After failing to find the perfect house in their desired location back in 1967, David and Sandra Brotheridge decided that they would build their own.
They had been looking to buy a property in Aston Cantlow, , which was David’s home village. When they were unsuccessful they instead bought a plot of land with a dilapidated wooden weekend cottage on it.
“We knocked it down it down but it would have fallen down if you had blown too hard on it,” recalls David.
They were left with a three quarter of an acre plot on which to build their ideal home.
“We did most of it ourselves except for the brickwork. I am a consultant in the construction industry so I knew what I am doing.
“We thoroughly enjoyed it. My wife on the scaffolding offloading tiles as I hauled them up on a winch. We had a great time and at the end of the day we got what we wanted.”
Since then they have extended twice, creating a house to meet their needs as a family and to create space for hobbies and leisure activities.
“The original build was a three bedrooms and one bathroom, a lounge and dining room/kitchen,” says David.
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“It was always a possibility that we might extend. It was a nice plot and we built the house in the middle directly facing south so we had the facility of adding on all round it if we wanted to.
“The first extension was in the 1980s. We built another lounge and a utility room. The original lounge we made into a playroom for the children, It’s multi function. We’ve had dart boards in it, TVs in it so they could watch their programmes.
“At the same time we built ourselves a master bedroom with a dressing area and a big bathroom.
“Then at the beginning of this century we put on a gallery, a new entrance hall, an office, a third bathroom and gym, sauna and steam room.
“I have a very big and prints. We had them hanging all over the house and still had lots to spare. So we decided we would build a gallery, which would double up as a snooker room if necessary but we never got round to buying a snooker table.”
Future buyers could use the rooms for a variety of uses if they don’t collect art.
“The gallery could be used for anything,” says David. “It is big enough to put a full screen cinema in. You could have a dance in there, it has hard wood floors. If someone wanted to run a dance school from home they could put that in there.”
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The gym, sauna and steam room were added because Sandra had been suffering from back problems and had to do specific exercises.
“We live out in the country so instead of her having to drive to Stratford to the local gym every week in the winter, she could do it at home. She still uses it today.”
They have also invested time in creating an beautiful garden complete with two very impressive water features.
“We have enjoyed laying it out and planting all the trees. We have a very big koi pond by the decked area that is 30,000 gallons and seven feet deep. If someone wanted to convert it into a swimming pool, as long as they could get planning permission, it wouldn’t be a problem. It is already there. The pond has lights in it and everything.
“The other pond has goldfish in it and things like that and a bridge over.”
With their son and daughter both grown up and left home, the couple have decided to downsize.
“We are like peas in a colander,” laughs David. “We won’t find a house a gallery so I may sell my collection, I may store it and take out one or two every now and again.
“Having been here 47 years, and built it all from scratch we are going to miss everything about it but our needs are changing and we require something a bit smaller now.”
Cantilupe House comprises a substantial four-bedroom house, a self-contained two-bedroom annexe and a detached double garage, set in approximately three quarter of an acre of grounds in Aston Cantlow, just a few miles to the north-west of Stratford-upon-Avon.
On the ground floor there is a new entrance hall, office, gallery, sitting room, kitchen diner, utility room, family room, conservatory, gym, sauna and steam room
On the first floor there is a master suite with substantial en suite and dressing room, guest bedroom with en suite and dressing room, two further double bedrooms and a family bathroom.
In the annexe there is a kitchen, lounge, two bedrooms and a bathroom.
There is driveway access and provides parking space for two to three cars. .
Within the landscaped gardens are the large fishpond, a substantial decked area with the koi pond running along two sides, lawns, shrubs and a log cabin which makes a good sized workshop.
Aston Cantlow is close to Stratford-upon-Avon, Alcester and Warwick. It is equidistant between the M5 and M40 motorways access to the south of the country.
Trains from Bearley or Wilmcote provide direct access to London and Birmingham.
VIEWING INFORMATION
AGENT: Fine and Country
TEL: 0121 746 6400
WEB: www.fineandcountry.com
GUIDE PRICE: £800,000