Rural home with a view
FACT FILE
Address: The Sycamores, Fordington, Alford, Lincolnshire LN13 0HQ
Guide price: Offers in the region of £525,000
On the market with: Willsons, 124 West Street, Alford LN13 9DR
Telephone: 01507 621111
Website: willsons-property.co.uk
Featured in:
May 2024
The Sycamores is a traditional bungalow set in stunning Lincolnshire countryside with far-reaching vistas towards the coast.
Superbly situated in an elevated position on the edge of the Lincolnshire Wolds in the peaceful hamlet of Fordington near Alford, The Sycamores is a traditional three-bedroom bungalow ideal for those who enjoy the peace and quiet of rural life.
The property was built in 1961 on the farm (R J Thornalley and Sons) for a newly married farmer David Thornalley and his wife Ann who lived here for 62 years until their passing in 2023.
The Sycamores is now being sold by their children Jayne and Sarah who have their own family homes nearby.
The property lies within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and has a natural high vantage point with panoramic views of local Wolds glacial valleys, or south to the Fens and Boston – and on a clear day you can even see beyond to Norfolk.
Fordington has a rich history; it was a medieval village then a Roman settlement, with several archaeological “finds” in the local museum at Lincoln. “Being a hamlet, neighbours look out for each other,” says Jayne.
In the 1960s, the bungalow and garage were joined together making a large boot room/utility, so there’s plenty of space for wet weather clothing, dogs, wellies and boots.
The large south facing terrace has been repaved recently and uPVC windows and doors, soffits and fascias added throughout.
“It was an ideal home growing up on the farm, when I was able to bring my pet lambs into the boot room for their bottles of milk, much to my mother’s disapproval, as she was very house-proud,” remembers Jayne.
Cosy interior
Inside, most of the rooms, many of which overlook the paddock, are very spacious with great storage throughout, including built-in wardrobes in all three bedrooms, large airing cupboard and substantial storage in the boot room/utility room.
Large windows throughout the property let in lots of light and the spacious lounge leads directly into the dining area, with the fitted kitchen allowing plenty of room to seat the family around the kitchen table.
“Both my sister Sarah and my own favourite areas inside the house are the sunny living room and dining room that have direct access with a door to the terrace/patio. It is a real suntrap.
“The bungalow is well designed with a natural flow, with the potential to open up the kitchen and dining room to give more open plan living with dual aspect windows and the chimney means a wood burner could also be installed.”
Outside space
The Sycamore’s large driveway allows for plenty of parking with the property surrounded on three sides by a grass paddock which is stock fenced and has water troughs, and is also hedged on all boundaries, extending to approximately four acres.
The ryegrass pasture, currently used by a local sheep farmer for his ewes and lambs in the spring and summer, is ideal for grazing livestock and horses, and there are also excellent hacking opportunities, with a public bridleway close by.
“David Thornalley was a renowned and award winning sheep farmer,” says Jayne.
“He sold the farm when he retired, but retained his home and the paddock surrounding it for a small flock of sheep he kept throughout his retirement.
“David’s award-winning pedigree Suffolk flock was titled ‘The Sycamore’ flock after the name of his house on the farm.
“The large well cared for garden is easily maintained with established perennial borders and lawns and, being flat, is ideal for football/children’s play area.”
Jayne says that The Sycamores would suit a family or a couple with livestock or horses, or someone who wanted to make a granny annexe, using the existing garage and boot room which has its own entrance, or build a two-storey extension to gain an upstairs sitting room/kitchen to have further reaching views.
“We just hope that the house can be sold to someone who looks after our family home as well as our mother and father did and they are as happy there as we were, growing up surrounded by wildlife, fields and countryside.”
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