Notes from the host
Butts Farm
Turn down the gravelled driveway and you'll immediately feel like you are stepping back in time as you park and turn to face 300-year-old Butts Farm. This Grade II listed barn conversion has been in the same family since the 17th century, with the current owners converting the barn in 1992 into a beautiful property, sympathetically maintaining the traditional character of the cottage yet providing every modern convenience with a contemporary interior design.
Butts Farm is the perfect property for a family gathering or friends' get together, with its fully equipped kitchen and spacious, yet cosy, living room and dining area. The downstairs twin room, with adjacent W.C. and downstairs shower room would suit guests with limited mobility (though not wheelchair friendly). Upstairs are four double bedrooms, one en-suite and two sharing a family bathroom and the downstairs shower room.
The owners have gone to great trouble to encourage wildlife into the garden and the outside of the building, with little owls regularly seen nesting at the end of the property and threatened insects and making their home there. At the rear of the farm there is a secluded garden with a patio, fire pit and large picnic table, (which is moved under the archway in the winter). The garden can be accessed via the kitchen or the dining room. A path leads from the garden to Englands, the community playing field, which guests are free to use for outdoor games or to wander over to with a picnic blanket in hand to watch the local cricket club playing their matches.
Ground Floor
Kitchen:
Step through the stable doors into the spacious, fully equipped kitchen with its impressively high, vaulted ceiling, original beams, flagstone floor and country cottage kitchen units. The kitchen is dual aspect, looking out over the garden on each side and has a side door leading out to the garden and patio, making it easy to carry food outside for outdoor dining. An antique wooden table sits at the centre of the kitchen and comfortably seats 6 (the dining room is used for main meals and seats 8). The kitchen is equipped with a large, U.S.-style fridge-freezer, dishwasher, new Rangemaster cooker, hob, oven and microwave.
Utility Room/Downstairs Shower Room:
This spacious multi-purpose room is both a Family Shower Room, with a corner shower, W.C., washbasin and heated towel rail, and a Utility Room with a washing machine, double sink, iron and ironing board.
Living-Dining Room:
This stunning, open-plan room is Butts Farm's showstopper, and what really makes it an ideal place for family or friend gatherings. The Living Room has a large wood burner set into an original stone fireplace and is furnished with three large sofas, comfortably seating all guests around a solid oak coffee table. A large, flatscreen smart TV and a bookcase with local reference books and guides are provided for rainy days and relaxing evenings. French windows open out to the gravelled parking area.
Off-set from the seating area is the beautiful Dining Room, which features a high ceiling reaching up to the gables, with original beams and stone walls. A very large, antique pine dining table comfortably seats eight guests and doubles as a ping pong table…bats, net and balls provided! The dining area also has two farmhouse chairs and a gorgeous doll's house. French windows lead out to the garden, and a handy side door opens onto the patio and the outdoor seating area.
Bedroom 5 - downstairs twin room:
This pretty, downstairs room is carpeted and furnished with two full-size, single beds, a shared bedside table and reading light, a rocking chair, a chest of drawers and a bookcase with a selection of local reference books and novels. The room features an exposed stone wall and two long castle-like windows that look out to the driveway.
Downstairs W.C.:
At the end of the hallway, next to Bedroom 5, is a handy cloakroom with a dual flush toilet and washbasin.
First Floor
At the top of stairs pause a moment to look down at the Dining Area and up to the fabulous, vaulted ceiling before heading to Butt Farm's four upstairs bedrooms and two bathrooms
Bedroom 2:
Featuring original beams and stone walls, this en-suite double bedroom is furnished with a standard double bed on a Victorian style, wrought iron bedframe, with bedside tables and reading lamps. A large hanging area is provided, behind thick curtains (the travel cot is stored here), and a chest of drawers with a mirror above.
En-suite/Shared Family Bathroom:
A door opens directly from Bedroom 2 into the en-suite bathroom (can be locked on either side for privacy), with full-size bath, and handheld shower (for hair washing only), washbasin with light and shaver point.
A second door opens from the landing into the bathroom (can be locked from the inside for privacy), making this bathroom available to other guests.
Bedroom 3:
This beautiful double room features a thick oak beam - originally part of a ship! - and original stone walls. The room, with its accents of gold, is furnished with a standard double bed, bedside tables and reading lamps, a chest of drawers with a mirror above, and a hanging rail.
Bedroom 4:
With a double bed, this room has bedside tables, a hanging rail and shelves for storing clothes and personal items. This bedroom also has an ancient ship's timber across the width of the room and an open stone wall which fill it with character and intrigue.
Bedroom 1 Master bedroom with en-suite:
The impressive en-suite master bedroom features a striking oriental wall hanging, a king-size double bed on a chrome bedstead, and a massive ship's timber. The room is furnished with bedside tables and reading lamps and an antique oak wardrobe.
The bedroom's private en-suite has a large walk-in shower, washbasin, mirror, toilet, and radiator
Outside
Butts Farm is approached via a long, gravelled drive, which leads to the parking area (to the left) and the main door into the house (to the right). At the rear of the property is a lovely private garden, with a grassy area, large picnic table with room for everyone to eat at, and a fire pit. A path through the garden leads to a gate that opens on to England's, the village community playing field, where guests are free to use the facility to play field games and watch the locals playing cricket matches.
Hosted byBolthole Retreats
