Barn Hill

"The climax in terms of historical as well as architectural significance, is... the town of Stamford, the English country market town par excellence" - Nikolaus Pevsner

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Thought to date to the early 19th century, this magnificent Grade II*-listed townhouse in Stamford, Lincolnshire, is deeply rooted in the town’s architectural tradition. Its ashlar limestone profile is adorned with rusticated quoins, architraves and banding, and punctuated with impressive sash windows. The house spreads over more than 2,800 sq ft, encompassing five bedrooms and a series of living spaces. It is replete with original timber panelling, Minton tiles and carved fireplaces, sensitively paired with muted browns and soft pinks, along with Ben Pentreath and Sophie Coryndon patterns. The house spills into a walled garden, billowing with jasmine, foxgloves and Japanese anemones.

Setting the Scene

The name ‘Stamford’ derives from the Old English term for ‘stone ford’. The town is named after the Roman Ford, where Ermine Street crossed the River Welland. The Stamford Conservation Area, within which this house lies, was the first to be designated in Britain in 1967. The town is home to over 600 listed buildings, including eight designated Grade I, and 101 at Grade II*.

This house sits on Barn Hill, a street comprising large townhouses and representing an unspoilt example of 18th to 19th century townscape, with Lincolnshire limestone and Collyweston slate providing a unifying palette, transcending variations in architectural style or detailing. Of Stamford, celebrated historian W.G. Hoskins said: “If there is a more beautiful town in the whole of England, I have yet to see it.”

The Grand Tour

Purple-flowering wisteria climbs the limestone façade of the house. In front, a bed of Anabelle hydrangeas blooms in a pillowy display each year. A six-panelled front door with brass furniture sits in an Adam-decorated, round-headed doorcase carved with bell drops and swags of wheat. A Gothic fanlight is set above the door.

Entry is to a central hallway with original Minton tiles running underfoot and walls washed in ‘Stone V’ by Paint and Paper Library, a tone that acts as an artery of colour throughout the home.

On one side is a double-aspect library, where a pair of eight-over-eight sash windows, fitted with original shutters, overlook Barn Hill. On one wall is a stone fireplace surround with a fluted frieze depicting an elegantly carved lidded urn. The room is encased by built-in bookshelves.

The kitchen is in the oldest part of the house; exposed stone and timber panelled walls, and oak posts and beams embrace the room. Its walls are picked out in ‘Caddie’ by Paint and Paper Library, and green-painted cabinetry is topped with white tiles. A central island is fitted with a four-ring gas hob and a stainless-steel sink, and there is an oven and a grill. A bay of windows on one side makes a wonderful spot for a dining table.

Beyond the kitchen is a scullery, again finished in ‘Caddie’ and with quarry tiles running underfoot. A reclaimed fluted sink with Perrin and Rowe taps sits atop an oak bench and recipe books can be lined up on the mantelpiece. There are original timber doors with cut-out details; behind one, stairs descend to the cellar. The room has a stone mullioned window and its own external entrance, allowing it to function as a boot room if required.

At the rear of the plan is a garden room laid with seagrass carpet and painted in a pale-green hue, ‘Willow V’ that mimics the leafy views of the walled garden outside.

There are two sets of stairs to the upper floor. The first, with ‘Pitch Black‘-painted treads and its original handrail, rises to a first-floor landing. Here, a drawing room is accessed via a bright landing. The drawing room has two expansive sash windows that take in views of the historic buildings that line Barn Hill. A wood burner is fitted in an original stone fireplace, and a seat by the fire is perfect on a cold day. The room has a scheme of Edward Bulmer paints: ‘Ethereal Blue’,‘Fair White’ and ‘White Lead’.

A short run of steps leads to a bedroom, with two tones of green Bauwerk limewash, horizontally sliding windows and built-in wardrobes. It lies next to a newly renovated bathroom, with an antique cast-iron bateau bath, new panelling and built-in cupboards. New sanitary ware has been fitted, including an antique shower attachment for the bath and sink taps by Barber Wilson. There is also a reclaimed brass heated towel rail.

The same staircase winds up to the second-floor principal bedroom, where two sash windows capture views over the spire-studded townscape. Its walls are adorned with ‘Wilton Vine‘ wallpaper by Sophie Coryndon for Soane in old gold; on the landing outside, there are newly fitted wardrobes. There is an additional bedroom on the third floor, next to a handy shower room.

The second staircase, towards the rear of the house, leads to two additional double bedrooms. One of the rooms, currently used as an office, has oak floorboards and walls painted in ‘Silt’ by Little Greene, and stone-mullioned windows overlook the garden. A wood burner sits atop a York stone hearth. The other room has walls covered in ‘Willow Bough’ wallpaper coloured by Ben Pentreath for Morris & Co, with seagrass carpet is underfoot.

The Great Outdoors

A romantic garden extends from the rear of the house, its age-old boundary walls lending a private feel. The current owners, who are keen gardeners, have planted a delightful variety of species including Japanese anemones, geraniums and foxgloves as well as three flowering magnolia trees. Climbing hydrangea and roses from David Austin cover the garden walls, including ‘Mme. Alfred Carrière’, ‘Emily Brontë’ and ‘The Generous Gardner’, their scents mingling with one another when in full bloom.

Out and About

Stamford is home to numerous schools, a range of shopping and restaurants, a popular weekly farmers’ market, and The George of Stamford, which serves delicious food. There is also an Arts Centre with a cinema.

The Town Meadows are a much-loved green space in the heart of Stamford, just a five-minute walk from the house and perfect for a stroll or dog walk along the millstream.

The Burghley Estate sits on the edge of Stamford and is about a 10-minute walk from the house. Burghley House is one of the largest and finest examples of Elizabethan architecture, built by William Cecil. The house is surrounded by grounds that encompass landscapes laid out by Capability Brown, sculpture gardens and an adventure playground. The estate hosts many events, from lectures by well-regarded historians to the world’s largest horse trials.

There are state-run primary and secondary schools in Stamford, along with the privately run Stamford School and Stamford Junior School. Also in the vicinity are Oundle School, Oakham School and Uppingham School.

For transport, the house is well placed: nearby Peterborough station provides high-speed service to London King’s Cross in just 49 minutes. The A1 is also close and leads straight into the centre of London. Cambridge is under an hour’s drive away and has a direct train from Stamford.

Council Tax Band: G

Please note that all areas, measurements and distances given in these particulars are approximate and rounded. The text, photographs and floor plans are for general guidance only. Inigo has not tested any services, appliances or specific fittings — prospective purchasers are advised to inspect the property themselves. All fixtures, fittings and furniture not specifically itemised within these particulars are deemed removable by the vendor.

History

From the 14th century, Stamford saw a decline in prosperity, but the town reasserted its role as the commercial centre for the region in the second half of the 17th century and as such its urban character began to transform; formerly derelict sites were redeveloped and medieval timber framed buildings were re-faced with stone or laths and plaster to cover the exposed woodwork and thatched roofs were replaced with Collyweston Slates. Stamford’s vernacular architectural style evolved, and it was the dominant style until the late 17th century.

Archaeological evidence suggests that Stamford was established as a Saxon settlement in the late 9th century. In the later medieval period, the town grew as it became an important centre for trade, care of its strategic situation; The Great North Road passed through Stamford, and the River Welland offered links to the North Sea ports for trade to the Continent, exporting grain, wool and haberget, a locally made cloth.