The Peece is a generously proportioned detached property in the rural south Leicestershire village of Ashby Parva. Situated on Main Street, Ashby Parva is a linear settlement and this lovely house is in the conservation area with the enviable position of being in a central residential location while enjoying views of the open countryside and farmland. It is ideally located for the commuter to travel in any direction and be able to link with one of three major motorway systems – the M1, M6 and M69 – while equally able to pull on a pair of walking boots and go for a ramble along one of the many footpaths crisscrossing the local fields and woodlands. Here, we have a substantial detached country property with generously proportioned rooms offering two reception rooms, an island designed fitted kitchen, utility, laundry room, ground floor cloakroom and integral double garage. On the first floor there are four bedrooms, one with an en-suite and a family bathroom. The Peece is not only plentiful on the inside, its grounds are ample too. This has led the present owners to apply for planning permission to extend the building and explore the possibilities to incorporate significant alterations. Prospective new owners are welcome to view the building plans that have been granted to build a two storey extension that would create a larger kitchen diner, a fifth bedroom and additional en-suite facilities. The Peece is a property already designed with many favourable assets but it has an additional benefit, it has a blue print to potentially become even better in a location and grounds that are highly covetable. Initial impressions There is an open, generous feel about this property with regards to stylistic features and internal layout. It begins with a substantial landscaped front garden incorporating a lawn area, mature trees, mixed planting and wide gravelled drive that sweeps up to the house and the integral double garage to the left. The driveway is accessed through wooden gates and provides ample room for several parked vehicles and wide enough to provide ease for turning cars. The front door of the house is approached through a bordered pathway of trees and adds an attractive leafy perspective to the forward face of the property. Approached from the road, the visitor can appreciate the size and character of this spacious house, set in its own mature gardens. It is built using a lighter shade of brick, with distinctive chimney stacks and large rectangular picture windows, above which the gable ended roof with dormer windows provide extra light and space to the bedrooms on the first floor. All the windows in the residence are double glazed. You are warmly welcome to look around The front door is sheltered from the elements by a shallow porch in the same style as the dormer windows and once inside, the entrance hall forms the central point of the house, to which all the rooms on the ground floor can be entered. It is has a striking glass panelled staircase, with medium oak newel posts and handrail. The hard wood flooring compliments this and the staircase is carpeted. In keeping with contemporary taste, the interior decoration found in the hall and throughout the property favours painted neutral or white walls with feature walls of one shade to form a contrast. This means that alterations to colour schemes can be made quite simply. The curtains, light fittings and carpets are included in the sale of the house. Pots and pans and all those things The large kitchen overlooks the rear garden and has a central island fixture with stools tucked underneath for informal dining. Terracotta floor tiles have been used in this room and the utility room immediately next door. Here, there is additional storage, a separate sink and access to the back and side of the property. Muddy boots or exercised dogs can all be catered for here! The kitchen is amply fitted with white wall and floor units of different kinds for concealed and prominent display - including a wine rack - accessorised with brushed steel handles. Wall tiles in brown and white shades create an attractive under cabinet and splash back feature, while worktops in solid wood match the glass panelled interior doors. It is a well-lit, welcoming space and coupled with the matching utility, is practical and well-appointed. The dishwasher, double oven and fridge freezer can be separately included within the sale if needed. The utility room has a door that leads into the double garage, with separate store space. This means that vehicles can be driven into the integral garage and unloaded into the house with ease by means of an electrically operated garage door. The utility also has an outside door that opens into the rear garden, with close access to a laundry room and second store space. Plumbing for a washing machine and tumble dryer is in position and both appliances in situ can be included in the sale through prior negotiations if required. The reception rooms The ground floor includes two reception rooms and a cloak room. The latter is entered from an inner lobby and comprises of a two piece white suite: toilet and wash basin. The largest of the reception rooms is the L shaped lounge. The lounge is the width of the house and therefore, has a double aspect: windows overlooking the drive and bi-folding doors opening into the rear garden. It is light filled and its shape and size permits a versatile arrangement of furniture and purpose, with the first part of the room closest to the kitchen door easily able to house a dining room table for more formal dining. It has a rustic brick fireplace with tiled hearth, which is fitted with a log burner. The snug across the hall is certainly a room that could serve a multitude of purposes. Situated at the front of the property and overlooking the driveway, it would make a perfect home office, study or dining room. This completes the tour downstairs and now we can explore the first floor. Come and see the views The homely feel of this spacious house is now continued as you move upstairs and from the top of the staircase see the length of the extended landing. There are four bedrooms on this level and although each has distinctive features, the dormer windows add to the space and light most effectively. The primary bedroom has a private en-suite. The ensuite facilities include a toilet, basin and separate shower. Across the landing there is a family bathroom. This white suite consists of a toilet, basin, and bath with shower. Like the en-suite, the family bathroom is fitted with floor to ceiling tiles in a neutral colour scheme. Bedroom two is impressively large and built above the garage with a double aspect of windows and stunning views over open countryside. There is access to the boarded loft space from this bedroom. The garden This property has a wealth of established shrubs, trees and plants of all kinds. The house is particularly blessed with a substantial garden consisting of paths, lawn, and flower beds, patio and fruit trees. It has been landscaped to include spaces with particular privacy and has provision for storage of furniture and garden equipment. There is a large wood store and stock can be included within the sale if so required. The garden is a valuable and generous component, which perfectly complements this bespoke home and merges into a vista of countryside far beyond its own boundaries. Ashby Parva is a village in central England, a region referred to as the East Midlands. It is situated towards the southernmost extremity of Leicestershire being only a half hour drive from Leicester’s city centre. It is in the LE17 postcode district and is a civil parish. The villages of Ullesthorpe, Leire and Bitteswell are close by. It falls within the district council of Harborough and is within easy reach of larger towns such as Lutterworth ( three miles away) and Rugby, all providing a variety of amenities such as edge of town super stores or uniquely bespoke shops. Essentially, Ashby Parva is geographically to the south-east of a triangle of motorway routes. It is west of the M1, with the M6 and M69 providing the potential for speedier travel by road from this central but rural, Midland location. There are two railway stations within easy reach at Rugby and Market Harborough, with regular high speed trains to London Euston and St. Pancras taking a little over one hour. The nearest airports are East Midlands, Birmingham and Coventry. In times past, the Domesday Book of 1086 records Parva Essebi, which is how Ashby Parva was identified. This name means a small settlement or farm by ash trees in the east. In 1277 it was made up of four separate manors and has mention of the unruly behaviour of parliamentary troops during the English Civil War. The local Anglican church of St Peter’s is a grade 11 listed building and can boast of a 19th century rector named William Clement Ley, who with the aid of his Nephoscope became the first man to identify and measure what is now known as the Jet Stream. He was known locally as the ‘weather prophet’ and people came from far and wide to read his weather forecast pinned on the church gates. Today, the village is still basically a linear settlement along a twisting main street surrounded by pastureland. There are fine examples of houses – once thatch rooves but now Swithland slate – from several centuries ago. Ti...
