitting room with triple aspect and kitchen/breakfast room.
A ground floor extension in 2005 added a luxury cloakroom; utility/secondary kitchen and Finnish sauna and shower complex. Upstairs there is a master bedroom with en suite shower room; three further bedrooms and a family bathroom.
Outside, the property in the Cotswolds is surrounded by splendid gardens with manicured lawns, shrubbery borders and mature trees. The house is set behind cast iron gates with a brick pavioured driveway and double garage.
Field Farm House is being marketed with a guide price of £795,000.
Thatched properties are not only picturesque, but also make a good investment. They have a wide appeal, are very easy to let out as holiday homes for example, usually attracting a premium of 10-20%.
For further information, please contact:
Rupert Wakley, partner, Knight Frank, 01789 297735, rupert.wakley@knightfrank.com
Jo Holdback, marketing, Knight Frank, 01789 297735, joanna.holdback@knightfrank.com
Notes to Editors
Knight Frank LLP is the leading independent global property consultancy. Headquartered in London, Knight Frank and its New York-based global partner, Newmark Knight Frank, operate from 242 offices, in 43 countries, across six continents. More than 7,067 professionals handle in excess of US$817 billion (£498 billion) worth of commercial, agricultural and residential real estate annually, advising clients ranging from individual owners and buyers to major developers, investors and corporate tenants. For further information about the Company, please visit www.knightfrank.com.
No: 306806