Property description
How much do I love my job, no need to reply, just believe that I love it very much, especially when I get to review properties as interesting as Goldington Hall. Walking through the wrought iron gates, I must admit I felt a little overawed by the stateliness of this historic manor house. It wasn't the size of the building, in manor-house terms Goldington Hall is classed as small, it was more to do with the history and provenance of the building. The original manor was constructed around 1650, just before the end of the English Civil War and re-built by the Victorians in 1874. What events this building has survived. What changes its inhabitants have witnessed, we can only imagine. Goldington was once a village which grew up on the old 428 road between Cambridge and Bedford. Now, of course, it is fully integrated with Bedford and benefits from this greatly, but more on this later.Goldington Hall sits in the middle of its two acres of land and the drive hugs the house and gives a nice sense of balance to the property. Walking through the doorway in to the impressive hall I was struck by the warmth and homeliness of the building, which I was not expecting. Yes, there is grandeur but it most definitely is a family home, not your average one but certainly a home to be lived in and enjoyed. Immediately I was struck by the beauty of the main staircase, which has a mid-way landing with stunning tall window, partly stained glass, which looks over the back garden area. To the left of the main hall are the kitchens, yes, there are two of them. This might seem excessive but makes complete sense when you see them. The far kitchen is large enough for the family to congregate and catch up with the day. It is fully-fitted and conveniently positioned to access the outside; very useful when hauling in the groceries from the car. The main kitchen, from which the far kitchen is accessed, is a far grander room. The business area is fitted with good quality white units and a range-style cooker. There is an ever popular island which is centred at the kitchen end. The rest of the room is a fabulous dining area, with a magnificent table and chairs and room enough for the largest family. The main window, with marvellous wood panelling and shutters, looks over the front garden and drive and brings lots of light in to the room. There are so many amazing features, such as its baronial fire-place and wonderful, rich wooden floors. In fact, all the floors in the house are striking with no expense spared. Real marble is extensively used and the wooden floors are made with fine English Oak, which is lavishly used for all wood fixtures.Already the house had completely won me over and, for the first time ever, lottery tickets sprang to mind!To the right of the main hall is the lounge; a sophisticated room enhanced by the marble floor and so light and airy. There is another quite stunning fire-place and gorgeous oak panelling along the main internal wall of the downstairs living space. In fact, all the rooms and there are plenty to choose from, ooze charm and elegance but above all else, at heart, this is a home not just a house.Amongst the plethora of reception rooms there's one which is every man's dream, a snooker room, complete with a wonderfully carved Victorian snooker table and overhead lights. And that's not all; the snooker room contains a fabulous entertainment area, spacious to say the least and just crying out for a family get-together or house-party. So, if you fancy yourself as the next Ronnie O'Sullivan, you will have the perfect place to practice.There are seven bedrooms, all huge and thoughtfully renovated, and no less than six state-of-the-art bathrooms, which in themselves are larger than the average double bedroom and all have the luxury of underfloor heating and heated mirrors. The rooms are quirky and some inter-connect, which is great where there are young children present. All is of the highest quality, from the awesome windows, to the ceilings and floors and everything in between. There are even 'servant's quarters', which comprises of a rather comfortable apartment within the main house and would be perfect for guests or teenagers, or perhaps the au pair. Speaking of which, this home is very child friendly, with a very safe, enclosed garden, which is not overlooked and, due to the clever lay out of the rooms, you're never really out of earshot, which is a real asset for a growing family. There's masses of storage too and space aplenty to suit all your needs. Goldington Hall really does offer the best of both worlds; it pays all due respect to the past but embraces the present. For all its wonderful features (and there are far more than I have space to describe) it has a very contemporary finish. The rooms flow beautifully which provides an open and airy atmosphere, with no hint of stuffiness. Anyone running their business from home would be thrilled with the room currently used as an office which is, quite frankly, magnificent, with its imposing inglenook fire-place. The family now living in Goldington Hall are not so much the owners but rather the guardians of the property. They are part of a charitable cause and have devoted several years in returning this outstanding building back to its former glory. By using the finest of materials they have paid homage to a bygone age and yet have managed to thoughtfully assimilate the house stylishly in to the 21st century. And now the family is ready to move on and work towards bringing another heritage home back to life. As mentioned earlier, this marvellous chunk of history, sits firmly in the town of Bedford, opposite the ancient Goldington Green. And it is worth mentioning what an advantage this is. Bedford is a thriving town, with good shopping opportunities and its fair share of independent shops too. For those who enjoy the sporting life living in Bedford has many advantages; there is a good leisure centre nearby. The local rugby club has an excellent reputation as does the renowned rowing club. There's a great swimming complex and if athletics is your passion then you will already be aware of Bedford's facilities. Oh, and I must not forget that the local golf course is just five minutes away. All of these activities are within minutes of Goldington Hall.For those who need to commute daily; the train station takes seven minutes to get to from front door to train door. The A1 and M1 are nearby and, quite frankly, travelling north, south, east or west is a doddle. Children are equally well catered for with classes ranging from ballet to drama and sports within easy reach. The local state schools are high achieving and there are several private or independent schools with extremely good reputations, including Bedford Girls School and Bedford School for Boys.If you are in the position of being able to consider Goldington Hall as a future home then please go and see for yourself. I am confident you will love the house as much as I did. You can have a place in history whilst preserving something precious for the future.
Property Features :
- LONDON ST PANCRAS 38 MINUTES BY TRAIN
- NEAR HIGH ACHIEVING PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS
- OVER 10,000 SQ FT OF ACCOMODATION
- MANY HISTORICAL FEATURES DATING BACK TO 1650
- SITS ON 1 HECTARE