Briar Cottage

The property
Briar Cottage is a superb detached property offering six bedrooms and spacious, elegant accommodation arranged over two floors. The house showcases a wealth of attractive period details, most notably in the impressive reception hall. Highlights include wood-panelled walls and a striking central staircase, which splits and rises to a galleried landing adorned with ornate cornicing, a ceiling rose, and a chandelier.

The ground floor provides three main reception rooms, including a magnificent 29ft triple-aspect drawing room with a fireplace, bi-fold doors opening onto the garden, and ample space for both seating and dining areas. At the front, the comfortable sitting room and the formal dining room each feature south-facing bay windows and splendid fireplaces, while the sitting room also benefits from bi-fold doors leading to the garden. The well-proportioned kitchen and breakfast room provides further social everyday living and entertaining space, with its bespoke wooden fitted cabinetry, central island and integrated appliances. The utility room provides further space for storage and appliances, while the ground floor also has a private study for home working.

Upstairs, the main galleried landing leads to four bedrooms at the front, while a rear staircase provides access to a secondary landing at the rear where there are a further two bedrooms. The principal bedroom has a luxury en suite bathroom, while there is one further bedroom en suite and a dressing room with an adjoining shower room, which could be used as a further bedroom if required. Each of the bedrooms benefits from built-in storage or wardrobes, while one further bedroom has its own en suite cloakroom. Additionally, the first floor has two well-presented family bathrooms.

Outside
The house is set in extensive and immaculately landscaped gardens, while also featuring a large open paddock at the rear, backing onto woodland. At the entrance, gates open onto the paved driveway, with plenty of parking space both to the front and side of the house and access to the two double garages – one of which is detached, with the other integrated into the main house. The front driveway is lined by a beautifully maintained garden with an area of lawn, colourful border beds, various shrubs and established hedgerows and trees. At the rear there are further pristine lawns, dotted and bordered by mature trees and well-maintained shrubs and hedgerows. Across the back of the house there is a large courtyard area with patio seating, raised beds, an ornamental pond and a gazebo providing sheltered a dining or barbecue area. Beyond the garden, five-bar wooden gates open to the grassy paddock, which has a stables block and is ideal for exercising horses.

Location
The property lies in the small village of Bickerton, surrounded by beautiful rolling countryside. The larger village of Malpas lies four miles to the south, with its selection of shops and local amenities, including a doctor’s surgery and post office. Malpas is also home to several primary schools, as well as the well-regarded secondary, Bishop Heber High School. Nine miles away, Whitchurch offers a larger selection of shops and local facilities, while the vibrant and historic city of Chester is also within easy reach, with its superb shopping, leisure and cultural facilities. The area is well connected by a strong network of A-roads, while the M53 and M56 are both accessible just north of Chester.