Steeped in history, filled with charm

Imagine a Grade II listed thatched property so steeped in history that you can almost hear the clickety clack of Roundhead’s horses as they pass the garden wall. Situated within the conservation area of the historic village Drayton Parslow, the aptly named Cobblestones is an unusually spacious 17th Century period house where Oliver Cromwell himself is rumoured to have once spent the night.

One of the oldest buildings in the village, this beautiful home exudes character at every angle – from the latch doors, and beautifully carved joinery to the beamed and vaulted ceiling with stained glass window. Indeed the property has even appeared in magazines such as ‘Period House’ and ‘Thatched Living’ as a prime example of the genre. Lovingly preserved and sensitively updated, it is now being brought to the market by Christopher Pallet priced at £820,000.

Cobblestones provides not only unparalleled character, but also an outstanding quality of accommodation. The main reception room with its impressive beamed ceiling, hardwood floor and Inglenook spans 27’. At 16’ x 14’ the dining room provides an appealing venue for entertaining, while the adjoining kitchen/breakfast room is fully equipped for the serious cook with beech units, dishwasher and five-burner cooking range. There is also a utility with Belfast sink and off the inner hall, a shower room, cloakroom and study with ample storage space.

A charming addition to the property is the orangerie, a bespoke design with Italian marble floor. Its glass doors open onto the secluded rear garden brimming with flowers and shrubs, and dotted with seating for socialising or private contemplation as required.

Period properties invariably have nooks and crannies, twists and turns that render them irresistably unique; Cobblestones is no exception with its rear and inner halls and three staircases to the upper floor – a throwback to the 1650s when the property was actually three separate cottages built to house the craftsmen who came to restore the village church. One staircase leads directly to the stunning 27’ master bedroom with its superb ceiling beams and gable end wall bearing a specially created Coat of Arms. There are three further bedrooms upstairs, one featuring a vaulted ceiling.

Drayton Parslow stands on a ridge overlooking the Ouzel Valley, which with its many cottages, church and quaint old Horseshoes Inn, provides a delightful setting. The neighbouring village of Stewkley caters for day-to-day shopping needs, while four or five miles away, the towns of Bletchely and Milton Keynes provide a train service to Euston in under half an hour. The area is well served with schools, including a primary school within Drayton Parslow, and additionally offers a wide range of leisure and entertainment facilities.

For more information, visit christopherpallet.com.