Fox Road, Bourn, Cambridge, CB23

Whippletree Barn is a stunning 250-year-old converted barn that seamlessly combines historic charm with modern living, on the outskirts of the idyllic village of Bourn. This remarkable property showcases a wealth of original features, including exposed oak and elm timbers, while offering beautifully presented interiors filled with natural light.

Upon entering, the double-height reception hall immediately impresses with its full-height glazing, flooding the space with natural light and creating a dramatic sense of arrival. This elegant central space serves as a hub for entertaining. On one side is the sunken sitting room, featuring an inglenook fireplace and a wood-burning stove—perfect for cosy evenings. Adjacent is a versatile area currently used as a pool room, making the space ideal for hosting gatherings. This flows seamlessly into the kitchen/dining/snug area, designed for relaxed day-to-day living.

The heart of the home is the open-plan kitchen and breakfast room, designed with handmade solid oak cabinets and wooden worktops. A snug family room adjoining the dining room adds warmth and flexibility to the living spaces.

The first floor is accessed via a distinctive double-aspect staircase which leads to a stunning galleried study or guest bedroom with en-suite cloakroom. A secondary staircase provides access to the main bedroom wing. This wing includes a luxurious principal bedroom and en-suite shower room, as well as two further double bedrooms—all featuring vaulted ceilings. Bedroom three offers a useful mezzanine, ideal as a playroom or storage space, and has alternative access via the main stairs, making it perfect for flexible family living.

Additional Features:
• Heating: Underfloor zoned wet heating system downstairs, electric underfloor heating in the main bathroom and en-suite, and a Hive-zoned smart heating system with thermostatic radiator valves (TRVs) fitted upstairs. A new high-end modulating boiler, installed last year, comes with a balance of a 20-year warranty.
• Floors: Flagstone flooring downstairs and tiled floors in the bathrooms, all complemented by dual-fuel towel rails.
• Bathrooms: All recently refurbished. The en-suite features a wet room with folding screen doors, and all toilets include bidet functionality.
• Windows: Double glazing throughout.
• Gymnasium/Store: With its direct outdoor access, this room offers a versatile space, currently used as a gym.

The outside of Whippletree Barn is equally captivating. A private gravel driveway provides ample parking, while the enclosed garden offers a tranquil retreat. Key highlights include a beautiful pergola with mature wisteria blooming beautifully late Spring, sandstone paving, and a decked seating area perfect for al fresco dining. Up/down lighting enhances the ambiance, while a useful garden store adds practicality.

Village Information
Located approximately nine miles west of Cambridge, Whippletree Barn is perfectly positioned in the picturesque village of Bourn. Renowned for its period homes and welcoming community, the village boasts excellent amenities, including the award-winning Indian restaurant Lalbagh, the highly regarded Willow Tree pub and restaurant, a local shop that also serves as the post office, a local butchers, the Stove Cafe and Bakery, and Paus Wellness Retreat featuring open-air wood-fired hot tubs and a hilltop bistro. Families benefit from the highly rated Bourn Primary School and nearby Comberton Village College, one of the region’s top secondary schools.

Additionally, the highly regarded Cambridgeshire Country Club, offers swimming pools, a gymnasium, and an 18-hole golf course. The village’s location ensures superb transport links, with easy access to the A428, A14, M11, and A1198. Royston station is just 15 minutes away, offering a direct 39-minute train journey to London King’s Cross—a key advantage for London-based commuters.

With its combination of original features, such as vaulted ceilings, exposed beams, and an inglenook fireplace, alongside high-quality finishes, Whippletree Barn offers a rare opportunity to enjoy the perfect balance of historic character and contemporary comfort in a prime village setting.

Seller Insight
“We had been actively searching for a barn conversion and this property blew us away with its character, historic features and versatile reception areas. We had always desired a heritage property, so the original 1750’s barn certainly ticked this box, as well as boasting all the conveniences of modern electrics, plumbing and energy efficiency, having been converted relatively recently in 2001. We also each had our own personal wish lists: a library for study, and a space sizeable enough for a pool table, respectively. Whippletree Barn fulfilled all these requirements and so much more.”

“When we moved in, it became apparent that the conversion was incomplete,” the owners continue, “with many unfinished elements and areas not to our taste. We therefore set about improving the property with upgrades including a new boiler and zoned smart heating system; rewiring with additional features such as pool table, office and dining room lighting and external timed up/down lights. All bathrooms have been renovated to include electric underfloor heating, dual fuel towel rails and Turkish toilets. We also completed the mezzanine-level bedroom/study with engineered wood flooring and ensuite cloakroom. Outside, more than half the fencing was replaced and a new pergola built over the sandstone seating area to support and frame the mature wisteria. There is further potential to the site which we have considered a few times but never acted on, namely that the original planning permission also covered a third barn conversion in addition to the two now completed.”

Whippletree Barn is the ideal home for everyday life and entertaining alike: “On a work day in the library/study, looking out past the original structural timbers and over the mezzanine balcony, with all the light coming through the large glazed entrance hall windows, it is difficult to imagine a more beautiful place to work from home. Being at the far end of the house, it is that tiny bit removed from the hustle and bustle of the kitchen diner. In the evening, it is hard to beat the feeling of sitting down in the sunken living room once the day is done. Everywhere you look, there is character. The inglenook fireplace is gorgeous and there is a peak level of contentment that comes from lighting a Yankee candle, getting the fire roaring and watching a film with surround sound, especially now that the children are old enough to join us for movie nights. The property is perfect for parties, too: starting off in the kitchen/diner/snug for dinner, the evening can progress through to the spectacular open barn. We host multiple Christmas drinks events over December, as well as great birthday bashes, baby showers, dance parties and games nights throughout the year. Some favourite moments have taken place around the pool table with friends. In the summer, with the big barn doors open, this area has an indoor/outdoor feel.”

Indeed, the outside space serves as an extension of the house itself. “The pergola will always hold a special place in our memories,” say the owners, “particularly in May when the wisteria is in full bloom. This area catches the morning light so is perfect for a morning coffee, and even better when snuggled in an egg chair reading a story book with the children. The garden runs the full length of the house and is all safely fenced in so ideal for kicking a ball around. Mature trees and shrubs add colour and interest, not to mention providing us with apples, pears, figs and plums to eat!”

“Being able to get into the capital in less than an hour is a huge plus for us. Trains run every ten minutes from Royston station into London and the fast trains get you into Kings Cross in 39 minutes.”

Aside from the convenience of commuting, the local area has much to recommend, too. “It is delightfully rural here,” say the owners, “with lots of lovely public footpaths through the fields, and a great off-road 10km running route loop which takes you past both The Red House gastropub in Longstowe and The Willow Tree in Bourn. Both pubs serve excellent food and the latter hosts festivals in summer. The nearby cricket club/village hall has a little playground that we often go to. Bourn’s village shop is friendly and well stocked, and the local school is very highly recommended.

The nursery is also great, taking a child-led learning approach which is enabled by their high adult to child ratio. A bimonthly newsletter promotes a sense of community, while the neighbours on this corner are wonderful and always looking out for one another. Cambridge Country Club is just up the road, where our son takes swimming lessons. The spa, exercise classes and golf club there are popular too. Opposite the country clubs is Paus, a rural retreat offering hot tubs, saunas and yoga classes. All of the above is within just a few minutes’ drive or a short bicycle ride, with Cambridge also easily accessible by car.”

Agents Notes
Tenure: Freehold
Year Built: 1700s
EPC: Exempt Grade II Listed
Local Authority: South Cambridgeshire District Council
Council Tax Band: F

BUYERS INFORMATION
To conform with government Money Laundering Regulations 2019, we are required to confirm the identity of all prospective buyers. We use the services of a third party, Lifetime Legal, who will contact you directly at an agreed time to do this. They will need the full name, date of birth and current address of all buyers. There is a nominal charge of £60 plus VAT for this (for the transaction not per person), payable direct to Lifetime Legal. Please note, we are unable to issue a memorandum of sale until the checks are complete.
 

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