Property description

This charming Grade II period property was built in 1909 originally as a gentleman's residence subsequently forming part of Priory College school until being converted back into a splendid private residence set in around one acre of secluded mature grounds. The house has a handsome façade with shaded front verandah, whilst inside it retains much of its historic character with original features such as sash windows, handsome open fireplaces, cornicing, parquet floors and a magnificent oak staircase. More recent extensions to the rear of the house have added a stunning Kitchen & Breakfast Room with doors out to a sunny terrace and a Games Room Annexe opening out to the swimming pool set in a sheltered courtyard. Further recent updates such as an excellently fitted Kitchen, and stylish bath and shower rooms give the house a contemporary edge, and it now mixes Edwardian elegance with modern living spaces well-suited to every-day family life. The extensive accommodation offers a wealth of opportunities to suit many individual requirements; as well as the existing self-contained one bedroom Annexe there is further potential to create a separate Living space within the house itself. Surrounded by well-maintained, attractive gardens and immaculately presented throughout, Drift House is a charming, welcoming and unique home in an excellent location.

Approach
From the road electric gates open into a wide driveway which runs past the front lawns to paved parking to the side of the Front Door and Garage. The drive continues to the back and second Garage.

Hall
The impressive front door opens into an ante-Hall with tiled floor and a decorative glass door through to the main Hall which has high ceilings with elaborate cornicing, half-paneled walls, parquet floor and the magnificent original staircase leading to the first floor. The Hall runs through to the back of the house and back stairs and the principal reception rooms lead off on each side.

Cloakroom
With basin and WC.

Drawing Room - 19' 0'' x 17' 11'' (5.79m x 5.46m)
This impressive room is full of period style typical of the era with many original features such as the sash bay window, French doors out to the front verandah and splendid fireplace with carved surround and an open grate. Fitted display and book shelving are thought to be original.

Dining Room - 19' 11'' x 14' 3'' (6.07m x 4.34m)
An elegantly proportioned room that is ideal for entertaining with many windows overlooking the garden and filling the room with light, as well as French doors extending the space to the verandah outside. Features include cornicing, solid wood floor and a carved decorative fireplace.

Study - 12' 4'' x 10' 8'' (3.76m x 3.25m)
A quiet room with a view to the side of the house.

Gym & Ground Floor Bathroom - 21' 9'' x 16' 1'' (6.62m x 4.90m)
With natural light from four windows looking out to the garden and a door through to the En Suite Bathroom which is excellently fitted with a white suite comprising bath, basin with mixer tap, WC and Monsoon shower with separate hand-held attachment. Currently used as a Gym space, these rooms would equally be ideal for use as a ground floor Guest Suite.

Kitchen Breakfast Room - 37' 10'' x 13' 9'' (11.52m x 4.19m)
This wonderful light-filled room is perfectly designed to be the centre of daily life with areas for cooking, informal meals and relaxed seating. Windows on all sides flood the space with light and have views of the grounds and French doors at the far end open the living area out to the south-facing side terrace. There is an easy flow from the rest of the ground floor living rooms with doors from the main and rear Halls and double glass doors through to the Garden Room. The Kitchen itself features a range of hand-painted solid wood wall and base cabinets by Charles Yorke, with granite work-surfaces and a solid wood breakfast bar on the central island. The excellent range of fittings and appliances include the 1 ½ bowl in-set stainless steel sink with mixer tap and boiling and filtered water supply, and an integrated electric oven, warming drawer, Nespresso coffee maker, microwave with grill and dishwasher, all by Miele. A De Dietrich two ring induction hob is located beneath the light/extractor by Elica, whilst the main oven is the two-oven oil-fired AGA and there is space for a US-style fridge/freezer. Limestone tiles fitted with under-floor heating run throughout the breakfast area and on into the Garden Room and Games Room beyond.

Garden Room & Changing Room - 14' 2'' x 13' 9'' (4.31m x 4.19m)
This sunny space overlooks the courtyard and has folding doors allowing it to blend seamlessly with the terrace. Flooded with light it makes the ideal place from which to enjoy the garden year round. A door leads to the Changing Room for the swimming pool: fitted with a basin, Monsoon head shower, space for changing and a separate cloakroom.

Games Room, TV Room & Den
An excellent space for entertaining, this room has two sets of bi-fold doors opening out to the seating space around the pool and is fitted with a bar/kitchen with cupboards, sink with mixer tap, space for a compact dishwasher and space for a wine cooler. Oak flooring runs throughout and has under-floor heating, and stairs lead up to a large Den with a Juliet balcony overlooking the courtyard and a pitched roof. From the Games Room a further door leads to a small ante-hall with an outside door to the side garden, a large walk-in Store Room and the TV Room. This whole area could be adapted into a self-contained Annexe with private access, located within the main house.

Games Room - 18' 4'' x 17' 8'' (5.58m x 5.38m)

TV Room - 13' 8'' x 13' 1'' (4.16m x 3.98m)

Den - 18' 3'' x 17' 10'' (5.56m x 5.43m)

Utility Room, Butlers Pantry & Gardeners Loo
Close to the Kitchen is the Utility Room fitted with wall and base units, a stainless-steel sink and space and plumbing for a washing machine and tumble-dryer, beyond which is the Gardener's Loo and an outside door to the courtyard. Off the main hall is the original Butler's Pantry which retains the ceiling-height fitted cupboards and is an ideal food and wine store.

First Floor Landing
The magnificent original oak staircase leads past a large sash window to the main Landing which connects the main house bedrooms and runs through to the Back stairs at the far end adjacent to bedrooms three and four.

Master Bedroom Suite - 18' 9'' x 18' 3'' (5.71m x 5.56m)
A handsome room with elegant proportions, high ceilings and a bay window overlooking the grounds at the front. The splendid original fireplace can be used for open fires and a door leads through to the Dressing Room fitted with a range of wardrobes and a dressing table. The En Suite Bathroom has Karndean flooring and tiled walls, a bath with mixer tap, Monsoon shower, WC and twin inset basins in a granite topped unit.

Dressing Room - 15' 5'' x 8' 5'' (4.70m x 2.56m)

Bedroom Two - 20' 7'' x 14' 6'' (6.27m x 4.42m)
Two large sash windows look out over the front lawns whilst two further windows to the side fill the room with light. A particular feature is the pretty fireplace with painted surround and tiled hearth.

Bathroom One
A charming room with wood floors, paneling and a picture rail. It is fitted with a heated towel rail, free-standing claw foot bath with mixer tap and shower attachment, WC, basin with mixer tap, and a Monsoon shower.

Bedroom Three - 13' 7'' x 9' 8'' (4.14m x 2.94m)
The window has a view of the swimming pool.

Bedroom Four - 13' 7'' x 7' 11'' (4.14m x 2.41m)
A cosy room with a window over the swimming pool and a cupboard housing the water tank and heating system for the house.

Bathroom Two
With original flooring, bath with mixer tap and over-head shower, basin, WC and dado-height tongue & groove paneling.

Bedroom Five with En Suite Bathroom - 21' 11'' x 12' 7'' (6.68m x 3.83m)
A third set of stairs from the rear Hall lead to this private suite of rooms which comprise a spacious bedroom with garden views and an En Suite Bathroom with a white suite of bath with mixer tap and hand-held shower, basin with mixer tap, WC and Monsoon Shower with separate hand-held attachment.

The Grounds

Gardens
The delightful south and west facing gardens are set around the house with tall mature trees and enclosed by laurel hedging and fencing. The garden features a mix of wide lawns, carefully maintained raised borders and a formal rose-garden with box hedging, whilst there are plenty of terraces and seating areas in which to catch the sun throughout the day. At the front of the house a shaded verandah overlooks a wide expanse of lawn and mature trees from where a gate leads through to the south-facing side garden where a small orchard has varieties of apple, plum and pear tree and there is a wide terrace with doors out from the Kitchen & Breakfast Room. At the back of the house the sheltered courtyard has more seating for al fresco meals and the outdoor heated Swimming Pool, and throughout the ground floor the many French and bi-fold doors allow an flow between the house and garden.

Self Contained Annexe
Located above the Garage, this well-equipped self-contained apartment has a private outside door and access via a locked passage from the side driveway. The front door opens into a Hall/Utility area with storage, plumbing for a washing machine and space for household equipment. Stairs lead to the open-plan Living Room & Kitchen; a sunny space with Velux windows and dormer windows to the side. The Kitchen area has base cabinets, a sink with mixer tap, integrated electric single oven, two-ring electric hob and fridge with freezer. The Shower Room has a basin, WC, and heated towel rail. At the far end of the space is the Bedroom. The Annexe has shared water and electric supply with the main house and an independent oil-fired boiler.

Living Room & Kitchen - 27' 6'' x 11' 1'' (8.38m x 3.38m)

Bedroom - 11' 2'' x 8' 11'' (3.40m x 2.72m)

Garages
Outside the front door is paved parking next to a two door Garage which has electric up-and-over doors and parking space for three cars as well as garden equipment and work benches. There is a separate side access from the drive and an internal door to the main house. Beyond this at the rear of the property is the second Garage which has an electric up-and-over door leading to parking for two cars and double doors allowing access through to the courtyard. The Garages are separated by a locked passage which leads to the Annexe front door.Services: Electricity, Water & DrainageCentral Heating: Oil Fired in main house and Annexe with two separate electric systems for the extension Gym/Bedroom 5.Local Authority: Peterborough City CouncilEPC Rating: Exempt Grade II listed

Garage One - 36' 9'' x 22' 10'' (11.19m x 6.95m)

Garage Two - 18' 10'' x 15' 3'' (5.74m x 4.64m)

Property Features :

• AN EXCEPTIONAL PERIOD HOME WITH EXTENSIVE ACOMMODATION, ANNEXE & SWIMMING POOL SET IN DELIGHTFUL GR
• Drawing Room, Dining Room, Study
• Kitchen & Breakfast Room
• Garden Room & Pool Changing & Shower Room
• Games Room, TV Room, Den, Gym with En Suite Bathroom