Spere HallHayway Lane | Broadwell | Rugby | Warwickshire | CV23 8HH

An attractive Dutch barn conversion, occupying just over ½ an acre in the popular Warwickshire village of Broadwell.

Spere Hall is a remarkable feat of modern engineering and was rescued from demolition in the 1980’s by the late owners who acquired the property and moved it, piece by piece and rebuilt the property across the road from its original position. The property was believed to date from 1745 and was reconstructed in 1989 into a luxurious country home with four / five bedrooms (two with en suite), family bathroom, indoor swimming pool, a spectacular vaulted sitting room, snug/bedroom five, garden room, breakfast room, cloakroom and kitchen whilst also within the boundary is a large double garage and workshop with first floor office space. The house has carefully landscaped gardens and period features throughout. The property was carefully designed so that the original barn retained its timber frame character and as such has no windows facing the road, but instead overlooks an enviable garden and plot. The property does require some updating and modernisation in places, but has all the ingredients required to create a superb family home.

Ground FloorThe entrance hall has a large oak barn style door and oak floor and stairs rising to the first floor with an under stairs storage cupboard. There is an entry into the vaulted sitting room which has a variety of exposed A frames and roof timbers and a large full length window overlooking the topiary herb garden and lawns. The sitting room has an attractive open fireplace with raised hearth and timber mantle. There is a further staircase providing access to further bedrooms and a barn style door leading to the snug which has windows to the side and rear and exposed ceiling beams. The sitting room has a delightful mezzanine floor situated just above the dining area whilst a further door leads to the large farmhouse style kitchen with a twin plate AGA with ovens and plate warmer providing a key focal point. Further cooking options include an electric cooker and hob, whilst the kitchen is complimented by a variety of matching base and wall mounted units as well as a convenient pantry that has space for an upright fridge freezer, there is also a built in dishwasher and windows overlooking the rear garden. Quarry tile floors lead into the breakfast room which again has a rear window and a door that leads to the rear lobby that accommodates a wash hand basin and a door leading to the cloakroom / utility, with low-level WC, further wash basin and plumbing for an automatic washing machine. Within the lobby area there is a stable style door leading to a small courtyard which houses a timber shed with power and light which in turn houses the oil tank. The gate from this yard area also leads to the front and has security lighting. From the breakfast room a door leads to the indoor pool.

Spere Hall in its entirety is a characterful property, however it is the main hall / sitting room which provides the most charismatic atmosphere. The space, which is the heart of the home, provides a fantastic place to sit with the original medieval beams, a mezzanine balcony area and exceptional views over the garden. “In summer, its lovely to sit here and look out over the beautiful gardens, while in the winter it has a really nice cosy feel. It feels so homely to snuggle up next to the fire on a cold evening with the candles lit in the chandelier. At Christmas this room feels even more special – mum and dad always used to take advantage of the height of the space and buy the largest Christmas tree they could find. This along with decorations and festive lighting on the wood beams makes for a lovely cosy Christmas feel.” The same space can also become an excellent dining and banqueting area, large enough for many guests to be seated in style, with views of the original barn structure creating an emotive atmosphere and talking point amongst family and friends alike.

Pool Area, Garden Room & Guest SuiteThe pool has three sliding patio doors leading to the rear gardens and three small windows to the rear aspect. The pool is heated via dedicated hot water solar panels and measures approximately 6 x 3 metres and is served by a small changing room - featuring a shower cubicle and WC and also housing the oil fired central heating boiler. There is a spiral staircase leading from the pool area to a first floor and a door leading to the guest suite.

The guest suite is a large master bedroom with double glazed sliding patio doors that lead to the gardens. It was formerly a double garage but now has an en suite shower room with enclosed corner shower cubicle, wash hand basin and an enclosed low-level WC, it also houses the pump for the swimming pool and the bedroom has an electric storage heater and a door that leads to the garden room. This has views of the garden from the three elevations and patio doors that then lead to the garden. The spiral staircase from the pool side leads to a significant roof space that is separated into four separate areas that could be turned into home offices, as has been done previously or a provide significant storage area. There are Velux roof windows providing natural light and views of the gardens.

First FloorThere are three further bedrooms, two of which are accessible from the same staircase and the other has a staircase of its own. The first landing has an attractive raised mezzanine overlooking the sitting room and views of all the exposed timbers and A frames.

Being such a versatile family home the property provides a wide variety of spaces; somewhere for every member of the family to enjoy. The Main Hall really appeals at Christmas, while the swimming pool is very inviting in summer and gives the opportunity for a refreshing cooling off at the end of a summer’s day. The large mezzanine above the sitting room was a family favourite, used by all for leisure as well as entertaining for pre-meal drinks or even for dining. The mezzanine gives a great view of the sitting room while creating a fantastic comfortable and unusual space among the barn timbers.

The master bedroom has a vaulted ceiling with exposed beams, a window to the side and a velux window to the rear. There are a range of built in wardrobes and adjacent to this is a five-piece bathroom suite with whirlpool bath, pedestal wash hand basin, corner shower cubicle, bidet, enclosed WC and a Velux window to the rear. Adjacent to this is bedroom three with velux roof window and shelving, plus access to the remaining roof void. The staircase from the entrance hall leads to bedroom two which has its own landing and en suite shower room with low-level WC, wash basin and electric shower. A door then leads to the double bedroom that has a velux roof window to the rear, vaulted ceiling with exposed timbers and velux roof window whilst for the more adventurous; a rope ladder provides access leading to a further mezzanine. This could be a perfect Childs bedroom. There is a TV point and additional wardrobe space.

“My favourite feature growing up was always the additional mezzanine floor above my bedroom,” continues the daughter of the owners. “The space is only accessible by rope ladder, which made it the perfect hideaway as a child!”

Fore GardensThe property occupies a prominent position within the centre of Broadwell village. The fore garden is mainly laid to lawn and has a blocked paved driveway with a five-bar gate at one end and pathway leading to the entrance door (as previously mentioned the front elevation has no windows but attractive timber frame look in keeping with its original structure).

Double Garage, Workshop & OfficeThe workshop has a window overlooking the garden and a door that leads to the integral double garage which has two electric up and over doors. Just off the workshop is a lobby with spiral staircase leading to the first floor which offers a significant floor space with a port hole style window to the side with a further window opposite. There are two barn style doors which open providing a balconied view of the gardens. This could provide a perfect games room or office space or studio. There are a variety of electric points and electric storage heating.

“While their daughter enjoyed her own secret den amongst the rafters, Richard had his own haven the ‘little barn’” which is the detached separate workshop and office, where he spent time on his main hobby, woodturning . The ‘little barn’ could provide new owners with the space for an office, studio, additional storage or even a summerhouse!

“Mum’s favourite place was definitely the herb garden,” her daughter continues, “she spent much of her time cultivating rare and unusual herbs as part of her work as a volunteer with the Herb Society.”

There are four different ‘zones’ to the garden. Places to sit and relax, alongside plenty of space for home-grown fruit and vegetables. The garden is fairly large, and main lawn enjoys the benefit of sun throughout the day, there is plenty of space to dine alfresco and the family have often enjoyed ending the day sitting on the swing seat behind the “little barn,” which tends to be the chosen spot for evening BBQs or a glass of wine. There is a small brook around the rear perimeter of the gardens, which dries up almost completely in the summer, though still manages to attract wildlife including frogs and toads.

Side Gardens, Parking & Rear GardensTo the right of the property there is a large section of garden mainly laid to lawn and screened from the road with three trees, hedging and fencing. Next to an apple tree there is a timber frame greenhouse and a natural stream that borders the property. The pathway continues via the external area of the garden room and leads to the rear garden which is also accessible by the blocked paved driveway, which provides off road parking for an extensive number of vehicles and sweeps round to provide attractive views of Spere Hall. There is a well maintained topiary, herb and rose garden with meandering pathways and pea stone borders, well stocked with a variety of seasonal flowers and herbs. The south facing aspect of the property provides an opportunity for the solar panels to feed in to the national grid offering any purchaser a financial benefit. There is a pleasant view of the small clock tower that is mounted conveniently on the roof of the pool and guest suite wing. The garden has an abundance of well shaped borders and attractive lawns whilst hidden behind a conifer tree is the timber shed and a pathway that leads to the workshop which is adjacent to the garage.

ServicesMains drainage, electricity, telephone are connected. Oil fired central heating

Local AuthorityRugby Borough Council 01788 533533Council Tax Band G

Viewing ArrangementsStrictly by the vendors sole agents on 01788 820062

Website AddressFor more information visit the property’s unique website address www.fineandcountry.com/50034695 Opening HoursMonday to Friday 9.00 am - 5.30 pmSaturday 9.00 am - 4.30 pm

Saved from demolition and superbly restored, Spere Hall is a spectacular example of grand design and sympathetic conservation. This historic property takes its name from the historical medieval method of original barn and hall construction. The sitting room features the original ‘Spere Truss’ with supporting wooden arch rising from trusses attached to the sidewalls. “It was my late parents’ house,” describes the daughter of Cheryl and Richard Waller, “they, along with my Grandfather, who was an architect, designed and converted the barn.”

“We moved into the property in 1989 when I was just nine years old,” she continues, “The barn was previously located at the farm across the road but was set to be demolished – my parents wanted to rescue it, preserve it and give it a new life.” Cheryl and Richard bought the field opposite the farm and transferred the old barn piece by piece for re-assembly at the present site. “The historical nature and charming character of the wood framed building attracted my parents along with the idyllic village lifestyle.” The Hospice Barn is a timber framed medieval barn built around 1700 using trussed rafters with a ridgepole lodged in the “V”. This “V” is formed by the coupling of the rafters’ diagonal braces from which the tie beam to the rafters and heavy purlins which are notched on the principal rafters above the diagonal braces. There are also braces between the principal posts and the tie beam. There are two such frames, a tie bar and two equally spaced king posts.

Generally speaking the timbers are very roughly hewn and very little attempt has been made to size them or trim them from their as grown condition. Original infill was with wattle and dawb and the roof was of traditional thatched roof, of which very little remains. As some period a galvanised iron roof was laid over the thatch and the wattle and dawb replaced with brick infill. Also an exterior cladding of elm weatherboarding was nailed to the vertical posts.

BROADWELL

Broadwell is a small, attractive and popular Warwickshire village, situated in unspoilt countryside between Rugby and Southam. There is a new village hall, village green and an active youth group. Two churches, the Broadwell Methodist Church and the Church of the Good Shepherd.

There is a wide selection of country pubs and restaurants in the surrounding villages. There is good shopping available four miles away in Southam, which has a Tesco, Co-op and further local stores, whilst there is also a Sainsburys superstore only six miles away in Rugby. There is a wider range of shopping in Royal Leamington Spa, or Rugby, both having train frequent services into London.

The train service from Rugby to London takes 55 minutes, Birmingham Airport is 24 miles and the M40 (J12) is 11 miles away. Junior schooling is found in nearby Leamington Hastings, Dunchurch or Southam. There is a wide choice of excellent private schooling all within easy travelling distance. A regular school bus transports children directly from the village.

The house itself is very private, in the heart of the village, very secluded and not overlooked. The village of Broadwell is quiet, set in the picturesque Warwickshire countryside; it is only a few minutes to walk to the edge of the village where public footpaths sprawl out into the rural surroundings. One of the longer walks that the family have enjoyed takes walkers on a scenic journey across fields to the towpath of the Grand Union Canal. Leamington is only 15-20 minutes drive away, while Rugby is only ten minutes drive away. The nearby villages of Dunchurch and Stockton have small village stores and post offices and Southam has schools, banks, post office, shops and pubs etc. There is also an excellent village infant school at Leamington Hastings. London is easily commutable, less than an hour by train from Rugby to Euston. Though the village may not have a pub of its own, there are numerous country pubs in local villages, which offer good food and real ales – accessible by car or by a short evening cycle ride. “The twice-yearly community shows are quintessentially English, with flower, vegetable and hotly contested baking competitions – none of which are taken too seriously but which do give a good excuse for the community to get together. All entries are auctioned off afterwards and this is great fun, raising proceeds for further events and community facilities. These shows make use of the excellent and modern village hall and marquees erected by the villagers the evening before on the village green. There have also been other, increasingly imaginative, uses of the green recently – as an outdoor theatre, the venue for village barn dances!”

RUGBY

Rugby is a market town in Warwickshire, on the River Avon. The town is the second largest town in the county; 13 miles (21 km) east of Coventry, on the eastern edge of Warwickshire, near the borders with Northamptonshire and Leicestershire. The town is credited with being the birthplace of rugby football.

Rugby is most famous for the invention of rugby football, which is played throughout the world. The invention of the game is credited to William Webb Ellis whilst breaking the existing rules of a football match played in 1823 at Rugby School.

Rugby School is one of England’s oldest and most prestigious public schools, and was the setting of Thomas Hughes’ semi-autobiographical masterpiece Tom Brown’s Schooldays.

This delightful and striking property is now ready for a new family to take it forward and make it their own.

TO BE AMENDED

Agent Notes: All measurements are approximate and quoted in imperial with metric equivalents 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 tohave not been tested and therefore no guarantee can be given that they are in working order. Internal photographs are reproducedfor general information and it must not be inferred that any item shown is included with the property. For a free valuation, contactthe numbers listed on the brochure.

DirectionsLeave Rugby on the main A426 Dunchurch Road passing Sainsbury’s on your left hand side after two miles. Turn right at the roundabout and after a further mile, you will arrive at the main T-junction in Dunchurch. Continue straight ahead through Kites Hardwick and Draycote Water. After a further two miles, take the second left turning to Broadwell and Napton. Where the road turns sharp right, continue straight ahead to Broadwell village, a right hand turn takes you into Hayway Lane, as the road bends to the right (opposite the farm) you will see Spere Hall on the right hand side, identified by the Fine & Country for sale sign.