Grange Way, Willington, MK44

A converted mill with heaps of character, cool, contemporary interiors, and refurbished to high standards, situated in a cul de sac community in the well-connected village of Willington.

A brief history of the Grade II-listed building begins in the 1890s, when the property was a Victorian steam-powered flour mill. Workings can still be seen, as can the hatch that sacks would pass down through and pulleys that would bring them up. There are exposed beams and bricks, arched and stained-glass windows, and the kitchen floor shows markings where machinery once stood. The building sat empty from the 1960s to the 1980s, before becoming a furniture shop for a short while. The site was then developed into Grange Way, and the mill became two semi-detached homes.

The current owners moved in nine years ago, embarking on a project to revitalise the residence. They’ve since installed a new heating system (with Hive controls), a new boiler and a new fuse board, as well as replaced pipework, much of the flooring and most of the windows—some as recently as this year. They rebuilt the snug at the back of the house, refitted the kitchen and bathrooms, and reconfigured the hall and refurbished the entry doors for improved energy efficiency. They’ve retained quirks, not removed them, tailored the style to the structure, and there are sympathetic touches like dolly switches and period features.

One of the owners’ favourite things about the property is its level of natural light. Sun streams in, and super-high ceilings make the accommodation airy (the top-floor ceilings reach 5.2m high!). Skylights are remote-controlled, on rain sensors, and have thermal and solar blackout shutters.

They also love how sociable the living spaces are. The downstairs is ideal for entertaining, with a spacious kitchen, a central island guests gravitate to, a banquette area for eating, and a separate lounge for overspill, with a modern log burner for warmth on winter nights. There’s fantastic flow from front to back and out into the garden for summer soirees.

For dinner parties and family meals alike, the kitchen caters, with bespoke cabinetry, wood surfacing, a ceramic Belfast sink, and space for a gas range cooker, an American fridge/freezer and a dishwasher. There’s utility storage by the side door for further appliances.

The upstairs accommodation is amazing too, with a continuation of stylish presentation and quality materials. The first floor has two double bedrooms, and a single bedroom used as an office. These share the bathroom, which is painted in Farrow & Ball, and fitted in a stunning Heritage suite with a clawfoot rolltop bath with a waterfall shower. Private to the top floor is the bright and beautiful primary suite, consisting of a big bedroom, an en suite shower room and dual dressing areas.

Moving from a Victorian terrace and a newbuild, this property provided the owners with the space and character they wanted and the parking they needed. There’s a two-car driveway, in front of the double garage, which has electrics so it can be used as a workshop as well as for parking.

The outside space here is superb. The deep frontage has vibrant flower beds and fragrant lavender and rosemary bushes, while the rear garden is low maintenance, with a large patio, and a neat lawn with a tall, protected pine. Facing southwest, the garden gets lots of sun, the last of it landing on the patio. Fencing to the sides is high for privacy, and low across the back to ensure the setting and sunsets can be appreciated.

The home’s location in Willington offered the owners benefits above and beyond what they had in town. Alongside easy access into London from nearby rail stations, and local and national connection via major roads, there were advantages to living in a village, such as views of horses and the Sheerhatch ridge, fields beyond the garden, and countryside on the doorstep.

It’s not only the house that has history. Willington is mentioned in the Domesday Book, has many medieval sites, and Viking ships are said to have sailed here. Nowadays, there’s a Frosts Garden Centre, both a farm shop and a local shop, The Crown pub, and the Danish Camp for food, drink, riverside walks and regular events. There’s schooling in Willington, with further in Bedford, including the Harpur Trust.

If the owners could take any aspect of Willington with them on their next chapter, it’d be the friendly, helpful and caring community, and 20 Grange Way is right in the heart of it.