Carlton Road, Turvey, MK43

Cute, quaint and full of character, this home is everything a cottage should be, in a location that offers a real sense of rural life and community spirit.

Central to the village, the property is next to one of two general stores, a stone’s throw from the church and the primary school, and mere paces from one of two pubs. Turvey has events such as the popular steam fayre, outdoor film screenings, regular plays, vintage craft markets, Christmas carols and summer picnics, held by the church, the village hall and Turvey House.

The owners have appreciated the endless country walks, with their favourite along the old railway line at Station End, referred to as the ‘safari walk’ as it passes deer, buffalo and longhorn cows. For walks, runs and dogwalks, there are paths around the lakes at Harrold Odell Country Park.

From Turvey, there’s easy access across the county and the country. Set between Bedford, Northampton and Milton Keynes, there are road networks such as the A428 and the M1, and commuting is most convenient from Bedford. For the owners, when travelling back from work in London, the feeling of calm gets stronger the closer to Turvey they get. For shopping, the house is half an hour to Rushden Lakes for big brands, minutes from Olney for boutiques and independent businesses, and Emmaus in neighbouring Carlton is ideal for a browse and a bite to eat.

It’s not just the location that’s charming. The stone-built house is brimming with exposed beams, quirky alcoves and interesting details. Built in the 1600s and thought to have been barns, there are original features to be found. Being Grade II listed, the footprint can’t be increased, and the windows must stay single glazed, with frames the right shade (these have been recently repainted).

For a period cottage, the accommodation has surprising space. Upstairs are two double bedrooms, the main with a built-in wardrobe, and the second with a pretty fireplace and a wall of beautiful beams. Both look out to the Rectory and the village green. The bathroom is bright and modern, with a wc, sink, and a bath with side-mounted taps and controls, a rainhead and a separate handheld shower attachment. On the landing, there’s a hatch to the loft, and an airing cupboard with the boiler (fitted under five years ago, and serviced every year since).

Downstairs are two reception rooms. The larger is used as the lounge, with space for a comfy sofa, a coffee table, as well as a dining table and chairs. There’s a deep window sill at the front for displaying items, and a secondary window to the hallway at the back for bringing more light.

The other reception room is currently a generous office, with the inglenook cleverly used as a workspace. The front door opens from the pavement into here, and there’s ample entrance space for guests. We think this room would work well as a dining room to seat more people if needed.

To the back of the accommodation via the hallway is the kitchen. There are Shaker-style units, laminate worktops, and a shelf over the window for extra storage. There’s also a sink and drainer, an oven, hob and extractor, and an undercounter fridge. The outbuilding provides power for a freezer and a washing machine, and heaps of storage for stockpiling. There’s potential to use as a dedicated and secluded office, with insulation installed, and superfast fibre broadband available.

There’s no private parking at the property, only on the streets surrounding it, but bikes can be stored in the outbuilding with ease. A shared passageway leads from the road, and a shared pathway runs through the gardens from the shop, allowing for bin collections.

On warmer days, the garden acts as an additional room. There’s a lawn, a patio area, and possibility for lots of planting. The owners often host barbeques for family and friends, and they also watch films outside, fairylights twinkling in the trees, blankets for when the sun goes in. There’s a calm, cosy life on offer here at Carlton Road.