Newark, Nottinghamshire

THE CROFT

SELLER INSIGHT

We have lived here 43 years and enjoyed it as a wonderful family home. Having lived and worked abroad in the Fiji Islands during the 1970s we came back and needed to be close to the centre of Newark; we were also keen for our daughter to return to Highfields School which is conveniently next door - she used to nip through the hedge to get there! It’s a fantastic school which our two sons and grandsons have also attended.”

“The Quibell family who owned the whole estate, used to live in Highfields prior to it becoming a school, and at the turn of last century, W.W.B. Quibell commissioned the architects Brewill & Baily to design and build The Croft for one of their sons, along with The Coach House. When we bought the property it had belonged to the Woodward family and was sold upon the death of Mrs. Woodward who lived in the house alone but still employed a butler and a maid, who lived in The Coach House. . When we bought the property it had 8 acres of land which a farmer friend used for his livestock but after 12 years we sold that land and The Coach House as a separate dwelling. The Woodwards residential estate behind us was created at that time.”

“Previously, the panelling in the drawing room was natural wood and every Tuesday morning it would be washed. We decided to paint it to brighten up the rooms and dispense with the weekly wash! The butler would take an order for the butcher once a week hanging the meat in the cold pantry. That room is so useful with its cold stone slabs. I held a dinner party for 24 people for my husband’s 50th birthday as a surprise and was able to keep it secret by locking the door on piles of food in the pantry. Friends arrived in twos and, what with seeing the fire lit in the dining room, after the third lot of people arrived, he started to twig what was afoot!”

“The games room has also been a lovely place for entertaining. Our second son would set up his disco kit at one end of the room and we would have some wonderful parties in there, usually at New Year when everyone would dance the night away. We installed the bar which will be staying along with the snooker table.”

“The house retains all its original Arts & Crafts features including the fireplaces, panelling and bells for the maids. We had them disconnected as my boys were forever ringing them when they were young, and they are fitted in even the top floor rooms! It would be easy to reconnect them if someone wanted to do so.”

“We are on mains gas and had two brand new boilers fitted about a month ago. The kitchen has a gas-fired Aga as well as an integrated Neff electric oven, hob and combi microwave. The hatch which opens into the dining room has always been especially handy when entertaining, and we love to light the dining room fire for such occasions. The drawing room and the sitting room have gas fires fitted in the fireplaces for convenience.”

“Although we are within easy reach of the centre of Newark and only 1 mile from the A1, it is blissfully quiet here – we are very tucked away and hidden and you don’t hear any noise from the main road, just sometimes the school children playing outside.”

“As the garden is so large, it is perfect for holding parties outside. I was on the Cancer Research Committee for 25 years and our team of ladies would organise an annual fund raising event for about 180 people. A couple of marquees would be erected on the lawn and during the functions parking was on the top lawn and in Highfields School.”*

* These comments are the personal views of the current owner and are included as an insight into life at the property. They have not been independently verified, should not be relied on without verification and do not necessarily reflect the views of the agent.

KEY FEATURES

A magnificent Arts & Crafts property stands on around 2 acres in a quiet, secluded position close to the centre of Newark. Retaining all its beautiful original features, the immaculate family home is set over 3 floors and provides 7 double bedrooms, 4 bathrooms/shower rooms, 3 reception rooms, a billiard room, a spacious kitchen dining room, several pantries and utility rooms, a cellar, an abundance of outside utility and store rooms and an adjoining double garage.

Conveniently located between the independent junior school, Highfields, and Newark Academy, it is only about a 15 minute walk into the centre of the attractive market town whilst both road and rail links are excellent with a fast train service to London (and elsewhere) taking around 75 minutes and the A1, the A46 the A17 all nearby.

• An immaculately presented Arts & Crafts property built circa 1901

• Set over 3 floors within approximately 2 acres of mature grounds

• Close to town centre but in a quiet, secluded position

• A wealth of impressive original external and internal features

• Beautiful panelled entrance hall with galleried landing

• Commodious rooms with exceptionally high ceilings

• Original leaded windows, some featuring stained glass

• Original panelling, decorative features and service bells

• Ornate original open fireplaces in dining room and billiard room

• Gas fires fitted in drawing room and sitting room

• Quality fitted kitchen with gas-fired Aga and integrated appliances

• Cold pantry, butler’s pantry, a utility room and outdoor washroom

• Space for a dining table in kitchen

• French doors from kitchen to garden and summerhouse

• 7 large double bedrooms over 2 upper floors

• 3 bathrooms and 1 shower room

• 3 reception rooms: drawing room, dining room and sitting room

• 26 ft. long billiard room with fitted bar and snooker table

• Cellar divided into several rooms with a good deal of wine storage

• Large adjoining storerooms, workshop and garages

• Automatic doors on main double garage

• Mature, wraparound garden with lawns, shrubs, hedging and trees

• Octagonal, timber summerhouse on flagstone terrace

• Automatic wrought iron entrance gates with intercom

Services: Mains gas, water, electricity and drainage; gas central heating

Local Authority: Newark & Sherwood District Council

Council Tax Band: H

INFORMATION

Location

On the eastern edge of Nottinghamshire close to the Lincolnshire border, Newark is a charming, bustling, historic town with cobbled streets and a general market held on a Wednesday and antique markets on a Tuesday and Thursday. The town is wellserved by supermarkets with large Morrison’s, M&S and Waitrose stores, as well as a smaller Tesco’s and Sainsbury’s and has a good selection of shops, cafes and restaurants. Situated on the River Trent, and thought to originally date to Roman times, a ruined 12th century castle has walls that drop dramatically down into the River Trent.

Newark Northgate train station is within walking distance of the property and provides services to London King’s Cross taking around 75 minutes, as well as trains to the North allowing feasible commuting to many towns and cities. There are excellent road links too with the A1 junction north of Newark connecting with the A46, the A17 and the A617. Nottingham is approximately 20 miles southwest, Grantham 13 miles south, Lincoln 20 miles northeast and Sleaford 13 miles east.

Schools

Superb private education is offered at Highfields School next door from nursery level through to the age of 11. A nearby state primary school is Barnby Road Academy rated Outstanding by Ofsted.

Well regarded state secondary schools are also close: Newark Academy and the Magnus C of E Academy, both Ofsted-rated Good; in Grantham (13 miles/20 mins), The King’s Grammar School is rated Outstanding and Kesteven and Grantham Girls’ School is rated Good; in Sleaford (19 miles/25 mins), Carre’s Grammar School and Kesteven & Sleaford High School are also rated Good. There are excellent independent secondary schools within easy reach such as The Minster School at Lincoln (20 miles/35 mins), Worksop College (28 miles/35 mins), Nottingham Boys and Girls High Schools (22 miles/40 mins) and slightly further afield, the Stamford Endowed Schools, Oundle, Uppingham, Oakham.

Agents notes: All measurements are approximate and for general guidance only and whilst every attempt has been made to ensure accuracy, they must not be relied on. The fixtures, fittings and appliances referred to have not been tested and therefore no guarantee can be given that they are in working order. Internal photographs are reproduced for general information and it must not be inferred that any item shown is included with the property. For a free valuation, contact the numbers listed on the brochure. Printed 09.11.2023

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