Country living in modern yet traditional style

The idea of a traditional country property appeals to many people – but sometimes the spiders, wee beasties, and other things that can go with a centuries old thatched property do not. But fear not all you arachnophobes and others who want country delights without the unnecessary distractions, for builders Colburn Homes are giving the chance to own just one of seven new but traditional houses being built at Rushall in the Pewsey Vale.

They are arranged around a development called The Old Dairy and as a result all seven have names rather than numbers that reflect dairying and its various facets.

Naturally, there’s The Dairy House itself at the entrance but you’ll also find Parlour House, The Creamery, with Butter Cottage next door, Churn House, and Truckle Cottage alongside The Cheese Barn. For those who are not cheese experts, a truckle is a small, barrel-shaped cheese.

Not that Truckle Cottage is itself small – in fact it has four bedrooms while The Cheese Barn alongside has three. All the other properties offer five bedrooms.

Colburn Homes has gone to great lengths to ensure The Old Dairy development blends with its surroundings, complementing the village itself. Mature Norway Maples have been retained on the site, while new planting and paving enhances the immediate environment of each house.

Rushall, while quiet, is very conveniently located. Marlborough is not far to the north, with Devizes equidistant to the west and Salisbury 14 miles to the south. Mainline trains to London can be caught in nearby Pewsey, making London less that an hour and a half from the front door of any of these properties.

But forget London or any other large centre, for that’s what you’ll want to do once you live in Rushall. The River Avon runs through the parish and then on through Upavon as it meanders down through Salisbury towards the south coast. The Kennet and Avon Canal provides boating and level walks and cycle rides along its towpaths, and the wide open spaces of Salisbury Plain, open to the public among byways for much of the time, are on top of the escarpment that can be seen from the village. The Pewsey vale itself offers myriad walks, pubs, and great riding country.

Rushall was once part of manorial estates belonging to Saxon royalty and now has a good population mix, although the village has not grown to more than 150 inhabitants. There’s a well-regarded primary school that has received very good Ofsted reports and an impressive Norman church provides a heart for the community.

The house styles provide a mix of open plan and conventional ground floor layouts and naturally there are en-suites to all master bedrooms. Some of the properties also have further en-suites to other bedrooms, adding to their convenience as both family homes and as a base for people who like entertaining guests.

Luxury fittings are to be found throughout the development, with practicalities added by features such as the Rangemaster cooker and an American-style fridge / freezer with drinks dispenser. Granite worktops and ceramic wall and floor tiles also enhance the kitchens while bathrooms have ceramic wall and floor tiles along with double-ended baths and underfloor heating.

An aerial system with cabling throughout the whole house and a combined BT and data point are concessions to modern living but the woodburning stove in the drawing room will soon bring you back to the right mood to enjoy your hideaway.

Thatched roofs are provided on The Dairy House and Churn House and all the properties feature flagstone paths and patios together with graded and turfed front and rear gardens. The five properties with tiled roofs even have water butts, which will please keen gardeners.

Prices start at £400,000 for The Cheese Barn, rising to £725,000 for Churn House.

For further information, visit dnproperty.co.uk.