Ralph reviews a period farmhouse in Churton
Well, its July and the Wimbledon 2025 men’s final is tomorrow. I love watching the tennis – I could sit for hours just watching that ball go backwards and forwards, although sometimes I do peer round the back of the television looking for it – where does it go??
I have been super invested this year and was proudly waving my Union Jack every time one of our 23 British players stepped out on court. Isn’t it amazing that we have so many up and coming tennis stars and whilst we don’t have a Brit in the final this year, I am sure they will all continue to have glittering careers ahead of them.
Now talking about glittering careers, as you know a certain little pug who you are rather familiar with (me!), has a little bit of a flare for reviewing properties that are for sale. This week I was informed that I would be visiting a sandstone farmhouse in the charming village of Churton. With a bottom wiggle of enthusiasm I barked my approval and looked expectantly in dad’s direction. He smiled indulgently, picked up the car keys and, without delay, off we headed for our next adventure. I settled down on the back seat of the car to enjoy a lovely drive through the Cheshire countryside. It was a pleasantly warm day and, with the window down, I gazed at the passing vista whilst a gentle breeze from the open window therapeutically caressed my ears.
Before long dad slowed the car and we turned onto a driveway which led to a large gravel courtyard. As I hopped down from the car, I looked around and noted with approval that there was space for multiple vehicles to park – just perfect should my pals from doggie daycare (and their humans) visit. The courtyard is at the side of what looked to be a charming farmhouse so I followed my nose round to the front where I was utterly captivated by the sandstone façade of the building. To say that it would not have looked out of place in the illustrations of Hansel and Gretel’s cottage is no exaggeration.
I trotted joyously down the gravel pathway to the front door and, feeling like I was about to step into my very own fairy tale, I crossed the threshold into a tiled entrance hall. Popping my head through a door to the left I found a rather nifty shower room – now I know mum would find that exceptionally handy in winter when daily walks equal muddy paws!
With a wry smile I turned my attention back to the entrance hall and the door straight ahead of me. Beyond that I found an enchanting sitting room, full of period features from the beamed ceiling to the piece de resistance, a sandstone inglenook fireplace with a log burner. I think one would be hard-pushed to find a cosier, more welcoming space – I could just picture winters’ evenings, my family all around me snuggled up by the glowing embers in the log burner. As I turned about tail I saw that the sitting room opened into an equally charming dining area. I noted that the house, although believed to date back to the 1800s, feels light and contemporary, I think opening these two rooms out was a stroke of genius. Added to which, the house benefits from a surprising number of windows making it much brighter than one can often expect in period properties.
With a nod of approval I set off in search of the kitchen and , as I had come to expect at Wayside Farmhouse, I was not to be disappointed, it was everything that a country kitchen should be – open, spacious and charming. Shaker style units with granite worktops perfectly complement a traditional farmhouse style tiled floor giving it a real “Darling Buds of May” feel. To add to the charm, the kitchen opens into a conservatory which would be the perfect spot for breakfast on a sunny morning or late morning coffee coupled with a good book and a bonio!
Before bounding up the stairs to the first floor, I discovered a very handy utility room with one of the things I covet the most (after a log burner) – a Belfast sink – wow, I thought to myself, Wayside Farmhouse really is kitted out to cater for even the most muddy of pooches! On the first floor my thoughts soon turned from romps through the wilds of Cheshire to the delights of a cosy bedroom and a warm spot to settle down for a post-walk snooze. Wandering around I found four bedrooms, all full of cottage charm and a family bathroom. The bedrooms were just so inviting with their cottage style windows and delightful sloping ceilings that I could not resist testing them out with a little nana-nap of 10 winks in each room!
The energising effect of the cumulative 40 winks I clocked up, sent me hurtling back down the stairs once I woke up and out the front door. I was ready and more than willing to explore the delights that the outside of Wayside Farmhouse would undoubtedly have to offer. Gardens and grounds envelop the house with cute symmetrical lawns at the front of the house on either side of the central gravel path, and I discovered further garden areas as I circumnavigated the house. Dad informed me that the owner of the property had been a keen gardener and that there are around fifty different varieties of snowdrops planted around the grounds. Oh, I adore snowdrops – a tantalising glimpse of the spring yet to come…
Aside from the gardens, Wayside Farmhouse boasts an orchard together with a greenhouse and a small paddock. When we arrived I had also spotted a number of period, sandstone outbuildings set just to the side of the courtyard. So, before I made my way back to the car, I took five minutes to explore them. And I was very pleased that I did – I found a detached single garage and a large detached barn which currently houses a workshop, a stable, an old dairy, a garage and a storeroom plus an attached coal shed. Wow, that is quite a lot of space – I imagine, if one applied for planning permission, that could be converted into a very impressive property – maybe for family, friends or even an Air BnB!
As I scrambled back into the car I cast one last longing look at Wayside Farmhouse whilst reflecting on the fact that it truly is a very special home which had cast its spell on me just like it would in one of the fairy tales mum read to me when I was a pup. If Wayside Farmhouse has enchanted you just like it did me, please do not hesitate to contact myself or one of my team on 01244 322322 or [email protected] to arrange a viewing.
Until next time
Love Ralph X
