‘This really is a magnificent country house and was largely rebuilt by the present owners approximately 12 years ago to create stylish and spacious accommodation with a hint of earlier times and a feeling of grandeur. The house has been carefully designed for both the needs of family life and entertaining with a leisure complex that includes a state of the art cinema system, excellent audio system with ceiling speakers in the principle reception rooms and a fantastic indoor swimming pool complex, games room and fully equipped bar. The accommodation is arranged primarily over 2 floors and has a number of excellent features including a grand reception hall with a superb turning mahogany staircase, glazed roof dome, generously proportioned rooms, high ceilings, decorative cornicing and deep sash windows. On the first floor, the exceptional landing is a key feature. The master bedroom suite is magnificent, extremely spacious and is made up of 5 separate areas with a balcony from the bedroom area providing outstanding views of the open countryside. There is also a large dressing room, stunning bathroom with raised bath, a gymnasium and an office/games room which is accessed by a spiral staircase to the second floor… there are 5 further bedroom suites all with bath/shower rooms. There is substantial secondary accommodation situated above the garage complex, with an open plan kitchen/dining/sitting room and a bedroom and bathroom. The principal property is set well in its grounds in an elevated position and with 2 paddocks and 2 stables is well set up for equestrian activities. The views across the open counryside are excellent and the superbly equipped Elsenham Stud may be seen to the west…’

(Source: rightmove.co.uk)

‘Taking in the impressive panoramic views of the Nene Valley from Millane House, it’s clear why the original owner chose this spot to build his home. It’s a property which when completed in 1961 was intended to be a show piece, and a place where the potential to entertain was unlimited. For the past 29 years though, this substantial house with mullioned windows has been an exceptional family home for the current owners. It is set within two acres of secluded grounds, overlooking the beautiful Nene valley.
“It was my wife who was the first to visit this house when it came up for sale,” explains the owner. “We had waited a long time for a property to become available in the area. The site is elevated being at the top of Love Hill which is thought to have once been the site of a Roman villa. We were both struck by its stunning position in such a tranquil location a few minutes’ walk from the centre of Castor. This picturesque village contains an abundance of old stone built thatched properties and was once an important roman settlement. The fine Norman church is believed to be the only one dedicated to St Kyneburgha and is included in ‘England’s Thousand Best Churches’ written by Simon Jenkins. We’re also only five miles west of Peterborough, where I worked at the time, and from where there are regular fast trains to London.”
From every room in the house there are spectacular views of the valley where you can also see steam trains running on the Nene Valley Railway in the distance. The railway is the home of ‘Thomas’ characterised in print by the author Rev W Awdry in his ‘Thomas the Tank Engine’ books. The line has also been the location used in a number of films including James Bond and Poirot and during the filming the owners have had a ‘front row seat’ seeing the stunt action underway!
“The very occasional stunts and filming aside, it’s an idyllic spot,” emphasises the owner. “The house is very bright with large windows. The rooms get the sun rising in the morning, the garden is bathed in sunshine all day and we have some of the most glorious sunsets imaginable. Millane House has made a fabulous family home. It’s where the children have grown up and we’ve had some wonderful times. The kitchen is where we naturally gravitate - it’s warm with an Aga and room for us all to sit down for a meal with French doors onto the terrace. On the other hand it’s a property perfect for entertaining. You can greet people in the front hall and the rooms then just flow - the lounge, hall and dining room which leads out onto the terrace where you can fully appreciate the stunning views. Our daughter’s wedding reception was held here with a marquee on the lawn but it’s at Christmas time when the house really comes alive.”
Upstairs, there are five spacious well proportioned bedrooms. “We also have some excellent views from all the rooms especially the master bedroom,” adds the owner. “This has three aspects and from here we can see five church spires and have views over the village.”
The grounds at the house are beautifully maintained and the establishment of the formal gardens have represented something of a passion for the current owners over the years. They inherited grounds with a parkland style and gradually over time have introduced more formal elements including a rose garden and striking borders. “We have created an indoor swimming pool pavilion complete with a changing room and gym, but the greatest satisfaction we get is from sitting out under the umbrella on the terrace and enjoying the garden and the expansive views beyond.”
In the grounds there is also a one bedroom cottage which is used for guests and a tennis court.
The house, which although secluded is not isolated, is in a conservation area a short walk from the centre of the village. There is a general stores and newsagents, a pharmacy, florist, two olde worlde public houses and a well regarded family owned restaurant Fratellis. “We have loved the overall position of Millane House as there are excellent transport links,” says the owner. “There are wonderful walks on our doorstep through Ferry Meadows which is part of Nene Park and the Castor Hanglands Nature Conservancy is also somewhere to enjoy a pleasant walk. There are good sporting and recreational facilities in the area including two 18-hole golf courses at Peterborough Milton and Thorpe Wood nearby and the Nene Country Park affords leisure pursuits such as yachting, cycling and fishing. We’re a short drive from the A1 and A47. Trains from Peterborough main- line station take approximately 45 minutes to reach London Kings Cross and we feel this location is going to be hard to match. We have felt privileged to enjoy such views living here and have relished the privacy and accessibility so much but it’s probably now time for another family to experience what we have.”’

(Source: rightmove.co.uk)

‘A detached beautifully proportioned Grade II listed residence, which could now benefit from some upgrading, is arranged over four floors. The property is ideally situated in the heart of the Royal Spa Town of Leamington Spa, within walking distance of the Parade, excellent shops and restaurants. The property retains all of its wonderful period features which include tall sash windows, high corniced ceilings, deep skirting’s and architraves, original staircase, doors and ceiling friezes. The accommodation includes reception hall, drawing room, dining room, sitting room, kitchen/breakfast room, utility room & guest bathroom. 4 double first floor bedrooms (1 with en-suite), family bathroom and separate wc, 3 second floor bedrooms, bathroom, unfinished basement accommodation with potential for conversion, attractive mature gardens and a share of the Dell (0.75 acre).’

(Source: rightmove.co.uk)

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(via Julia Green)

Bedroom Dressed in Pastel Colors to Promote Relaxation and Serenity - Dobel on We Heart It. http://weheartit.com/entry/37759776

British Fashion on We Heart It. http://weheartit.com/entry/36455051

Not sure what I want more, the dog or the bedroom!

Pastel Pink | Me Design Magazine on We Heart It. http://weheartit.com/entry/37484218

Home-Dzine - A home decorated in pastel shades on We Heart It. http://weheartit.com/entry/37484508

‘Loddington Manor as it was called until the
nineteenth century is recorded in 1475. At the
dissolution of the Monasteries it became the
property of Oliver Cromwell who subsequently gave
the Manor and estate to his son. Cromwell’s son
swapped the property for lands elsewhere. The new owner John Pretyman sold the estate in 1670 to Captain Robert Morris of London. The Hall remained in the Morris family until Charles Henry Morris sold the estate in the mid twentieth century to Lord Morton as a hunting box.

In Nikolaus Pevsner’s ‘The Buildings of England -
Leicestershire and Rutland’ he mentions the pair of
fine stone fireplaces in the large drawing room. The Hall is listed Grade II*, and the Stable Block listed Grade II, as are the two pairs of stone gate piers and walls.

At the beginning of the 1930’s Lord Allerton and
the second Lady Allerton, had the hall extensively
remodelled by the architect Charles Mordaunt.
Loddington Hall was requisitioned as a billet for
paratroopers before the ‘D day’ landings, and then
became home to the evacuated Cone Ripman
Dance School. The house was subsequently
abandoned and left in a derelict state until the
present owners bought it from the third Lady
Allerton in 1984. Following extensive renovation, the hall has been their family home to the present day.’

(Source: rightmove.co.uk)