The Property

The Old Vicarage is a Grade II listed Tudor Gothic former clergy house dating from around 1851 and extending to approximately 6,670 sq ft across three floors. Built in sandstone ashlar beneath a slate roof, it was designed as an architectural companion to the neighbouring Church of St James, with which it forms a listed group.

The house retains a wealth of original architectural detail, including coupled gables, mullioned and mullion and transom windows, hoodmoulds, leaded glazing, panelled joinery and an impressive dog leg staircase.

The entrance opens through an oak boarded vestibule and glazed double doors beneath a broad leaded transom into a substantial reception hall. Dentil cornicing, panelled dadoes and pointed arched openings establish the Gothic character immediately, while the staircase rises towards an impressive traceried stained glass stair window.

The formal dining room is particularly generous, with a canted bay, wainscot panelling, ceiling rose and carved timber chimneypiece supported on fluted columns. There is ample space for a large dining table as well as a grand piano.

Across the hall, the sitting room has a Carrara marble chimneypiece, mullioned and transomed window and fitted window seat. The family room offers a more informal setting, centred around a Tudor arched stone fireplace with stove and complemented by panelled shutters and windows on two aspects.

At the centre of the ground floor is a hand painted kitchen and breakfast room with in frame cabinetry, granite work surfaces and splashbacks, limestone flag flooring and a central island incorporating a raised curved breakfast bar, wine storage and basket drawers. Glazed doors and side lights connect directly with the garden terrace, while the room also links naturally with the poolside accommodation.

A dedicated study provides a substantial home working space. Alongside is a generous utility room, with the original secondary staircase rising beside it, while a cloakroom and WC serve the ground floor.

The leisure wing contains an approximately 33 ft heated indoor swimming pool with curved Roman steps, together with a sunken octagonal spa bath. Gothic inspired arched detailing continues around the pool hall, with garden windows to two sides. A sauna, shower room with WC and plant room complete the leisure facilities.

Alongside the pool is a separate family room, with a full wall of sliding glazing overlooking the water and a further opening onto a sheltered courtyard terrace. Limestone flooring continues from the kitchen, allowing the three spaces to work particularly well together.

The main staircase rises to a substantial galleried first floor landing beneath a rooflight. Pointed arched doorways, panelling, cornicing and the stained glass stair window remain important architectural features throughout this part of the house.

The principal bedroom is a generous double room with a high ceiling, deep coved cornice and extensive fitted wardrobes. French doors open onto the house’s wrought iron balcony overlooking the gardens and paddocks. Its en-suite shower room occupies the canted bay and includes mullioned windows on three sides, panelled wainscot and a walk-in rainfall shower.

The remaining first floor bedrooms are similarly generous, with high ceilings, fitted storage and mullioned windows. One has its own three piece en-suite shower room, while another is dual aspect with a fitted desk.

Two further four piece bathrooms serve this floor. One has a freestanding double ended bath and separate rainfall shower, while the other includes an inset oval bath, separate shower enclosure and twin windows.

A final staircase rises to the second floor, where a further double bedroom sits beneath the sloping roofline alongside a larger room currently used as a private sitting and media room, but equally suitable as the seventh bedroom. This floor lends itself particularly well to guests, older children or more independent family accommodation.

Externally

Wrought iron gates open onto a gravel driveway running beneath mature trees and clipped hedging. The drive divides, with one route curling towards the main house and the other continuing towards the paddocks.

The house is approached across a broad circular forecourt with established planting, topiary and a traditional lamp post. Wisteria climbs around the entrance, while the sandstone elevations, gables and clustered chimney stacks create an impressive arrival.

Between the house and garage is a charming walled courtyard laid with sandstone flags and setts. A small brick outbuilding within the courtyard carries the name The Little Vicarage.

The detached double garage is constructed in coursed sandstone to complement the main house and sits beneath a slate roof with conservation rooflights. Above is a substantial loft room extending to around 23 ft, with potential for use as a gym, studio or office. There is additional storage at ground level.

The house sits centrally within its gardens, with broad lawns extending towards mature tree lines and established specimen planting. A quarry tiled dining terrace sits within the sheltered angle formed by the house and pool wing.

Approximately one acre comprises the immediate gardens and grounds. Beyond is a paddock of approximately two acres held with the property, together with a further paddock of around two acres held under a separate lease.

The land borders open fields and the churchyard, with longer views extending towards the West Pennine moors.