Modern, family comfort in stunning Wolds location

Oak Farm is a contemporary barn conversion offering an ideal family home for equestrians.
‘Big skies’, space and tranquillity are often cited as features of the Lincolnshire Wolds which attract visitors and newcomers to this sought after region of the county. Ray and Jo Hildred have lived in the area all their lives and made the most of these natural assets when converting Oak Farm.

The couple previously lived in the property next door and already owned the building, yard and land. Once they had gained planning permission for a barn conversion, they moved out of their previous home and into a caravan in 2015. “We have worked with a local architect, builders and designers,” explained Jo, “who have all been fantastic in helping us realise the vision we had in our minds. Ray runs his business in Market Rasen and it was important to us that we used suppliers from the community where we have grown up and lived all our lives. We chose architect Andrew Scrace, based at Caenby, to design and complete the conversion and in 2017 we moved in.

“We worked closely with Andrew on the design of the property and he fulfilled his role to provide us with all that we asked for. I always felt that the building sat well on the land and would convert to a beautiful home, with views across to Lincoln Cathedral and the Wolds from the south windows and across the paddocks at the back. Andrew did a fantastic job of allowing windows to catch the sun around the house from morning until sunset. The house is very light, airy and private with views of the grounds and the Lincolnshire Wolds beyond.”

Oak Farm offers all the benefits of a rural lifestyle with all the amenities and comforts of 21st-century living. The contemporary barn conversion is to a bespoke, modern design which has been completed to the highest specification. With around 3,000 sq ft of accommodation, the property includes a four bedroom detached family home, set in around 6 acres with facilities which include a 20′ x 40′ floodlit manège, timber framed stables with tack room and steel portal framed workshop with three bay car port.

On the ground floor of the house is a 36ft long open plan kitchen/living/dining room, as well as separate reception room, living room, study, utility, boot room and WC. On the first floor is a master bedroom with en-suite and two dressing rooms, as well as three further bedrooms, two with en-suite and family bathroom. The stunning landing area on this floor provides panoramic views across the surrounding landscape.

The house has been completed to a high specification, with quality fixtures and fittings including beautiful oak joinery, engineered oak flooring, exposed beams, Velfac casement windows and doors, LED lighting and underfloor heating.

“Rita Fairbank from The Design Orchard at Brigg was fantastic in helping us to achieve the correct lighting in the house. She used her knowledge and advice, looking at the plans and coming to site to gain an understanding of our requirements. The ordering, delivery and installation was one of the most enjoyable aspects of the build,” added Jo.

“Of course there were other challenges faced during the build, but the quality local workmanship and support provided by our architect meant that most things got resolved quickly; very much because of their ‘can do’ attitude, and ‘there are only solutions not problems’.”

Jo has many favourite aspects of Oak Farm: “The seating area on the first floor is a very quiet and peaceful place to sit and read. The island unit in the kitchen is where I can sit and watch TV, work on my laptop and watch the horses in the paddock all at the same time.”

Love of the house always comes back to the space and light which the location and the design has captured. “Summer parties are great with the doors opening onto the garden.”

Outside the garden has been laid mainly to grass, with raised vegetable beds, seating and patio areas. There is a small orchard and chicken run in the grounds too. The property has an intercom system and is accessed via electrically controlled wooden gates and a gravel drive.

Ray and Jo will have many happy memories of Oak Farm, especially the people who helped them to create their beautiful home. “Many of the suppliers are personal friends as well as contractors. I will remember every detail which has gone into the conversion; we lived and breathed it for two years but Ray would now like to do another project.”

With work and family close by, it is likely that Ray and Jo will keep their sights within the Wolds for their next move but there is not one aspect of Oak Farm which Jo will not miss. “I have loved everything about living here and am sure it will make a happy family home, in this wonderful location, for the next owners too.”

Oak Farm is located 3 miles from Market Rasen and 18 miles from Lincoln (with direct train services to London). Market Rasen offers a wide variety of amenities including a choice of schools, the internationally famous race course, high street shopping, sports clubs, doctors surgery and railway station with connections to Grimsby and Newark (and east coast line connections). Humberside Airport is also approximately 16 miles away.

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