A specially curated guide to help you enjoy the next 48 hours (or more) in Bath
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WILL YOU BE WATCHING? | EUROVISION
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The party we've been looking forward to |
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Glitter on cheeks, CHECK. Red feather boa, CHECK. 1.5 litres of Lambrusco… oh, go on then.
Yes, it’s Eurovision time and our publisher Steve’s Saturday night is sorted.
Catching up for the lost year - it’s broadcast from Rotterdam and the Dutch Government has confirmed that it will proceed with a live audience of up to 3,500.
However the real hip-to-hip stuff will be going on at homes where, across the globe 180 million viewers in 45 countries will be shouting out “Good God what’s he come as?”
True to form there will be plenty of macho leads, divas, anthems, electro-pop, some folkie stuff, skimpy costumes, big costumes, angel wings, and a chanson by a French person. Last and probably least… the UK entry. Joking aside, James Newman might surpass the expected ‘nul points’ for the UK, as Portugal owes us big time.
Behind the scenes there’s already been plenty of drama; Ireland’s hopes of qualifying were dashed as were (our European neighbours) Australia’s, and the whole delegation from Iceland has been placed in quarantine.
However, if they are allowed to perform we think the Icelandic entry, 10 years, will be a big hit.
The band, with the catchy name, Daði og Gagnamagnið is led by the brilliant Daði Freyr @dadimakesmusic – as if storyboarded and inspired by Will Farrell’s Eurovision movie –the group comes complete with Thunderbird-style jumpsuits and some impressive looking electronica… Think Gary Numan's Tubeway Army meets the Smurfs, it's fun. They will surely go far!
Eurovision is back – Jah Jah Ding Dong! BBC One, Saturday 22 May, 8pm.
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WEEKEND WINE | EUROPEAN SPARKLERS
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Did someone say Lambrusco? Here's our pick of some top European, easy drinking fizz to help get that Eurovision party started.
Brut di Pinot Nero Rosé VS – Ruggeri Cherry red with a hint of salmon pink. The nose is fresh, fragrant and inviting, offering light red fruit aromas and hints of biscuity yeast. Finely textured with a consistent mousse. This wine is medium bodied and dry, but posesses a ripe cranberry fruit intensity that balances the bubbles and the crisp finish beautifully. £16.95
Sassomoro Lambrusco di Modena – Castelvetro Intense purple, with shocking pink foam. Morello cherries, elderberries, blackberries, gentle tannin and a little prickle from the bubbles. £14.95
Mas Pere Brut Reserva Cava – Pere Ventura Fresh and balanced with a creamy texture. This is an elegant and distinctive cava with aromas of apple and nuts. £12.95
Sparkling de Léoube Organic – Château Leoube A traditional method sparkling from Provence, made from cabernet franc grapes. Lively and fresh, with a beautiful translucent rosé petal colour. This Brut Nature sparkling has vibrant bubbles and delicate aromas of pink grapefruit and peach. With lovely golden brioche notes and mineral characters on the palate, leading to a round creamy finish. £35
Asti DOCG – Fontanafredda An aromatic medium sweet sparkling wine with notes of musk, sage and honey on the nose and a taste of just picked grapes.£15.95
Divina Cava – Pere Ventura Fresh and intense, this Cava has beautiful notes of green apple and honey and a refreshing acidity. £11.50
Click here to see a fabulous selection of sparkling wines from Europe and across the globe at The Great Wine Company
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WHAT'S ON | THE AMERICAN MUSEUM & GARDENS
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The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald |
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Join Heartbreak Productions and the Nick Carraway quartet on 5 June for an evening of jazz, Prohibition style. Nick is not only the band leader but a top-notch storyteller, and when he’s in the mood, he can take you back to the summer of 1922 when he lived next door to none other than the infamous Jay Gatsby.
Nick was working as a bond salesman in New York the summer he met the mysterious party-throwing millionaire. Before long, Nick finds out that Gatsby and his cousin Daisy (who conveniently lives nearby) used to be an item. Gatsby is still in love with Daisy, but Daisy is now married to the pretentious and unfaithful Tom.
So get your glad rags on, work up your best Charleston, and get your cocktail glass at the ready! Served up with a twist of iconic Heartbreak style, this outdoor adaptation of F Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby is the perfect way to mark 100 years since prohibition. Dress for the weather, bring a chair or blanket to sit on, and don’t forget the picnic and prosecco (now that prohibition has been lifted!).
5 June; 7pm – 10pm, £11.50 – £5 Age 9+; running time 2 hours 20 minutes
americanmuseum.org
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OBJECTS OF DESIRE | SHOP FOR CHOPARD
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Classic, covetable accessories |
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Le Petit-Fils de L.-U. Chopard & Cie S.A., more commonly known as Chopard, is a Swiss manufacturer and retailer of luxury watches, jewellery and fine accessories.
Founded in 1860 by 24 year old Louis-Ulysse Chopard, the son of a farmer in Sonvilier, Switzerland, Chopard's innovative designs helped him gain a reputation by making watches for 19th-century nobility such as the court of Tsar Nicholas II of Russia. The precision and reliability of his pieces were highly sought-after qualities, and remain the foundation of the business today. Louis-Ulysse Chopard has been owned by the Scheufele family of Germany since 1963 and the brand is one of the most respected houses of highly desirable luxury items across the globe.
As well as an excellent range of ladies' and gentlemen's watches, here are just three of Chopard's most popular and wanted pieces.
Chopard Ice Cube Lady black quilted calfskin leather handbag; £1,610
Chopard Happy Hearts Lady pink caviar printed calfskin leather handbag, £ 1,450
Chopard Classic black acetate polarized sunglasses; £305
Visit Mallory to find out more
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FOOD NEWS | RAISE YOUR GLASSES
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Supper Club at Plate, Bathwick |
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Plate, Bathwick’s Restaurant and Bar at The Bird are hosting a Supper Club on Thursday 8 July in partnership with Champagne Taittinger. Diners will enjoy a celebratory feast of locally inspired dishes paired with a fizzy flight of some of the finest drops by Champagne Taittinger.
With tables from two to eight people, raise a glass to new adventures on the horizon with family and friends while enjoying an exclusive menu for the night created by Plate’s Head Chef Leon Smith. Each dish will be brimming with the very best local produce from Bath and just beyond, served in the fun and flamboyant setting.
Start the evening with a ‘pop’ upon arrival, toasting with a glass of Taittinger Brut Réserve NV and a selection of delicious canapés. Once seated, a light dish of heritage tomato, ricotta, olive and basil will burst with flavour, enhanced by the fruity and floral aromas and crisp palate of Taittinger Brut Millésimé 2014. A main of delicate Cornish cod with fennel, broad beans and caviar will be accompanied by Taittinger Prélude Grand Crus, a vibrant Champagne bursting with citrus. The evening will be completed with the summery Strawberry, elderflower, lemon verbena and meringue, perfectly paired with the beautifully balanced, mellow fruit of Taittinger Nocturne Sec.
Guests will arrive at 7pm for canapés and a glass of Champagne, before sitting down for dinner at 7.30pm.
Tickets for the Champagne Taittinger Supper Club at Plate cost £80 per person, and are limited to 40 people. To book, call 01225 580438 or visit thebirdbath.co.uk
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CITY SUCCESS | A WELCOME TREAT
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The Bath Festival gets off to a flying start! |
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The Bath Festival 2021 opened with a dramatic flourish on 17 May, one of the first arts festivals in the UK to welcome back live audiences to indoor events. The Bath Festival Orchestra played the opening concert in the newly refurbished historic Bath Abbey to a sell-out audience.
All the space in the abbey’s nave was carefully managed to allow social distancing and the audience were delighted to be able to enjoy live music on the first day that the government lifted restrictions. The concert featured works by Brahms, Strauss and Weber and the conductor was Peter Manning, the soloist soprano Rowan Pierce. The Bath Festival Orchestra was originally established in the 1950s under Yehudi Menuhin and has been revived to provide opportunities for rising young stars of classical music.
Also sold out for the first day of the festival were the three inaugural Frankenstein walking tours of Bath. These are being run by the Show of Strength Theatre Company and show the places in Bath which influenced Mary Shelley to begin writing her famous dark tale, Frankenstein during her time in the city.
The Bath Festival programme of more than 40 live music and books events runs until 24 May. Highlights include an appearance by Richard Osman, whose debut crime novel The Thursday Murder Club has been one of the biggest hits during lockdown. Other big names visiting the south west in person include Telegraph columnist and author (No Such Thing as Normal) Bryony Gordon, comedian and TV presenter Mel Giedroyc, columnist
Polly Toynbee and BBC correspondent turned thriller writer Frank Gardner and bestselling author Kate Mosse.
Some events are sold out. These include the Concert for the People of Bath with Bath Philharmonia, an appearance by performance poet Hollie McNish, guided walking tours themed around the filming of Netflix hit Bridgerton
and the Gothic tale of Frankenstein. Other sell-out hits of this year’s festival include a discussion about the peri-menopause and a talk from bestselling Skincare Queen Caroline Hirons, as well as two concerts by the Gesualdo Six, staged beside the Roman Baths.
There will be appearances too from debut writers, including comedian Tez Ilyas talking about his recently published memoir The Secret Diary of a British Muslim aged 13 ¾ and two up-and-coming voices in fiction, Caleb Azumah Nelson
and Daisy Buchanan.
The Bath Festival is also offering its audience the chance to enjoy highlights from the May 2021 festival of music and books with The Bath Festival At Home, a digital broadcast for people to watch at home from Friday 28 May to Friday 11 June. The Bath Festival Orchestra concert will also feature on BBC Radio 3.
Each of the At Home events will be introduced by presenter and writer Francesca Beauman. These short films will include highlights of Bath, showcasing the city for a global audience. All events in The Bath Festival at Home are FREE to watch but please consider donating to Bath Festivals, a registered charity. All donations will support future festivals and creative learning projects with young people in the local community.
Tickets for this week’s festival can be bought at: thebathfestival.org.uk or tel: 01225 463362.
Image: Maren Bosma, Bath Abbey
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LOOKING BACK | STEAMING AHEAD
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Bathampton Station in 1905 |
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As Great Western train services get back to normal, here’s a look back at what counted as normal in the early twentieth century, with a London-bound express barrelling through Bathampton station around 1905. Although the line today is busier than ever, Bathampton station, which opened in 1857 at the same time as the branch to Bradford on Avon, closed in 1966 as part of the Beeching cuts. Had it survived, it would almost certainly have been as well-used and as important to the city’s transport infrastructure as Oldfield Park station, which narrowly escaped closure two years later. Despite many calls over the years for services to be reinstated, however, it looks like trains will continue to speed through Bathampton without stopping for many years to come.
akemanpress.com
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CINEMA | WELCOME BACK TO THE LITTLE
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The Little's big screen is back! |
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We welcome back the much-loved Little Theatre Cinema with open arms this week (the sofa and Netflix just isn't cutting it any more), with a programme of films including Sound of Metal (15), Judas and the Black Messiah (15), Nomadland (12A), Ammonite (15) and Babyteeth (15).
Nomadland follows Fern (McDormand) who after losing her life to the recession, decides to embark on a life on the road. Directed by Chloé Zhao.
Sound of Metal (15) sees itinerant punk-metal drummer Ruben (Riz Ahmed) beginning to experience intermittent hearing loss. When a specialist tells him his condition will rapidly worsen, he thinks his music career is over. Directed by Darius Marder.
Judas And The Black Messiah is an incendiary true story exploring the fascinating tale of small-time criminal Bill O’Neill (LaKeith Stanfield). Directed by Shaka King.
Ammonite tells the story of fossil hunter Mary Anning (Kate Winslet) who, down on her luck, takes on the care of Charlotte Murchison (Saoirse Ronan). Despite a bad start, an intense bond begins to develop between them. Directed by Francis Lee.
Babyteeth sees Milla (Eliza Scanlon), a seriously ill teenager, falling in love with a drug dealer, Moses, her parents' worst nightmare. Directed by Shannon Murphy.
picturehouses.com
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FOOD NEWS | FREE DELIVERY TO THE BATH CITY AREA
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Restaurant-quality cuisine from your home! |
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A:ROAM:A is a Bath-based food delivery service, serving up restaurant quality cuisine in the comfort of your own home. The menu changes weekly and is inspired by flavours from around the world. From flavourful Arabic stews to Far Eastern curries, expect bold, robust flavours made with the freshest ingredients from the best of local suppliers. There’s free delivery to the Bath city area, BA1 and BA2 postcodes & Box. Place your order on the website before 10pm the previous day and then the meals are delivered, ready for you to heat at home, on Fridays and Saturdays.
aroama.co.uk
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ON THE BOOKSHELF | PEOPLE IN A SETTING
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Review by Saskia Hayward |
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Second Place by Rachel Cusk |
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Second Place is a fictional reworking of Mabel Dodge Luhan’s 1932 memoir Lorenzo in Taos, which describes the disastrous consequences of a visit from DH Lawrence. It's set over a long, dry summer in the remote marshland home that the protagonist M. shares with her partner. It all begins to unravel when M. invites the celebrated, mercurial artist L. to stay in the ‘second place,’ a house a short distance into the woods functioning as an informal artist’s residence.
M. has felt herself drawn to L.’s paintings all her life, feeling a kinship with the work that inevitably shapes her expectations of L. himself. Yet when he arrives with a loud, wealthy young woman in tow, it marks the start of a brilliant, rich psychodrama acted out between them. Cusk masterfully details M.’s flawed but likeable character and the nuances of her relationships – especially with her adult daughter Justine – all the while the figure of L. can be felt, a magnetic, destructive force pulling at the centre of the scene.
Faber, £14.99
toppingbooks.co.uk
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Review by Saskia Hayward |
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The Employees by Olga Ravn |
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Shortlisted for the International Booker Prize, Olga Ravn’s remarkable ‘novel’ (if indeed it can be called that) takes the form of around 130 ‘statements’ collected by an unnamed committee to gain insight into how workers on the Six-Thousand ship “related to the objects and the rooms in which they were placed.”
It’s an utterly unique and original science-fiction creation, a tableau of interlacing snapshots – like windows on an enormous spaceship – that, viewed together, create a picture of epic proportions. The story that emerges is that of workers – some human, some less so – employed in close proximity to various enigmatic objects. They are being interrogated about the effects of such proximity in order to “precipitate reduction or enhancement of performance.” It is, at once, a satire of capitalism and corporate rhetoric and – as all best science fiction – is an interrogation of what it means to be human, and what it means to be born. Most remarkable is its poetic, lyrical poignancy, the fragmented interviews woven together to create a tapestry of longing, desire, strangeness and sadness.
Lolli Editions, £12.99
toppingbooks.co.uk
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OUR JUNE ISSUE | GREAT READING STARTS HERE
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Out from 25 May |
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Look out for... our June issue |
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As always, there will be many great reads by our team of wonderful writers and contributors as well as beautifully presented advertising by Bath's best businesses. We hope you enjoy the read!
15,000 copies are delivered door to door, and you can pick up a copy at many places around town and from our stands around the city.
Alternatively, click here to read the digital version of our current issue!
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INTERIORS | WORKSHOPS FOR CREATIVES
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Unique classes in how to make your own beautiful lampshades are being offered just outside Bath this summer.
The Lampshade School has opened in rural workshops near Bradford on Avon. The light, airy school is Covid safe and now has spaces on a series of expert courses. The skills are easy to learn but very rewarding and creative. The possibilities are endless!
* If you can’t get to a course, why not order The Lampshade School’s Lesson in a Box — a luxurious package containing all the materials and instructions you need to make your own beautiful gathered lampshade at home?
To book your place and for details and dates of the courses visit: lampshadeschool.co.uk
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RECIPE ROSTA | IT'S PARTY TIME
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Recipe by Melissa Blease |
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Party Pie |
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This make-ahead, super-pretty vegetarian centrepiece is the perfect party (or picnic?) pie, packed with colourful vegetables and a layer of creamy, pesto-infused ricotta and spinach, all wrapped up in crisp pastry.
I've used store-bought pastry here because this pie is all about keeping it simple. Similarly, frozen butternut squash chunks and ready roasted peppers (in a jar) make the prep an easygoing assembly job rather than a chore... and what little work there is can all be done up to two days in advance of serving, as this pie is at it's very best served at room temperature, when the flavours have had a chance to get to know each other and the texture makes it perfect for cutting into neat slices.
Once you've mastered the (very simple) art of putting this pie together, feel free to experiment by, for example, replacing the butternut squash with roasted beetroot and cooked red lentils, or using steamed broccoli and blanched frozen peas instead of spinach. If you're not keen on pesto, omit it completely and add a sprinkle of grated nutmeg to the ricotta instead.
Ingredients (serves 8–10)
700g shortcrust pastry 700g fresh/frozen butternut squash chunks 6 garlic cloves, crushed 1 tbsp dried thyme 500g spinach 2 x 250g tubs ricotta Half a jar of pesto The zest and juice of 1 unwaxed lemon 460g jar ready-roasted peppers, drained and chopped 50g finely grated Parmesan 30g breadcrumbs Salt and freshly ground pepper, to season Beaten egg for glazing
Method
1. Preheat the oven to 180ºC/gas mark 5.
2. Lightly grease a 23cm springform cake tin and line with 500g of the shortcrust pastry (rolled out to around the thickness of a £1 coin), leaving a slight overhang. Prick the base all over with a fork and chill in the fridge for at least 30 minutes.
3. Meanwhile, spread the squash in an even layer across a large roasting tin and muddle the chunks with the crushed garlic and thyme. Drizzle with olive oil, season well and roast for 25–30 minutes, tossing halfway through. Set aside to cool but keep the oven on, placing a flat baking tray on the middle shelf to heat up while you get on with assembling the rest of the pie.
4. Put the spinach in a large saucepan, cover with boiling water and allow to wilt for around 3 minutes. Rinse under cold water, drain thoroughly and squeeze out as much excess moisture as possible. In a large bowl, combine the ricotta, Parmesan, pesto and lemon zest with the wilted spinach; season to taste.
5. Scatter half the breadcrumbs over the base of the chilled pastry case, followed by the roasted squash in a single, even layer. Top with the ricotta/spinach mixture followed by a layer of roasted peppers. Scatter with the remaining breadcrumbs.
6. Roll out the remaining pastry to a 24cm circle and lay it on top of the pie and press the edges together, crimping as you go to create a pretty seal. Trim the excess pastry, brush the top of the pie with beaten egg and make a couple of incisions in the centre to allow steam to escape.
7. Carefully slide the pie onto the pre-heated baking tray (this ensures that the cooked pie will have a nice crisp base) and bake for around 45–50 minutes, or until the pastry is golden. 8. Leave the cooked pie to cool completely before releasing from the tin. If you're making ahead, cover the top of the pie with foil when completely cool and refrigerate in the tin for up to 2 days, allowing it to come back to room temperature before serving.
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THE KIOSK | MAGAZINE MOMENTS
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Curated by Daniel McCabe – Magalleria
Hinterland is a quarterly literary journal showcasing the best in creative non-fiction, a slightly unusual concept outside academia and a slow burner with us – until now. This spring issue, focused on the genre ‘life writing’, has been a sellout and a second run had to be published. Why would a volume exploring adoption, suicide, sexual assault, grandparents and trauma be so popular? Well, the main attraction is the late Lorna Sage, whose memoir Bad Blood is a work seminal to this kind of writing. You’ll find a collection of exclusive pieces that attempt to dissemble the legacy of her memoir which – extraordinarily – is now entering its third decade of continuous publication.
£10; magalleria.co.uk
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PROPERTY OF THE WEEK | NEW TO THE MARKET
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St Catherine’s Valley, Bath |
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A charming Grade ll listed detached period property set within approximately 4½ acres of gardens and paddock, in a stunning location in St Catherine’s Valley surrounded by wonderful countryside with excellent views.
Orchard Farm is believed to have been originally built in the 16th century within the Tudor period, but has since been extended in the Georgian period and has evolved into a most attractive detached country property.
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The present owners have resided in the house for approximately 37 years and at the time of purchasing it, fully refurbished the property throughout. It provides well-proportioned rooms with a light and airy feel, but throughout there are some wonderful period features including 2 superb Inglenook fireplaces, exposed oak beams, wonder oak flooring and doors throughout.
The property does have potential to be extended further and, around 2003, plans were drawn up for an extension to one side of the property which were never carried out. It should also be noted that immediately adjacent to the property is a stone built stable which may also provide potential as an annex.
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The property is set in wonderful, landscaped gardens which have been lovingly laid out and cared for by the existing owners and gardener which includes many specimen trees including Indian bean, flowering cherry, liquid amber and silver birch. In addition, there is a paddock which is currently divided into 2 which is planted with fruit trees and has been used to graze sheep. In total 4½ acres of gardens and paddock.
This is a very special property and to fully appreciate it a viewing is recommended by the sole agents Cobb Farr.
OIEO £1,400,000
For further details click here to see this property and more on the Cobb Farr website
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