Property description

An enchanting mid Victorian 2 bedroom terraced cottage delightfully located in a much favoured road with a level approach to the neighbouring Westbrooke Gardens, Market Square and the town centre.

Description
Nestling within an individual terrace of just four homes, the property is reputed to date from 1876 as a hop garden or farm workers cottage to the old Amery Farm estate. Now including replacement bespoke sash windows, the character and setting create a restful atmosphere enhanced by the convenience of not only the cottage's layout but also the on-site parking. The cottage has an eclectic collection of internal doors and door furniture, fireplaces and, upstairs, higher ceilings. The landscaped rear garden takes advantage of a Westerly aspect and leads to the car parking area backing onto Kingsland Road.

Location
Rack Close Road consists of mainly character older style cottages and homes, and several private apartments, and leads into Westbrooke Road and the adjoining park-like public gardens, which have a bowls club, bandstand, children's play area and pedestrian access to the adjacent town centre. These 'access only' roads are not only highly convenient for the town's facilities but also routes to the M3 and Basingstoke. Steeped in Civil War and Jane Austen history, Alton, an old market town in the Wey Valley, has major and family shops, restaurants and inns, M&S, Waitrose and Sainsbury's stores, primary and senior schools, a library, museum and gallery, and private health clubs. Just beyond the town centre lies the station (Wateroo Line), Alton College and Kings Pond with the RC Convent School, Alton Sports Centre and 2 golf courses on the outskirts. The town has churches of several denominations and an intriguing network of town footpaths also leading to the water meadows. Chawton and Gilbert White's Selborne are particularly notable local villages.

Ground Floor

Gabled Porch
Brick arched with decorative barge board and quarry tiled threshold. Lantern light. Bevelled wood panelled front door with spy glass to:-

Sitting Room - 13' 1'' x 10' 6'' (3.98m x 3.20m)
Including brick open fireplace with arched detail, raised hearth and elegant moulded pillared mantelpiece. Front aspect sash window. Exposed floorboards. Radiator, telephone socket. Recessed panelled door to:-

Kitchen / Dining Room - 13' 1'' x 12' 8'' (3.98m x 3.86m)
Including enclosed stairway with tongued and grooved panelling and shelved understairs cupboard. Rear garden view via double glazed window. Presenting light oak fronted fitted furniture incorporating Zanussi range style integrated cooker (five burner gas hob and large electric oven) in stainless steel finish with matching chimney style filter hood, concealed Smeg dishwasher and Electrolux fridge/freezer within range of floor cupboards, tower of drawers and granite effect laminated worktops. Inset stainless steel one and quarter bowl single drainer sink with waste disposal unit and Victorian style mixer taps, Travertine effect mosaic tiled splashbacks, worktop lighting and matching wall cabinets - also containing electric consumer unit and electric meter. Dedicated space for dining table and chairs. Downlighting, steel grey vinyl flooring, radiator, brushed chrome finished power points. Ledged latch door to:-

Rear Hall
Angled shelved linen cupboard. To be steel grey vinyl flooring. Bevelled part glazed wood panelled stable door to sun terrace and rear garden.

Utility / Cloakroom - 6' 10'' x 5' 4'' (2.08m x 1.62m)
Rear garden outlook via double glazed window. Painted wood panelled walls. Armitage Shanks Butler sink with chrome mixers, Travertine effect tiled splashback, oakblock worktop, cupboard and plumbing below for washing machine and vent for tumble dryer. White WC, radiator. Corner broom cupboard also with gas meter, cupboard above. Wall hung Main Combi 24HE combination gas boiler with integrated controls. To be steel grey vinyl flooring. Ledged latch entry door.

First Floor

Landing
Via stairgated opening from kitchen/dining room to curved enclosed stairs with rope handrail and painted wood panelling to one wall leading to landing. Hatch to loft.

Bedroom One - 10' 0'' x 9' 8'' (3.05m x 2.94m)
Sash window enjoying aspect over own and neighbouring gardens to Kingsland Road and beyond. Exposed painted floorboards, painted wood panelling to one wall, slatted ledged entry door. Radiator.

Bedroom Two - 10' 7'' x 8' 6'' (3.22m x 2.59m)
Plus arched cast iron fireplace with mantelpiece and handmade white wooden pair of part shelved double wardrobes either side of chimney breast, open top storage. Front aspect sash window. Radiator. Recessed panelled entry door.

Bathroom - 9' 11'' x 6' 3'' (3.02m x 1.90m)
Sash window enjoying rear garden aspect. Affording four piece white suite with contemporary chrome plated fittings of painted wood panelled bath with mixer/hand cradle shower attachment, separate tiled and glazed corner shower cubicle, pedestal wash stand basin and WC. Low height painted wood panelled walls, slatted ledged entry door, subtle mosaic patterned vinyl flooring, radiator.

Outside

Charming Gardens
Complement the cottage and are landscaped, level and enclosed to both the front and rear. The shingle front garden has a scattering of bushes and shrubs, including box with a 'stepping stone' path to the metalwork front gate. A sandstone sun terrace with both sensor floodlighting and lantern light opens to level lawn traversed by stepping stones and flanked by triangular shrubberies including small tree and far flower border. This creates attractive vistas from the cottage with the far end trelliswork, steps and arched gate. Timber garden shed 9' x 5'.

Car Parking Space
Concreted and adjoining Kingsland Road at the rear. Potential for further space if shed relocated.

NB
Please note photographs shown may include scenes from nearby Westbrooke Gardens.

Directions
From the M & S Foodhall at the Western end of High Street, Alton, proceed away from the town on High Street/Butts Road. After the George Inn on the left, turn first right into Ackender Road. Then turn first right into Rack Close Road where the cottage is set back along on the left.

NOWEAL614052