Property description
Rakes House is located in the sought after village of Briestfield, situated in grounds believed to be in excess of half an acre and enjoying truly beautiful scenic views. With the original parts dating back to 1739, the property offers an abundance of characterful features with impressive minstrel ceiling, several period fireplaces, timber beams and mullioned windows. Currently offering three reception rooms, along with 5 bedrooms, four of which are doubles, and two bathrooms, yet having the potential to incorporate the integral garage into the ground floor living space (subject to the necessary consents) to create another reception room of generous proportions if desired. Rakes House would benefit from a modest renovation program to enhance the accommodation on offer and for a buyer to put their own stamp on this fabulous property, it is also worth noting that there is also a fantastic opportunity to purchase the adjoining property West Leigh House, which is currently marketed by Yorkshire’s Finest sister agent, to perhaps create a substantial family residence, or for those who would like relatives or parents living close by this would make a great upmarket alternative to the usual annexe options when looking to accommodate this situation. Approximate distances from: Wakefield 9 miles, Bradford 15 miles, Leeds 21 miles and Sheffield 25 miles.
Dining Kitchen
A traditional farmhouse style kitchen with plenty of room to accommodate a dining table to seat 8 or more guests, having cream painted wooden fitted units with one and a half sink inset with Victorian style chrome mixer tap over and both integrated fridge and aeg dishwasher. The main feature point of this room is the delightful Rayburn Nouvelle cooking range housed within the chimney breast alcove, having double oven and two hot plates above. The kitchen is finished with terracotta tiled flooring, tiled splash backs and spotlights inset to the beamed ceiling. A windowed door leads out to the garden whilst double windows also provide a good degree of natural light to the room, a further door leads to a pantry area located under the stairs with stone flagged floor and stone slabs for shelving, this would also be utilised well as a cloak room, which in turn provides access to the integral double garage.
Dining Room
A well-proportioned room with a bank of mullioned windows to one side and an attractive feature fireplace with coal effect fire and a decorative tiled surround.
Sitting Room
Particularly spacious and flooded with natural light courtesy of the windowed French doors opening out into the garden in addition to several mullioned windows, both offering attractive countryside and woodland views. Centrally positioned is an open fireplace with wrought iron grate and brass surround whilst twin beams run overhead, also having a characterful feature of an exposed date stone inset to a wall to the corner of the room.
Cellar
Accessed off the hallway down a stone stairwell is a good sized traditional vaulted keeping cellar.
Master Bedroom
A vast master bedroom with an impressive minstrel ceiling hosting an array of beams and rafters, in addition to a characterful chimney breast with exposed stonework housing a beautiful period style fireplace with a large solid stone hearth beneath. Windows to two sides offer panoramic far reaching views to the rear of the property. There is an unused doorway which would lead through to the smaller of the two bathrooms, thus allowing fantastic potential to create ensuite facilities for this bedroom if desired.
Bathroom/Potential Ensuite
A light coloured suite comprising a bath with shower overhead enclosed by a glass shower screen, W.C. And hand wash basin. Light and bright due to the roof light inset to the ceiling with an exposed timber beam running overhead, finished with fully tiled walls.
Other Bedrooms
Benefitting from a further three doubles and one single bedroom, which is currently used as a study and fitted with a range of bespoke, built in desk and shelving, also with a built in wardrobe. The largest of the three doubles is exceptionally spacious, running the full width of the property with windows to three sides.
House Bathroom
A modern white and chrome suite including a bathtub with centrally placed swan neck mixer tap and an additional shower head option, hand wash basin inset to a vanity unit and W.C. This generous room has plenty of space to add a separate shower cubicle is desired, also having a built in linen cupboard and a characterful period style fireplace and a fully tiled white floor and half tiled beige walls.
Garage
A good sized integral garage with up and over electric door, power and light supply. There is great potential to create a further reception room in the space if required thus enhancing the ground floor living space already on offer, and erect a separate detached garage within the grounds – subject to the relevant planning consents.
Outside
A huge appeal to Rakes House lies within the extensive grounds on offer, thought to amount to around half an acre, the established gardens are mainly laid to lawn set across two tiers and include an amusing timber built ‘castle’ for children with built in slide and play area, with a decked raised patio area above for the adults to enjoy the surrounding views. The land gradually declines down to the woodland border with a stream winding its way through, this garden would be perfect for those wishing to grow their own produce or keep chickens, or simply for a keen gardener to enjoy. To the side of the property is a gated, paved parking area for four cars which leads to the aforementioned double garage.