Property Details: - Type: Detached house - Bedrooms: 4 - Bathrooms: 2

Agent: Savills - Stamford Phone: 01780 673963

A fabulous school conversion in a beautiful conservation village setting, combining versatile and spacious accommodation, character and outbuildings, within the most beautiful gardens.<br/><br/> <b>Description</b><br/><br/>A superb contemporary conversion of a stone under pantile former schoolhouse, beautifully positioned within landscaped gardens on the edge of a conservation village.<br/><br/>Dating from circa 1720 and associated with Sir John Vanbrugh, architect of Castle Howard and Blenheim Palace, The Old School Yard has evolved through sympathetic adaptations, including alterations around 1800 and again in 1985 when it became a private residence. The result is a home of exceptional character, offering light filled, atmospheric interiors, generous volumes and attractive architectural detail throughout.<br/><br/>Approached via a private driveway, the property sits within gardens of approximately 0.61 acres and enjoys open rural views.<br/><br/>Accommodation<br/>The house extends to just over 3,000 sq ft across two floors and features an unconventional layout that allows garden access from both levels. Oversized garaging, workshop spaces and studio areas provide excellent versatility for creative use, entertaining or a home working environment.<br/><br/>An arched front door leads into a lobby with cloakroom/WC, opening to the kitchen and dining hallway. The quarry tiled kitchen/breakfast room includes fitted cabinetry incorporating an electric hob and double oven, along with space for informal dining.<br/><br/>The impressive 24 ft dining hallway features oak flooring, exposed stonework and a substantial stone fireplace housing a contemporary Scandinavian wood burner. Large windows provide views across the gardens and create a superb setting for both dining and seating.<br/><br/>Oak flooring continues into the adjoining dual aspect sitting room, a generous and visually striking space with an arched inglenook, reading niches and an adjacent home office.<br/><br/>A staircase rises to the first floor, overlooking the formal gardens. Here, a vaulted triple aspect drawing room, currently arranged as an artist’s studio, enjoys morning and afternoon light and opens directly to the elevated rear gardens through French doors and a small drawbridge.<br/><br/>A second study sits alongside, while a landing corridor leads to the four bedrooms, each with distinctive character. The vaulted, dual aspect principal bedroom features exposed stonework and split level windows, together with a full en suite bathroom including separate shower. Bedrooms two and three are doubles; bedroom four is currently used as a dressing room. Bedroom three also benefits from a mezzanine, ideal for study or play. A full family bathroom serves these rooms.<br/><br/>Outside<br/>The gardens have been thoughtfully designed and carefully maintained by the current owners. The former school playground now forms a low maintenance front garden with established beds and shaped trees offering dappled shade.<br/><br/>To the south, terraces lead up a gentle bank to the elevated formal gardens, positioned to the east of the house with a southerly aspect. These gardens are arranged with topiary, roses, yew avenues and richly stocked borders, planned to create sightlines between garden areas and to offer seasonal interest, birdlife and fragrance. In total, the grounds extend to about 0.61 acres.<br/><br/>The private driveway leads to an oversized garage measuring approximately 27 ft by 15 ft with an adjoining workshop, together providing covered parking for multiple vehicles. Additional parking is available within the former schoolyard, which benefits from in and out vehicular access.<br/><br/>The property occupies an appealing position on the edge of the village, offering a tranquil setting with excellent access to local footpaths and rural walks, to which Grimsthorpe Castle (), is a favoured destination of the current owners.<br/><br/><b>Location</b><br/><br/>The attractive conservation village of Swinstead is positioned amongst rolling farmland, on the edge of the Grimsthorpe Castle Estate (), between the market towns of Stamford (10 miles) and Bourne (6 miles), with the parish church of St Mary’s at its core and lovely rural walks linking to neighbouring villages for weekend walks and pub lunches. <br/><br/>The larger village of Corby Glen, with mini-market shops, primary school, public houses and doctor’s surgery is 2 miles to north, whilst Swinstead is well placed for a choice of state and independent schooling. It lies in the catchment for Bourne’s well thought of state Academy and Grammar Schools, whilst for independent education, Witham Hall School (5 miles) and Copthill (11 miles) preparatory schools, as is Stamford’s renowned schooling (10 miles) are all close at hand, with Oakham and Uppingham and Oundle further afield. <br/><br/>The market town of Grantham, which also has sought after Grammar schooling and East Coast Mainline commuter rail links to London Kings Cross (from 59 mins), is 11 miles.<br/><br/>Square Footage: 3,087 sq ft<br/> <br/> <br/>Acreage: 0.61 Acres <br/><br/><b>Additional Info</b><br/><br/>Services: Mains water, electricity & drainage. Oil fired central heating. Super-fast broadband is available in the village. <br/><br/>The property is grade II listed and within a Conservation Area.<br/><br/>Fixtures & Fittings: Only those mentioned in these sales particulars are included in the sale. All others, such as curtains, light fitting and garden ornaments are specifically excluded but may be available by separate negotiation. <br/><br/>What Three Words: //<a target="_blank" href="https://what3words.com/even.resources.jugs">even.resources.jugs</a>