Stories from 'A Country Agent'

“What a stunning former rectory, a most impressive interior. All in just under 2 acres.” Brochure:  Built in 1896  to replace the original, more modest, residence that was destroyed by fire, The Old Rectory has been built on a grand scale to satisfy the tastes of the wealthy Canadian wife of the rector, who was the youngest son of the Earl of Coventry.  Sadly, she died before the house was finished and the rector elected to live in a smaller house nearby. The house was let by the church until it was sold in the 1950's. It was used to run a successful business incorporating a licensed wedding venue and bed and breakfast with holiday cottages until bought by the current owners who have returned the house into a comfortable family home. Marketed through Knight Frank Country Department from 13/03/2021 for £2,850,000   More

Ashton Kutcher & Mila Kunis’ Modern Farmhouse in Los Angeles, California Celebrity power couple Ashton Kutcher and wife Mila Kunis gave “Architectural Digest” an inside look at their six-acre property, complete with a main house connected to a guesthouse/entertainment barn. The couple started the five-year journey by creating separate Pinterest boards and were surprised to see “90 percent of the images we selected were the same”, according to Kutcher.  Constructed using reclaimed wood, board-foam concrete, and glass, the couple wanted a sustainable home and ended up commissioning Howard Backen of Backen & Gillam Architects to design their abode as he is a “master of the so-called modern farmhouse”, according to Architectural Digest. Backen praised the couple and stated, “Ashton and Mila are two of the smartest, most inquisitive people we’ve ever worked with. We talked about everything from beam sizes to the details of the cross bracing to the junctures of the wood planks an...

  “An imposing house that you would imagine writers of horror movies have in mind when they write about Gothic mansions. Eerily beautiful and with 404 acres, a magnificent opportunity for a wonderful estate.” Brochure: At the heart of the estate is an exceptional 19th century principal house designed and built by Thomas Johnson of Litchfield in Tudor Gothic style, and listed Grade II* for its architectural and historic importance... continue reading On the market with Savills for £6,250,000 (June 2021)

  The most searched-for countryside market towns on Rightmove... Market towns are in the spotlight as buyers look for homes close to the countryside with good schools, a thriving community and high streets that are the heart of the town. As lockdown restrictions start to ease further, we’re seeing more home-hunters on Rightmove search for small, rural market towns that are bigger than a village, but offer a quieter life than busy city centres. The appeal of a bustling high street, with not just a great pub and a handy corner store, but a string of independent shops and cafés, and a much-loved restaurant serving good, local produce is hard to ignore. Throw in an artisan bakery, a good fishmonger and a weekend farmer’s market, and you might just have almost everything you need within a stone’s throw of home. So we have taken a look to find out which countryside market towns are at the top of home-hunters’ wish-lists right now. Most searched-for countryside market towns Top spot: Totn...

  “Suitable for Lairds, Ladies & Disney Princesses; most people dream of having their own castle but it might be more affordable than you’d think!”   According to Wikipedia:   A  castle  is a type of  fortified  structure built during the  Middle Ages  predominantly by the  nobility  or royalty and by  military orders . Scholars debate the scope of the word  castle , but usually consider it to be the private fortified residence of a lord or noble. This is distinct from a  palace , which is not fortified; from a fortress, which was not always a residence for royalty or nobility; and from a fortified settlement, which was a public defence – though there are many similarities among these types of construction. Usage of the term has varied over time and has been applied to structures as diverse as  hill forts  and country houses. Over the approximately 900 years that castles were built, they took o...