A specially curated guide to the next 48 hours (or more) in Bath
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CHRISTMAS | THE MARKET RETURNS
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Bath Christmas Market, 24 November – 11 December, across Bath city centre
With over 170 stalls to explore, this year’s Bath Christmas Market is set to be one of the city’s biggest to date.
Bath Christmas Market is known for being the festive home of artisans, attracting some of the best makers from the South West and beyond. This year you can pick up everything from shoes to scotch eggs whilst soaking up some of the festive atmosphere.
2022 will also see the launch of the market’s Christmas Carts, situated on Green Street. Here, you will find micro-businesses looking to try their hand at market trading for a short period of time. Many of the makers are just launching their businesses and offer something that has never been at Bath Christmas Market before.
As well as the market to explore, the city’s favourite streets will also be awash with festive joy once again this year. Monuments including the Roman Baths, Bath Mineral Hospital, and of course Bath Abbey will be a multitude of festive hues to add a wonderful ambiance to the city.
Find out more at bathchristmasmarket.co.uk
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OUR NOVEMBER ISSUE – OUT NOW |
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Our November magazine features a collection of great reading by our team of wonderful writers as well as beautifully presented advertising by Bath's best businesses. We really hope you'll enjoy the read!
Every month we deliver 15,000 copies door to door, but if you don't get a copy at home then you can pick up a copy at many places around town and from our floor stands at: Waitrose, Sainsbury [Green Park], M&S Foods in Twerton, Tesco in Weston Village, and at The Holburne Museum.
Click here to enjoy our current issue!
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And if you would like to have a copy sent in the post every month, then we offer a postal subscription for just £33 for 12 issues, £18 for six issues or buy a copy for just £4.25. UK mainland prices. For Euro and World zone subscription prices – see our website.
Front cover credit: Darren Soh
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COOKING | HOMEMADE TREATS
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All About The Cooks launches in Bath
All About The Cooks, the online marketplace that enables talented home-cooks to sell their food to local people, has launched in Bath.
After a successful launch in Bristol with over 1,000 orders and £40k paid to local cooks, the platform is now expanding to BA postcodes. Founded by Bristol Food Connections chair Claire Ladkin, the start-up provides authentic and wholesome food for family mealtimes, dinner parties and celebrations. From Mahesh’s tasteful Thali, Filipino dishes by Russell and Quelly, to Mexican date-night classics by Ross and Josh, there’s something to satisfy all taste buds.
Readers of The Bath Magazine can enjoy 20% off your first order with the code BATHMAG20. allaboutthecooks.co.uk
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WEEKEND RECIPE | SOUP SEASON
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Parsnip, Chestnut and Smoky Bacon Soup
At first in-the-bowl glance, this soup may not look like the soul-soothing bowl of winter comfort that it is – the sludgy yellowy-brown colour is a bit unpromising, to say the least. But oh, the flavour! Sweet, buttery parsnips earthed by nutty, creamy chestnuts, with smoky bacon adding deeply umami fascination to the whole affair; overall, this soup proves that beige food can indeed be beautiful.
Fresh chestnuts can be a bit of a faff to prepare, what with all those fiddly skins to remove after roasting or boiling. Fortunately, vacuum-packed, ready-to-use chestnuts are readily available in all big supermarkets, cutting down this recipe's preparation time by at least an hour. On the bacon front: buy the best quality, plumpest lardons you can get your hands on – strips of stringy streaky bacon really don't pack the same flavour punch. Meanwhile, starting the lardon sautéing process in a cold pan really helps to render the flavoursome fat from those lardons, so you shouldn't have to use any additional oil to get the onion/parsnip party started. Hold back on adding any extra salt to your finished soup, though; the lardons double-up on the seasoning front too, so just a flourish of black pepper at the finishing line is all you need to turn this simple soup into a superb suppertime feast.
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Ingredients (serves 4 as a main course, 6 as a starter)
200g smoked bacon lardons 1 large onion, peeled and chopped 1 garlic clove, peeled and crushed 1 heaped tsp dried thyme 600g parsnips, peeled and chopped 400ml whole or semi-skimmed milk 600-800ml chicken stock 1 x 180g pack cooked chestnuts, roughly chopped
To serve: single cream (optional)
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Method
1. Tip the bacon lardons into a large, cold saucepan, put the pan on the hob and turn the heat up to high. As soon as the lardons start to sizzle, turn the heat down to medium and sauté the lardons until crisp and golden. Using a slotted spoon, scoop the crispy lardons out of the pan and set to one side.
2. Add the chopped onion to the pan and sauté in the bacon fat until translucent, adding the garlic and dried thyme for the last minute or so. Add the chopped parsnips, stir well and continue to sauté for another 5 minutes.
3. Add the milk, 600ml of chicken stock and the chopped chestnuts to the pan. Bring to the boil then turn the heat down. Cover and simmer for around 30 minutes or until the parsnips are really tender; if the mixture looks a bit 'gloopy', add the remaining 200ml stock.
4. Add half of the bacon lardons to the pan and blitz everything together with a hand blender until you've reached your preferred consistency. Bring the soup back up to serving temperature, ladle into warm bowls and serve topped with the reserved bacon lardons, a generous smattering of freshly ground black pepper and a drizzle of single cream, if using.
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DRINKS | COUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS
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Thatchers 12 Days of Christmas Gift Box
Thatchers are unveiling a Christmas surprise: the cider makers' very first 12 Days of Christmas Cider Gift Box.
Available online
and from the Cider Shop at Thatchers in Somerset, the 12 Days of Christmas Cider Gift Box contains a selection of Thatchers’ family favourites. In the best traditions of Christmas gift boxes, which ciders you’ll find when you open each door will be left as a surprise. The Christmas Gift Box costs £34.99 (plus delivery if ordering online).
thatcherscider.co.uk
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Looking for more delicious foodie inspo?
Click through to browse our full Delicious Guide!
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OBJECT OF DESIRE | WEAR A RAINBOW
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Joyous jewellery by Mallory
Whether it’s from the Mallory bespoke jewellery collection or one of the many luxury brands on show, you can find a riot of multi-coloured precious gems set in handcrafted pieces that are vivacious, joyful and guaranteed to please for many years to come.
Here are four beautiful rings that showcase and celebrate the beauty of the rainbow. Clockwise from top left:
- By Fabergé Colours of Love collection. 18ct rose gold rainbow sapphire and diamond ring | £3,360
- 18ct yellow gold rub-set, round-cut rainbow sapphire and round brilliant-cut diamond cluster ring with tapered shoulders | £3,150
- 18ct yellow gold, four claw set, round-cut rainbow sapphire full eternity ring | £1,895
- 18ct white gold channel-set, princess-cut rainbow sapphire full eternity ring | £2,350
With a range of matching earrings, bracelets and colourful necklaces, explore Mallory s own colourful creations as well as all the top brands and makers by clicking here.
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BEAUTY | A MOMENT OF STILLNESS
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Homefront Interiors: Positive Energy Bath Salt Gift Set
Himalayan and Epsom salts are known to relieve stress and anxiety; sink into the floral and warming fragrance of Happy Space with Rose, Geranium and Amber. Or soak away in the fresh and fruity notes of Positive Energy | £30
Available from homefrontinteriors.co.uk
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HOME | SUSTAINABLY SOURCED
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Eym + Lucy Williams Launch refillable Candle Collection
Together with Lucy Williams, Eym release their collection of candles channelling the concept of ‘Home as a Sanctuary’.
Inspired by Lucy’s new home, the collection celebrates sacred spaces and the transportive power of scent, with the pieces representing the colours and rooms within the house. The products use 100% natural fragrances and have been created to be burned and then reused and re-filled forever. Each piece is unique, hand blown by artisans in Murano, Italy and available in two colourways.
Proudly British-made, the ethically and sustainably sourced Eym + Lucy Williams collection are both priced at £150 and are available at eymnaturals.com.
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MAGAZINE KIOSK | WHY WE LOVE PRINT
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Curated by Daniel McCabe
After a decade, HODINKEE is pretty much established as the go-to journal for modern and vintage wristwatch enthusiasts. It’s achieved this by blending in an appealing lifestyle element and making the magazine accessible to a wide audience, whether we’re talking hardcore horology or the goggling the bling-tastic stylings of hip-hop. It’s not cheap (it sells for almost $40 in the US) but it’s truly gorgeous and we have to agree with the publisher that ‘the stories are long and robust, and the photos are glossy, but it’s the people and objects that fill the pages that will stay with you long after you flip to the last page’ | £34.50
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CHARITY | BATH CATS & DOGS HOME
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Winter appeal launched to support medical care of rescue animals in need
This week, local
charity Bath Cats and Dogs Home launches their winter appeal to raise vital
funds to support injured or sick rescue animals across Bath and North-East
Somerset, parts of Somerset and Wiltshire.
The aim of the appeal is to raise £20,000
towards funding animal welfare for unwanted pets and to provide the medical
care often urgently needed when rescue animals arrive at the Home. Due to the cost-of-living crisis, and the impact of the pandemic, the Home is seeing a significant increase in rescue animals arriving with advanced medical problems. This appeal will allow the charity to care for dogs and cats when they need it most. To support the Winter appeal and help rescue animals get the emergency care they desperately need visit bcdh.org.uk
Featured image: TV presenter and celebrity vet, Dr James Greenwood and his rescue labrador Dolly: "This life-saving veterinary work is made possible by the generosity of supporters of the charity and the rising cost of care and growing number of animals needing complex medical treatment means every penny is important. Any gift you can afford towards this appeal will help animals in vital need of care and provide them with medical treatment to ensure a speedy recovery and help them find the loving homes they deserve", said James.
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TOAST Festive Makers Market, 26–27 November, TOAST Bath
Ceramicist Reesha Zubair and Ellie Jauncey from Ede flowers will be at TOAST Bath on Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 November.
TOAST New Maker, Reesha, will be showcasing her beautiful ceramics, inspired by her childhood in the Maldives. Meanwhile, Ellie will be leading a pressed workshop which customers can buy tickets to attend. Along with enjoying spiced mulled wine and mince pies, this will be an opportunity to meet some of the makers behind TOAST’s in-store range, and to find out more about the process behind their craft.
You can find more information on the flower pressing workshop on the events page: toa.st/pages/events | toa.st | Toast Bath, 7 Bartlett St, Bath BA1 2QZ
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THEATRE | A BOY, A LAMP AND A GENIE
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Aladdin, 8 December–8 January, Theatre Royal Bath
Looking for the best family pantomime this Christmas? Your wish is the Theatre Royal Bath's command...
The amazing story of a boy, a lamp, and a genie returns to spread magic across Bath.
TV and West End star Tom Lister (Emmerdale, 42nd Street) stars as the wicked Abanazar, with award-winning Bath pantomime legend Jon Monie and dame extraordinaire Nick Wilton (EastEnders) returning for more festive fun in a brand new pantomime packed full of enchanting story, side-splitting comedy, exotic settings, dazzling special effects, plenty of comedy slapstick and much-loved routines. Boo the baddies, cheer the goodies and join the Theatre Royal Bath on the most magical of magic carpet rides this holiday season, with a brand new script for 2022 by Jon Monie.
Tickets from £9–£38.50 (depending on date and performance time). Group discounts available: contact the Box Office for details (not available 23–31 December).
Box Office 01225 448844 | theatreroyal.org.uk
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CHRISTMAS MARKET | LOCAL CREATIVITY
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Bear Flat Artists' Christmas Art Fair & Market, 3 December (10am–5pm)
Bear Flat Artists present a fair and market to showcase local creativity, with unique artwork and handmade gifts for sale including ceramics, painting, jewellery, sculpture, photography, printmaking, glass, illustration, cards, festive tree decorations and more.
Bear Flat Artists' Christmas Art Fair & Market will take place at Methodist Church Hall, off Wellsway, Bruton Avenue, Bear Flat, Bath | Free Entry, all welcome | bearflatartists.co.uk
Featured artists, left to right: Karen Parker Jewellery; Sammy Hayward; Yvonne Elston
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ART | PRINTMAKER AND STORYTELLER
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Elisabeth Frink: Strength and Sensuality, until 18 January, The Holburne Museum
Featuring themes such as storytelling, animals, humour and violence, Elisabeth Frink: Strength & Sensuality is the Holburne’s first opportunity to show a selection of Dame Elisabeth Frink’s bronzes and works on paper.
The 11 works included depict her unique take on some of the most loved and well-known tales from Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales and classical Greek mythology, in her Children of the Gods series of etchings. Together, they examine an almost unknown, or indeed forgotten, but important aspect of Frink’s career, as a storyteller and printmaker. Visitors will also be able to see a number of Frink’s best-known motifs, winged figures, male torsos and horses | holburne.org
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MUSIC | CHORAL FAVOURITES AND NEW DISCOVERIES
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The Handful: Beautiful Star, 3 December (7.30pm), St Mary's Church, Bathwick
The Handful presents a festive programme that centres around two major works: four movements from Ringeltänze by Libby Larsen, written in 1983, and Quatre motets pour le temps de Noël written by Francis Poulenc in 1951–52.
The concert will also feature choral favourites and new discoveries from the 16th century to the present day. The Handful will be joined by the talented music students of Prior Park College.
Tickets £15 (£5 for under 25s, free for under 16s) | bathboxoffice.org.uk
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MUSIC | ICY AND MYSTERIOUS
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Joe Levy, 11 & 14 December, The Mission Theatre
Cold and Magic: Winter Baroque invites audiences to experience the music of 17th and 18th Century Europe, with a distinctly icy and mysterious tone. Join countertenor Joe Levy, accompanied on the piano by Leila Kermani, for a selection of Baroque pieces including the works of Handel, Purcell, Bach and Vivaldi, alongside lesser known composers such as Lambert and Grandi.
Storytelling is an essential part of how we experience winter, and has been for the span of human history. Joe intertwines music and storytelling to give insight into the tales Baroque composers were trying to tell and to perhaps glean an understanding of European winters during the 17th and 18th Centuries.
In a period of history often portrayed as elegant and restrained, Cold and Magic will seek to expose a different, more intriguing face of the Baroque world. Joe will be performing at the Mission Theatre in Bath on 11 and 14 December at 7.30pm. Go to joelevymusic.com/live for tickets.
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ART | NEW GALLERY NOW OPEN
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The Neil Ireson gallery: now open
Having studied Fine Art at Central St Martins in London, Neil now creates stained-glass features for residential and commercial markets. His new gallery includes one-off stained-glass pieces, in addition to paintings and prints to suit all budgets.
See Neil's beautiful works at: 78 Walcot Street (1st Floor), Bath | neilireson.com
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AUCTION | FREE HOME VISITS
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Lawrences Auctioneers: FREE home visits, Friday 25 November
Specialist Andy Sagar will be available to value your objects and antiques throughout Bath on 25 November, 9am – 5pm.
Free valuations also available online, or via email, phone, and WhatsApp. To make an appointment, call or email: 01460 73041 | andy.sagar@lawrences.co.uk | lawrences.co.uk
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CHRISTMAS | GEORGIAN FESTIVITIES
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'Christmas at the Crescent', 26 November until 31 December, No. 1 Royal Crescent
Christmas – but make it Georgian! The '12 Tales of a Georgian Christmas' experience immerses you in all the stories, sights and scents of a Georgian-style Christmas.
See how the Georgians celebrated Christmas in this authentic Georgian home, and try to find all the country mice who are helping prepare for the festive season. Santa’s Grotto is back every Saturday and Sunday until 24 December, and the on-site Gift Shop has had a festive makeover, with Christmas gifts galore for Austenites, Bridgerton fans, children, book-lovers and history buffs; late night opening (until 8pm) every Thursday, Friday and Saturday up to and including 17 December.
Visit the No. 1 Royal Crescent website for more details: no1royalcrescent.org.uk/whats-on
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LOOKING BACK | OVER THE BRIDGE
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Words by Andrew Swift
Pulteney Bridge
This week’s archive photograph of Pulteney Bridge was taken at least 156 years ago, in 1866. That was the year in which George Scovell, whose shop can be seen on the left, at 9 Bridge Street, retired. Although only the words PARASOL MAKER appear in the photograph, he also made umbrellas and sun-shades and had a walking-stick and cane warehouse.
A little further along, at 1 Pulteney Bridge, is William Everitt’s City Repository of Arts, which not only stocked artist’s materials, but also published prints, sold paintings and exhibited works by well-known artists. A sign on the side of the building also proclaims it to be the Bath Water Ink Manufactory. The business was transferred to 6 North Parade in 1880 and the premises were taken over by Duck, Son & Pinker, who also took over 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 Pulteney Bridge, and George Scovell’s former shop at 12 Bridge Street.
akemanpress.com
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LOCAL BUSINESS | CHARITY EFFORT
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Mogers Drewett launch charity campaign to support local food banks
Mogers Drewett is launching a new campaign this Christmas to help support three food banks local to their offices in Bath, Sherborne and Wells.
From Thursday 17 November, the Mogers Drewett office will be accepting donations of long-life products, cleaning products and toiletries such as shower gel and deodorants, and launching a Christmas raffle.
Raffle tickets cost just £1 per ticket and can be bought at the Mogers offices on the Lower Bristol Road, Bath. Prizes range from an overnight stay at an award-winning luxury hotel in Dorset, afternoon tea at the 5* Bath Spa Hotel to tickets to Bishop Palace in Wells plus much more. All proceeds will go to support, Bath Foodbank, Sherborne Foodbank and Wells Vineyard Foodbank.
To learn more about the charity, visit bath.foodbank.org.uk or to provide a financial donation to Bath Foodbank, please go to bath.foodbank.org.uk/give-help/donate-money | mogersdrewett.com
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SPORT | BATH RUGBY V BARBICANS
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Bath Rugby take on the Barbicans
Fullback Tom de Glanville slips back into Blue, Black and White as Bath Rugby take on the Barbarians this weekend.
Returning from injury, de Glanville has been missing since September after sustaining a complex hamstring injury. Bath Rugby face The Barbicans on Sunday (20 November), 2pm at The Rec | Find out more team news at bathrugby.com
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THE KITCHEN GADGET | SMEG ESPRESSO MACHINE
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PROPERTY | A GOTHIC MASTERPIECE
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Highfield, Hilperton Road, Trowbridge, Nr Bath
A most impressive and incomparable Grade II* Listed, semi-detached property steeped in history.
The Victorian mansion was built in 1859 by William Roger Brown who was an important figure in Trowbridge. The building was updated and extended by Brown several times and it was in the 1930s that the house was divided into two properties. This family home now consists of four bedrooms, three bath/shower rooms, four reception rooms and an orangery.
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Highfield town house has decorative figures carved in Bath stone that surround the building along with four grand pillars leading to the front door. The magnificent entrance hall has stained glass windows either side of the door which then leads onto a spectacular seven door, hexagonal Atrium with original mosaic tiling and a centralised, stone staircase leading to the first-floor.
The breath-taking cast iron, galleried landing inspired by French design overlooks the ground floor; above all the doors on this floor are beautifully sculpted Greek gods. Doors lead to the kitchen/family room, sitting room, drawing room, study and finally, a cupboard for coats and shoes, an inner corridor that includes a pantry (linked to the kitchen), a hideaway bar, access to separate living accommodation and an extensive cellar which houses a laundry room, workshop, office, wine cellar and gym.
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The Orangery is a most opulent space and wonderfully connects the inside of the house to its magnificent surrounding grounds. The middle was once a lily pond and in the corner of the room features an Italian lava stone cove with a sea effect which now gives the property its Grade II* listing.
Upstairs the master bedroom features an en suite bathroom and there are three further bedrooms. A newly finished bathroom with large walk-in shower, can act as a guest en suite or a family bathroom.
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Highfield sits on just under 1.5 acres of grounds and features a long driveway with gated access, a spacious parking area and a tranquil pond attracting butterflies and dragonflies: it is a haven for wildlife. The grounds are filled with all kinds of trees to give the property a sense of adventure and privacy. There is a section of land that currently has a large wooden shed that could be used as a separate building plot (subject to planning permission) with a carport, parking for two vehicles and a garage/workshop in need of some repair. Offers in Excess of £1,500,000
Click here to see more fabulous imagery and read through all the details (and imagine yourself there) on the Peter Greatorex website.
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