An idyllic location within South Shropshire’s renowned Corvedale is the backdrop to Goosefoot Barn, with its four holiday cottages.

Rural Bliss

The drive finds this tucked away oasis where the “rural bliss” is reality. The five bedroom master property benefits from rooms of generous proportions. The entrance hall giving rise to the open plan dining and living room, the kitchen breakfast room and the family snug.

The dining room and kitchen each have French doors to the terrace and garden. A games room of significant proportions, a pantry, plus cloakroom and a brace of utility rooms complete the ground floor. Stairs to a gallery landing provide access to each of the bedrooms including the en-suite master bedroom.

Balfours Ludlow sales manager, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., says: “This is an imaginative and playful property, the dining area features great height, open to the eaves and gallery landing. The four cottages; three two bedroom and a one bedroom each benefit from the same high standard of design and presentation.”

Goosefoot Barn is surrounded by five acres of garden, grounds and paddocks, there is a stable and BBQ cabin. Diddlebury village, with primary school, is just one mile away while Ludlow and Much Wenlock are ten and 13 miles respectively. Telford and the Midlands are within sensible commute. Goosefoot steading is marketed with a guide price of £945,000, call 01584 707100.

For further details please visit our Property Sales Page.

Unsurpassed period provenance combined with prime location, offer a unique opportunity at Ludlford, on the south bank of the River Teme, adjacent to Ludlow.

Grade II* listed, The Old Bell House, was recognised and revered in Country Life exactly 100 years ago, well before listings were invented. Now on the market with Balfours the house has been meticulously conserved to retain its original features, whilst enhancing the requirements of 21^st century living.

A Private Retreat

Amongst its credentials are five bedrooms, a studio, swimming pool, landscaped gardens, orchard and kitchen garden, plus river frontage with fishing rights. Balfours Ludlow sales manager, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. comments: “The Old Bell House is simply enchanting. This will appeal to those seeking a private retreat with utter wow factor. It is beautifully positioned on the River Teme, yet only a seven minute walk to Ludlow town centre.”

Ludlow is renowned for its eclectic mix of culture, festivals, restaurants, individual shops and an excellent selection of private and state education. The surrounding countryside provides local golf and race course, plus outstanding walking, gliding and riding. Car and rail travel put Hereford, Shrewsbury, Manchester, Cardiff and Birmingham all within a very acceptable commute. London is accessible by changing just once in a little over three hours.

The ground floor boasts original beams, framed by moulded ceilings, imposing stone fireplaces, leaded lights, and oak panelling. A large kitchen with island unit has glazing to two aspects. In addition there are five reception rooms, a larder, butler’s pantry and downstairs cloakroom. The first floor affords an imposing drawing room, plus the master suite with dressing room and bathroom. The second bedroom benefits from its own bathroom with separate wc. On the first floor are a further three bedrooms and two bathrooms, plus studio. Large traditional cellars complete more than 5,500 square feet.

Scott adds: “The rooms have wonderful views, either to the mature gardens or to the river beyond. Hidden from view there is a small grotto down by the river which was completely restored in 2011 with the use of 2011 shells. It provides a wonderful escape and opportunity just to watch and admire the river and its wildlife unseen by others. 

The Old Bell House owns the weir (let to the Teme Weirs Trust) and is entitled to receive its electricity from the Hydro Co-operative, in addition to its connection to the National Grid.

A stone walled courtyard is among the various intimate seating areas providing an atmosphere as magical today as it was when featured in Country Life 100 years ago. The Old Bell House is marketed with a guide price of £1,575,000. For more information call Balfours on 01584 707100.

For further details please visit our Property Sales Page.

Balfours has launched 371 acres (150 ha) of highly productive farm land at Burlington near Shifnal to the market. The predominantly arable land which forms part of the Rose Estate at Burlington includes a modern 1,000 ton grain store and other useful buildings, plus pasture and woodland; it is for sale by private treaty, as a whole, or in five lots.

Easy Access Around Land

Agent, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., explains: “The land, identified as Grade two or three in quality, is relatively flat with medium to light sandy loam soils, which are generally free draining. There are excellent road networks with the A5 and A41 adjoining and minor roads well located for easy access around the land.”

Lot one comprises of 120.33 acres (48.7 ha) of arable land, currently cropped to potatoes, maize and beet, it also includes a modern grain store and six bay storage barn. Lot two comprises of 164.75 acres (66.6 ha), cropping is similar to lot one plus an area of rye.  Lot three lies to the western side and comprises 66.87 acres (27 ha) growing maize and spring barley.

Lot four comprises 7.49 acres (3 ha) of pasture paddocks would be perfect for horses with an enclosed 6 bay general purpose building, extending 90 x 50 feet, ideal for stabling; alternatively lot four would suit livestock or storage.  Two smaller arable fields totalling 11.71 acres (4.7 ha) are currently sown to maize make-up lot five.

Charlie adds: “Lot one has the opportunity of irrigation under licence from the Environment Agency from Burlington Pool, this could also benefit lot two if purchased together. The sale of this substantial block of land provides an excellent opportunity to increase existing arable acreage or as a diversified investment." For more information call Balfours on 01743 353511.

For further details please visit our Property Sales Page.

Natural light billows in to 1, Burcot Barn which is finished to a high level and boasts open rural views from its position just south of Wrockwardine.

Stunning Arched Glazing

The welcome to this four bedroom semi-detached barn conversion is to an entrance hall with stunning arched glazing from floor to ceiling at a southerly aspect. Double solid wood doors are to be found to either side of the generous hall, to the living room and the family room: They combine create a perfect party space.  A utility and cloakroom are to be found off the hall too.

The living room benefits from a log burner and French doors to the garden, while the family room has dual aspect glazing and opens directly to the immaculate kitchen diner. From the hallway a feature staircase rises to the balcony landing where two en-suite rooms are to be found together with two additional rooms and a family bathroom.

On the market with Balfours with a guide price of £575,000, head of sales, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.comments: “Burcot is everything one would wish for in a barn conversion; it has character, while being light, spacious, crisp and contemporary – in its style. There is a good sized garden – with drive and terrace beautifully presented, plus a garden office with mains electricity, a tractor shed and garden store.”

He adds: “With Wellington train station just three miles away and the M54 providing links to Shrewsbury, Telford and the Midlands; this is a highly convenient location to put down roots.” For more information call Balfours on 01743 353511.

For further details please visit our Property Sales Page.

I have a cottage and a farmhouse which are likely to become available to rent in the next twelve months. I hear an Act has just been passed restricting what landlords can charge. Is this the time to hand over to an agent?

You are correct; the Tenant Fees Act 2019 comes into force from the first of this month, June, 2019. The Act controls what payments a landlord or letting agent can demand of the tenant or third party guarantors “in connection with a tenancy of housing in England.”

The Act states that all payments are essentially prohibited unless the payment is expressly listed and “permitted” under the Act.  The following are listed as permitted: Rent, deposit, holding deposit, replacement key or alternative security device, payment in the event of a default, and changes to the tenancy which are requested by the tenant. Also payment in respect of council tax, utilities, TV licence, communication services. However each one listed has restrictions and limitations.

This means the landlord, or agent, can no longer charge to assemble references, or for general administration relating to the tenant, or the guarantor.

Bureaucracy has indeed reached something of fever pitch; I haven’t even mentioned the other regulations introduced this March, listing 29 hazards on a rating system to ensure a property is fit for human habitation.

I have a theory and that is that if my car needs servicing I take it to a garage. They are doing their dedicated job day in day out, not only are they more efficient than me, but I would expect them to get it right. That means long term less expense and greater peace of mind.

Getting it wrong when letting property can result in fines of up to £5,000 for the first landlord/agent breach and up to £30,000 for the second, plus resulting difficulties in serving a section 21 giving notice to the tenant to vacate. In this increasingly bureaucratic environment, it may be both prudent and cost effective to employ a reputable letting agent to let your property.

I am pleased to report a strong demand for let property in rural areas, particularly now summer is upon us. This must surely be due, in part to farmers and landowners who take a pride in the countryside and their rural rented accommodation.

Milford Hall, a generous five bedroom Georgian house, is on the market. The grade II listed Hall has been restored by the current owners, successfully enhancing fine character with 21^st century living.

It sits on the banks of the River Severn, situated in the hamlet of Milford, two miles from Newtown. The accommodation is encompassed by two acres of grounds and provides in excess of 570 square metres of living accommodation, comprising of the main Hall and an annexed one bedroom cottage, ideal for guests, a relative, or staff.

Entry is to the dining hall with bay and French doors to the front. A traditional stone fireplace is complimented by high ceilings with coving. Opposite is the sitting room of similar size. There are two more reception rooms found beyond the inner hall, namely the drawing room and the study, which incorporates a conservatory. There is glazing to two aspects and an abundance of French doors ensures these rooms are also filled with optimum natural light.

The kitchen breakfast room is well designed incorporating an island, an original fireplace, with ample room for a large table between the two. A rear porch, cloakroom and boot room complete the principal residence. There are three bedrooms on the first floor, including the master suite and two en-suite bedrooms on the second floor.  A wine room and cellar are to be found below stairs.

First Class Restoration

Balfours agent, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. comments: “The principal house has been restored to first class standard including underfloor heating in the kitchen, a central vacuuming system, full rewiring, wood burning stoves and a second floor laundry room.”

A separate entrance hall leads to the annex cottage, which will benefit from modernisation. It offers a good sized living room, a garden room style kitchen breakfast room, a cloakroom, bathroom and a first floor bedroom.

The approach is via formal gardens; within the two acres is a mix of mature and new design, with not only the outlooks to the Severn, but the fishing rights too. Milford Hall is marketed with a guide price of £925,000, call Balfours on 01743 353511.

For further details please visit our Property Sales Page.