Location

Walnut Tree cottage is situated in the hamlet of Midwinters, near Chorley and Stottesdon; both small, peaceful villages in the county of Shropshire. Surrounded by countryside, the parish holds rich history, including St Mary's church, which is one of the most important churches in the whole district. It contains a number of old and interesting relics including an elaborately carved stone lintel dating to the Anglo-Saxon period (A.D.450 - 1066) and a carved Norman (1066 - 1154) font. A stone, dedicated to the good works of Thomas Crump, who is believed to have built Walnut Tree Cottage, can be found close to the altar.

The area is criss-crossed by a network of footpaths and bridleways, and there are a number of local pubs and restaurants. The charming towns of Bridgnorth and Cleobury Mortimer are approximately 20 minutes away with Ludlow and Shrewsbury also within easy reach. as are historical treasures such as the Severn Valley Gorge and Ironbridge.

The market town of Bridgnorth holds a range of shops, supermarkets, pubs, bars, restaurants and much more. The River Severn splits the town into High Town and Low Town, linked by the Cliff Railway, which is the UK's oldest and steepest inland funicular railway. Bridgnorth is also home to the Severn Valley Railway, which provides scenic rides along the river Severn to Kidderminster with stops at picturesque stations such as Arley and Bewdley along the way. In the summer, the gentle whistle of a steam train can occasionally be heard in the distance.

Rail connections are available from Telford, Kidderminster and Wolverhampton. Providing easy links to Brimingham, London, Edinburgh, and Glasgow.   

There are well regarded schools nearby in both the state and independent sector such as Oldbury Wells School around 7.1 miles away, Bridgnorth endowed School around 7.3 miles away, Stottesdon C of E Primary School around 2.3 miles away and Kinlet C of E Primary School around 4.3 miles away.

All distances and journey times are approximate.

Description

Walnut Tree Cottage is the perfect example of an exemplary renovation, which offers the most idyllic lifestyle and was featured on 'My Dream Derelict Home' when it was remodelled in 2012/13. The house is made up of a perfect combination of organic materials including original stone work and green oak, which work beautifully together. The current owners have very thoughtfully and sympathetically renovated the property by using reclaimed products and natural stone, offering the most wonderful home.   

The original cottage dates to 1795 and is thought to be associated with Thomas Crump, who was a local mine owner and philanthropist. The current owners have added conventional and green oak timber framed extensions to the original cottage. There is stone flooring throughout the ground floor and the whole property is fitted with underfloor heating.
It is designed to be economically and environmentally sympathetic, with a ground source heat pump, which utilises a large ground collector and two 80 metre boreholes as heat sources. It also has PV panels and a rainwater harvesting system, which feeds toilets, washing machine and water troughs in the fields. It has been renovated to a high standard, with oak timber used throughout in doors, door-frames, windowsills and staircase and it also boasts a sprinkler system and an alarm.

The solid oak main stable door opens into a lobby area, from which there are doors to a boot room with a wet-room shower and to a separate cloakroom with an electro-opaque window (automatic frosting). An inner, glass door leads into the main ground floor hallway. The useful utility room has plumbing in place for a washing machine, which may be run either from mains or from harvested rainwater. There are fitted units and a large stone sink.

From this entrance hall, an oak doorway leads into the snug, which is located in the original part of the house. This room has an inglenook brick fireplace and a Clearview wood burner. There are deep windowsills, exposed beams and the original front entrance, now with a modern, part-glazed oak door leading outside through a small oak framed porch to the gardens. The thoughtful addition of a 5 Amp lighting circuit means that the main room light switches control the free-standing lamps as well as the ceiling lights.

The entrance hall also leads down brick steps to the fabulous green oak timber-framed extension, where the beautiful kitchen/living area showcases exposed stone work and provides views over the garden and further afield to the West, offering fabulous sunsets over farmland. The kitchen has bespoke fitted units, granite worktops, an Everhot Range oven with induction hob, a French limestone sink, an integrated microwave, an integrated dishwasher and twin extractor fans. A large central island provides additional storage and has a Teppanyaki station facing the living area.

Brick stairs lead from the entrance hall to the oak room, which is flooded with natural light and it provides a calming space to relax and read. Here again, a 5 Amp lighting circuit allows easy use of free-standing lamps. There is engineered oak flooring and French doors leading onto a balcony where there are views of the Brown Clee and the surrounding countryside. This room and the balcony offer wonderful views over the property, including one of the ponds and a waterfall.

A craftsman-built oak and wrought-iron staircase leads to a landing from which there is access to the principal bedroom, which has a high vaulted ceiling and an ensuite shower room with electro-opaque glazing stone tiled walls, floor and a stone vanity sink and also to the family bathroom with a shower, natural stone flooring and stone wall tiles. Also accessed off this landing are two further double bedrooms, one of which has built in hanging space, an ensuite shower room and under-eaves storage. All of the bedrooms have at least double aspect.

On the top floor of the house is a further spacious triple-aspect bedroom , under-eaves storage and doors leading into a separate WC and to a further room, which has the potential to be further bedroom space, an office, a hobby room or an ensuite.

Gardens & Grounds

Walnut Tree Cottage is situated in 6.76 acres of gardens and paddocks, which include an orchard. Within the land are natural springs which feed the ponds. Electric wooden gates open onto a gravel parking area with a car port and enclosed barn on your right hand side, and a log store under a lean to, at the side. A wicket gate provides access to the main house door, and a gravel path meanders through the garden where there are planted beds and borders, areas of lawn, silver birch trees, a number of seating areas and a central fountain.

Wicket gates provide access into the pastureland, to the small grove of trees around the well/spring and to both ponds. There are raised vegetable beds and a greenhouse along with access to the cellar. The cellar is perfect as a wine store or storage area and also houses the water softener. Pretty rose beds border the back of the house and there is a BBQ and terrace area for al fresco dining or enjoying the wonderful sunsets. The current owners have built a sunken firepit with stone seating for 6 people. A haha separates the formal garden from the pasture land.


An old barn is separated into three bays, two of which are accessible from the garden and are currently used as a garden store and tool shed. The third section, accessible from the paddock, is an old cow byre and the traditional manger is still in place. The original linhay provides storage along its entire length. This building has the potential for conversion, subject to the necessary planning permission and the current owner has had architects plans drawn up. To the side of the barn is corral area, including a double gate system, which has proven suitable as a cattle crush.

To the bottom of the middle paddock is a pond, fed by a stream, and a small waterfall, which is home to ducks and moorhens. There are two separate causeways over the stream for tractor access and a glorious walnut tree, hence the name Walnut Tree Cottage. The land extends away from this point, with fields to the North, the South and the West. All of the fields have water troughs fed either from harvested rain water, or the mains.

The orchard is planted with damson, plum, apple, pear and quince trees and alongside is an enclosed and electric fenced chicken run. Within the front drive is the original pigsty which has been renovated and has an outside run, which opens into both the garden and the paddock. Part of this building is the boiler room which houses the ground source heat pump and heat store and the rain water harvesting UV and filter for the water.

There is a further neat log store to the side of the pigsty. Climbing roses are abundant during the spring and summer months and the wisteria on the south facing part of the house. In the front garden is a Tulip tree, magnolia and Acer.

The pasture land is suitable for equestrian use, or a small holding.