Old Hills, Callow End, Worcestershire, WR2

The Loose Moose is set on the Old Hills common in a tranquil spot providing stunning views of the Worcestershire countryside. Built around 1890 it was originally a workers cottage to the grand Madresfield estate. Tucked away discreetly at the end of a rural track, the cottage enjoys great privacy and yet it is a few minutes' drive to Barnards Green, Great Malvern or five miles to Worcester city centre.

They always say location, location, location and this fabulous house is the perfect example of that, sitting in on the periphery of Old Hills with absolutely no neighbours to the left of the cottage, just common land to enjoy long walks, peace and serenity.

Though semi-detached, you really wouldn't know it and the gardens are arranged to ensure maximum privacy. The current owners have handily had built a modern, tasteful timber garage and the gravel drive has parking for six cars.

There is a Stovax multi-fuel log burner in the sitting room and I can vouch that this leaves the cottage extremely toasty. The heating runs off the Rayburn in the kitchen, which has been regularly serviced and the cottage is oil fired, the oil tank hidden out by the vegetable garden.

The 25 ft kitchen is large and versatile and there is a very handy and much requested separate utility room and cloakroom with back door leading out to the rear garden and vegetable area.

The cottage shares a well to the front of the house which isn't used as there is mains water connected of course. But nice to have and a pretty additional feature.
The neighbours have lived in the adjoining house for 20 years and are delightful.

What I like about this adorable cottage is that it embraces the feel of an older style cottage but has the advantages of all mod cons that one can enjoy. Warm, not draughty, characterful and yet retaining its olde world charm and in my opinion is perfect for a little family or for a retired couple wanting peace and quiet but not wishing to be isolated and cut off from life.

The house is double glazed throughout and is not listed so changes can be made subject to planning if you desire.

The Loose Moose offers the perfect, rare, unparalleled location. We urge you to view this gem and see for yourselves. Please call us at ChocolateBox open 7 days a week!

TENURE - Freehold

TAX BAND - E (Malvern Hills District Council)

BROADBAND - Fibre

EPC - To follow shortly

All services including oil fired central heating and hot water, electricity, water and private drainage are connected to the property. The septic tank is emptied annually.

LOCATION:

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The Loose Moose is a 15 minute walk across fields to Stanbrook Abbey and you can also walk to Madresfield Court which nestles between the Malvern Hills and the River Severn. It has been home to the Lygon family for over 900 years and has not been bought or sold since 1120.

Callow End gets its name from the old Saxon word Calwe or Calwa, referring to a bare hillside, and even now the Old Hills at the edge of the village still have very few trees. There has been a settlement here since long before the Domesday Book was compiled.

Upon many modern maps Callow End which is about five miles northeast of Great Malvern - is shown as Stanbrook, referring to the Benedictine monastery known as Stanbrook Abbey. The nuns have been in residence since July 1838, but the Tower which dominates the village was only built in 1871, by Pugin the Younger, the son of the Pugin who designed the Houses of Parliament. The clock strikes not only quarters, but every 7 minutes, and the bells which call the nuns to church ring frequently during the day, which often surprises newcomers to the area.

There are several black and white cottages of great interest: one, The Glebe, is a cruck house, and an example of the oldest type of dwelling still surviving in England.

Today, the local hostelries are two in number, but in former years it took a greater number to quench the thirst of the locals! One of them, down at Pixham Ferry, was called The Boat and provided refreshment and entertainment for over 300 years.

Concerning the Old Hills, it was said that many of the cottages there were called 'squatter's rights', because if a man could build a chimney during the night and have his fire lit by morning, the surrounding land, as far as he could throw a hammer, was his!

In the past, hops have been a great source of income for the village. Until 1952, when mechanisation took over, workers from the Black Country livened up the village considerably as they took their annual holiday harvesting the hops. They slept in out-buildings at The Flax House in Beauchamp Lane. One supposes that the place has never been quite the same since their departure, though some hops are still grown and harvested here.

The Pound is still standing but these days no animals are retained there except those tied to the railings whilst their owners go to fetch the papers from the Pound Stores!

The village is fortunate in that it has a bakery, a butcher, two garages and two general stores, one of which contains the post office. There is still a village school, a Working Men's Club, a good village hall, a really thriving Women's Institute, and last, but by no means least, a chapel of ease, dedicated to St James. Newcomers will find it a friendly and welcoming village, ready to offer help and friendship.

Worcester and Great Malvern are approximately five miles away with train services direct into Birmingham New Street (45 mins) and London Paddington (2 hrs)

VIEWINGS

Strictly by prior appointment through the agents, ChocolateBox - open everyday from 7.00 am and including evenings.

CONSUMER PROTECTION FROM UNFAIR TRADING REGULATIONS 2008 (CPR)

We endeavour to ensure that the details contained in all our brochures are correct through making detailed enquiries with the owner but they are not guaranteed. The agents have not tested any appliance, equipment, fixture, fitting or service and have not seen the title deeds to confirm tenure. All liability in negligence or otherwise for any loss arising from the use of these particulars is hereby excluded.

MONEY LAUNDERING REGULATIONS

Require prospective purchasers to produce two original ID documents prior to any offer being accepted by the owners.