Church Lane, Kingston

A substantial detached Grade II Listed farmhouse, set in the shadow of the village Church, with private gardens and off road parking. The property is well proportioned with good ceiling heights and provides exceptionally bright, characterful accommodation over three levels.

Enjoying a picturesque setting in the centre of the village, this unique home enjoys views over All Saints and St Andrew’s Church. Originally the property is believed to date back to the 17th century. It has since been sympathetically extended and updated around 20 years ago to bring it up to modern standards, with every aspect of the renovation respectfully undertaken to preserve the character of the building.

The property is approached over a hard landscaped front garden that provides parking, with the front door opening to an entrance hallway with a traditional tiled floor. The two principal reception rooms have views over the church and each has exposed timber beams, impressive inglenook fireplaces, and solid wood flooring. The spacious kitchen/breakfast room to the rear of the building is fitted with bespoke cabinetry, solid oak work surfaces, and a ceramic butler sink. There is oak flooring, a walk-in pantry, and the oil-fired Aga adds a cozy feel to the house. The kitchen extends into a useful second utility/storage space, that would equally be ideal for use as a playroom or study zone, and there is a door to the inner hallway that leads to the staircase and has a traditional cloakroom, fitted with a hand basin and high level w.c off.

A second door gives access to the house via the side of the building and opens to a useful utility/boot room, with a twin ceramic sink, fitted cupboards, and space for white goods.

On the second floor, two interlinked double rooms provide an ideal layout for a guest room with an adjacent sitting room, or for a growing teenager needing a separate study space.

Outside, the front garden is enclosed by a low wall with a gravel driveway providing off-road parking. Gated access leads to a productive kitchen garden, with terracing, raised flower and shrub beds, a timber shed, and a wood store. There is a small wildflower garden, which in turn opens to a well-established vegetable, herb, and fruit garden. There is also a lawn with beautifully stocked flower and shrub borders and a wide variety of ornamental and fruit-bearing trees, bushes, and shrubs.

Kingston is the capital of Jamaica, the first name of Hull, and somewhere just outside of London it sits Upon-Thames but to the people of Cambridgeshire it’s none of those things. It’s a pretty little village about 7 miles west of Cambridge, with a population of just over 200. It’s not a village you pass through by accident as the A603 bypasses it to the south and the B1046 to the north so it’s pleasantly peaceful. You therefore don’t move to Kingston for its lively club scene or sushi bars (although there is the Cambridge Club Music Festival at nearby Childerley Hall once a year), you move there for its quietness, country walks, rides, and laid-back loveliness.

Cambridge Country Club with its golf course, gym, spa, and pool is just north of the village towards Bourn and you can get your day-to-day shopping at Comberton (2 miles). There’s a primary school in Bourn, and secondary and sixth forms in Comberton too. If you and the dog are both feeling fit you can walk along bridleways and lanes to the National Trust’s Wimpole Estate and Eversden woods to the south of the village. And remember, this idyllic rural lifestyle doesn’t mean moving to the middle of nowhere, you’re only 7 miles west of Cambridge, that’s about as close as Upon-Thames is to London.

The village fosters a wonderful sense of community with a village hall and a charming community orchard. The orchard features a variety of heritage fruit trees, including medlars, quince, mulberries, greengages, apples, and pears.

For commuters, Kingston enjoys excellent transport links. A regular hourly bus service provides easy access to Cambridge. The village is conveniently located near the M11 (Junction 12, approximately 6 miles away), as well as Royston and Cambridge mainline train stations, both offering fast services to London King’s Cross and Liverpool Street.