Sleeps four comfortably -  occasional six

      

KINGFISHER COTTAGE was built around the turn of the twentieth century, together with five others adjacent, to house workers employed at the mill then in existence just across the nearby hump-backed bridge. The subsequent addition of a wing is evident.  The cottage is roadside, fronting onto the quiet by-way of Mill Lane. Over recent years considerable modification has been undertaken, including the erection of a rear conservatory (sun room) in 1995.

Barrow-upon-Soar is centrally located in a region known as the East Midlands, Barrow lies in the Soar Valley and on the River Soar itself just to the east of the A6, the main route between Leicester and Loughborough, and about 110 miles north of central London. Leicester, the county seat, is 10 miles southward, Loughborough being 4 miles to the north.
 

Accommodation

Over the winter of 1999/2000 we carried out extensive re-modelling to provide accommodation for up to four guests in considerable comfort, occasionally six; demolishing a wall to combine living and cooking areas, extending sitting room rearward and providing adjacent full bathroom, levelling floor surfaces and laying laminate throughout downstairs.

The kitchen has washing machine, dishwasher, microwave and toaster. The oven is under stairs for ease of operation and to maximise kitchen area space. opening up stairwell, extending landing so providing separate entrance with lobby and large closet for master bedroom, creating balcony over sitting room extension with access from master bedroom through double French doors, restructuring second bedroom closet arrangement to allow more room space, modernisation of original bathroom including provision of electric shower, laying new carpeting on stairway and upstairs throughout, installation of gas central heating, and replacement of all windows with bowed PVC framed double glazed leaded panes.

Passing through the front door you enter the living room/kitchen, a feature of which is the coal-effect gas fire, seen to the right. This is intended as the main dining area, though as there is a settee and TV it can also be used as an additional sitting room. Turning left in front of the cloak closet at the end of the living area you pass into the sitting room

The large settee is in fact a sofa/bed designed to sleep two. The new bathroom is immediately to the right as you enter. Air conditioning is a rarely needed luxury in UK homes, but we have installed ceiling fans in both rooms in the event guests are blessed with hot weather. Returning to the kitchen/living room and turning left you see the stairwell, again on your left. Up you go, and on reaching the landing you see on your left the original bathroom, straight ahead the second bedroom, and to your right the entrance lobby and closet area for the master bedroom. Immediately apparent straight ahead of you is a deep window aspecting the balcony which allows plenty of light into the lobby and onto the mirrored closet doors, the bedroom entrance being to left of this window. A welcoming feature of the master bedroom is a small fireplace, with the added attraction, of course, of the French doors and balcony.

Master Bedroom for two is provided by the rather magnificent four-poster bed, and there is ample drawer space in addition to the closet. The second bedroom is only slightly smaller, sleeping two and giving adequate clothes storage. Going back downstairs turn left at the bottom and you're in the conservatory, on the far side of which is the rear entrance door. Double glazed, the conservatory retains heat in winter but is a veritable suntrap just about any time that heavenly body shines.

Go through the door into the garden and you find yourself standing on slabs beyond which is the lawn, an area some 50 feet long and 20 feet wide with extended side edges cultivated  and feature planted. At the far end of the garden is the Grand Union Canal, the area between lawn and canal bank being slabbed and gravelled. Walk down the garden to the canal edge and you will see this is a mooring. Turning attention to the right of the cottage, the arbour you see leads to an open area sufficient car parking one medium sized car, and probably two small ones. Access from Mill Lane is gated, and full slabbing continued from cottage rear.

Telephone provided, any charges incurred being deducted from Security Deposit. Use of phone cards recommended - ATT, MCI, IDT etc for international calls, and universally available BT for within UK.

 An upgrade will be taking place soon - construction of a landing stage.

Tariff's

A fifty per cent deposit is required at the time of reservation. Entire price is due 30 days before reservation begins. Personal or travelers checks accepted, credit card bookings in plan for future.

Seasons

Rates in GBP

For further information please visit our website:-    www.anenglishcottage.com 

Email:-    nikkidavid@aol.com