Not to be confused with the Cornish town of the same name, St Ives, in Cambridgeshire, is a riverside Medieval market town that was once home to Oliver Cromwell. It is reported that Cromwell lived in St Ives between the years 1631 to 1636 and local history states that he owned a farm on the site where Green End House now stands.
The farm was used by Cromwell to train his troops; there was also a barn on the site known (perhaps a little unimaginatively) as ‘Oliver Cromwell’s Barn’. Unfortunately, the barn was demolished in the 1960’s — but in its place stands Green End House.
Arriving on the market via Cheffins with a guide price of £1.25 million, Green End House is a pleasingly symmetrical, five bed Georgian property that offers lots of versatile accommodation set amongst established, private grounds.
Set over three stories, the property extends to about 3,600 sq. ft with generous reception rooms and a lovely kitchen that flows into a snug/family room.
On the first floor you’ll find three, almost identically-sized bedrooms – two of which are ensuite, plus a large family bathroom with a roll-top bath. Following the stairs up to the second floor are a further two bedrooms and a shared bathroom.
Aside from sections of wall paper that look like it’s doing its best impression at mimicking an optical illusion, there is little else that needs to be done to Green End House. The interiors are presented to a wonderfully high standard — natural oak flooring, sash windows and decorative cornicing abound many of the rooms.
The gardens and outdoor space at the property are not to be overlooked. To the front of the house, automatic wooden gates reveal a long driveway flanked by meticulously-kept landscaped gardens that lead into an extensive courtyard/parking area; and to the side of the property is a former barn which has been converted into a two bay garage and storage area.
The enclosed rear gardens are one of the stand-out features here. A large paved terrace near to the house is perfect for al fresco dining, whilst the brick wall that runs around the grounds offers plenty of privacy and seclusion from the outside world.
The market town of St Ives offers an extensive range of shops, recreational and schooling facilities, as well as excellent commuting access as the A14 is within easy reach.
On Mondays and Fridays, the town comes alive with market stalls, or for those wishing to explore the River Ouse that runs through the centre, you can hire boats or simply sit back and relax at one of the many river-side pubs.
Oliver Cromwell and his troops may be long gone, but the accommodation and setting of Green End House provide the perfect family home in a lovely corner of Cambridgeshire.
Green End House is currently on the market via Cheffins with a guide price of £1.25 million — see more pictures or enquire with the agent for further details.
Credit: Strutt and Parker
Best country houses for sale this week
An irresistible West Country cottage and a magnificent Cumbrian country house make our pick of the finest country houses for
-
The Country Life guide to Somerset: What to do, where to stay and how to eatSomerset is rich in natural beauty and history, but it is its wealth of small-scale food and drink producers, farmers and makers that really set it apart from the competition. Find out how to make the most of it all with our indispensable guide.
-
How to make a gloomy city garden into a haven of colour and natureTiffany Daneff discovers how to transform a typically dark London back garden into a light-filled green haven that is always in use. Photographs by Clive Nichols.
-
Classical style meets fun and flair in a seven-bedroom manor in CornwallAt Polstrong Manor, the current owners have combined period charm and elegant modern interiors to create a flamboyant country home 10-minutes from the beach.
-
Two halves make a sublime four-bedroom home in Kent's North DownsA contemporary extension to a traditional clapboard house brings light and life to Lavington House.
-
The week in property statistics: Service charges reach record highPlus, how first-time buyers prop up the mortgage market, why you need to move north if you want to live by yourself, and house-price growth slows
-
A seven-bedroom oast house for sale in East Sussex, where your dreams can run riotUnlisted, yet full of character, this property in the High Weald National Landscape is an eccentrically furnished family home that screams fun.
-
Character, history and comfort combine in a four-bedroom farmhouse in NorfolkWillow Farm near Southburgh is that rarest of things — a perfect combination of period charm and modern elegance in some of England's best countryside.
-
A Grade I-listed Georgian townhouse that's part of the fabric of Bath's historyWith 5,500sq ft set over six floors in the centre of Britain's most architecturally rich city, there is much to love here.
-
17 delightful homes for sale, as seen in Country LifeOur round-up of some of the best houses to come to the market via Country Life this week includes a wonderful Cotswolds home and a happily affordable cottage in the West Country.
-
'This is the most money you'll spend on anything ever': The things that really matter when buying your first home in LondonIt’s easy to dream of what the ideal first-home in London might be, but when the cost of living in the capital is this expensive, being near a Gail's isn't as important as you think it is.
