Lache Lane, Marlston-Cum-Lache, Chester, CH4

Occupying an exceptionally convenient, rural location close to Chester, The Kings School and road network for travel, a substantial former farmhouse providing extensive family accommodation and with scope for extra living space if required for multi-generational living. Accomodation in Brief: GROUND FLOOR - Porch - Lounge - Sitting Room - Dining Room - Study - Fitted Kitchen/Breakfast Room - Utility with separate W.C. - Boot Room - Cellar FIRST & SECOND FLOORS - 6 Double Bedrooms - 2 Bathrooms - Extensive Second floor with scope for further accommodation OUTSIDE - Garage with 2 Store rooms & boarded loft storage - Parking - Lawned gardens with patio - Tennis Court - In all, just under an acre LOCATION Decoy Farm occupies a rural location within a few miles of the centre of Chester, overlooking open countryside. Set back from the lane, the house enjoys pleasant aspects over its grounds, and towards the Welsh hills in the west, yet is extremely convenient for Chester with all of its amenities. Indeed, the city centre is famous for its history and architecture including the Rows and city walls, and has many high street retailers complemented by out of town retail parks and supermarkets at the nearby Cheshire Oaks and Broughton Shopping Centres and Westminster Park with its shops is a short drive away. The city offers a good selection of both private and state schools including The Firs, Queens Park High School, and the King's & Queen's, in addition to which is Abbeygate College at Saighton, and The Grange at Hatford. On the recreational front there is sailing and rowing on the river, tennis and squash clubs on Wrexham Road at The Nuffield, cricket, rugby and football clubs nearby, golf at Chester Curzon and horse racing on the Roodee Course. COMMUNICATIONS Owing to its location, Decoy Farm is conveniently placed for the Chester Business Park and within a mile by road from the southerly by-pass allowing for ease of access to all areas of commerce along the A483 and M53/M56 motorway corridors. The southerly by-pass connects with the national motorway network beyond Chester permitting daily travel to Liverpool and Manchester which are both served by international airports. Travel to London is available from Chester station via Crewe from which there is a 1 hr 40 mins service to Euston. DESCRIPTION Decoy Farm has been occupied as a lovely, private family home during the present owner's tenure of over 25 years. Previously the farmhouse to a larger estate, the property takes it's name from the 1600's when the land was used to create decoy ponds to lure wild ducks. Constructed of a mellow Cheshire brick beneath a hipped slate roof, the house is imposing in stature, being three storey in part. It is believed to date from the middle of the 1800's with substantial changes and alterations since, most notably the addition of an excellent garage block in 2022, following a disposal of the former agricultural buildings to the north of the farmhouse, in place of which is now a modern residential scheme. The house provides spacious and superbly proportioned accommodation arranged over two floors and ideally suited to family living, in addition to which is an extensive second floor which presently provides useful storage but would be suitable for upgrading to extra living space if required. In recent years the house has been updated including new kitchen and bathrooms, a new boiler in 2017, insulation installed in the roof, double glazing put in throughout, and an oak framed porch built beside the existing front door on the north elevation of the building. The front door opens into a reception hall which provides a lovely everyday living room with open fire and arch opening directly into the kitchen. Refitted in circa 2012, the kitchen incorporates a range of oak hand painted wall and floor units with cupboards and drawers beneath polished granite work surfaces. There is a Rangemaster cooker with double oven, warming drawer, grill and electric hob, integrated dishwasher, and large double sink with mixer overlooking the garden. There is plenty of space for a table and chairs, and a further dresser unit providing additional storage. To one end of the house is a spacious utility with cupboard housing the Worcester oil boiler and pressurized cylinder, a separate W.C., access to the cellar (18' x 10' approx) and a door to outside where there is a further south facing patio. Beyond is a boot room providing additional storage. In the centre of the building is the hall with staircase and access to the main lounge and dining room, both with fireplaces and direct access to the gardens. Off the dining room is a useful study. At first floor level are 6 light and spacious double bedrooms and two bathrooms. All bedrooms have plenty of space for free standing furniture and some with generously sized fitted wardrobes. One of the bathrooms also has a large airing cupboard with shelving. A staircase rises from the landing to the second floor which comprises a series of rooms, many of which could easily be habitable accommodation including as office space, subject to some upgrading works. OUTSIDE The property is approached via a gated, splayed entrance to an expansive gravel parking area beneath the north front of the house. Beside is a detached garage, built in 2022 of brick and block, and which provides excellent storage. The ground floor comprises an open fronted garage (21'6" deep x 20'6") with two stores at each end of the building (22' x 8'), one having laddered access to the first floor which is boarded (and measures 37' x 12'5" approx). This room offers great potential for conversion to ancillary accommodation and/or office space, subject to obtaining any necessary consents. The gardens are to the south of the house and are laid to lawn with a stone flagged patio against the south elevation of the building, accessed directly from the hall. There are vegetable borders and several apple and plum trees beyond which at the far end of the garden is a hard tennis court, an excellent amenity for the property screened from the lane by stand of mature trees including silver birch. The gardens are surrounded by fencing, conifers and hedgerows. PROPERTY INFORMATION Address: Decoy Farm, Lache Lane, Marlston cum Lache, Chester, CH4 9AD Tenure: Freehold with vacant possession. Services: Mains water and electricity. Private drainage shared with neighbouring development. Oil fired central heating. Telephone line and Broadband connection. Local Authority: Cheshire West & Chester Council. Tel: 0300 123 8123 Council Tax: Tax Band G - £3,331.00 payable 2022/23 Overage: The property is subject to an overage provision, reserving to a previous owner a proportion of future development value. Further details from the agents on request.