Sleaford dreams

In her regular column exploring the best places for smallholder living, Sue Field explains highlights the rural area around Sleaford, Lincolnshire…

Lincolnshire has a long deserved reputation for being a rural and productive farming area. Sleaford is a market town with easy access links to Boston, King’s Lynn and Peterborough. It has a long and interesting history in this agriculturally important area with much of its land amongst the most productive in the country. Take a look at the Sleaford Heritage Trail to find out more fascinating facts about the local history, which dates back to the Iron Age, the area and its many attractions. It also has close links with the RAF as Lincolnshire, with its flat panorama, proved ideal for air bases during the Second World War, the closest of which are RAF Cranwell and RAF Waddington. The Cranwell Aviation Museum is a must for anybody interested in the history of flight and even has a simulator to try your hand at landing a Jet Provost on the runway at RAF Cranwell before you run out of fuel!

THE LARGEST ‘VILLAGE SHOW’ IN ENGLAND
As well as a bustling market, the town boasts a number of good schools and amenities. Of particular interest to smallholders is the Heckington Show (last weekend in July), hailed as the largest village show in England. With a large number of trade stands and countless attractions from vintage tractors to a donkey show, everybody will find something of interest. In the evening there is a fireworks display and an open air concert. With very reasonable entry fees and free parking this is definitely one for your diary.

Heckington Mill (pictured below) is the only eight sailed windmill of its type in the world so take a look whilst at the show! Nearby Cogglesford Watermill on the River. Slea, dating back to Saxon times, is thought to be the only Sheriff’s Watermill still in operation in England.This bustling market town has a lot to offer, and property is good value for money. Jennifer Saunders was born in Sleaford – could this property be your Absolutely Fabulous smallholding?

FEATURED PROPERTY
Located in a rural village near Sleaford, close to the fertile fens of Lincolnshire, our versatile property this month could be a real find. This character four bedroomed house with period features occupies a rural location just a 5 minute drive from Sleaford so read on to discover its many charms.

Set in approximately 0.3 acres withFrench doors from the garden into the kitchen creating a light and open aspect, this room contains a range of units incorporating a double oven and hob as well as space for other appliances. It also has a lovely tiled floor making it easy to clean up those dirty paw prints! The kitchen leads into a good sized dining room with a fireplace and a bow window to the side aspect and continuing through takes you into the large lounge with wonderful exposed beams and an open fireplace with log burner, making a really cosy space for those winter months. Stairs leading from the dining area take you upstairs to the four bedrooms, one of which is currently used as a snug and another as an office.

The master bedroom has its own en suite shower room and there is a family bathroom with both a shower and bath. Outside there is a double garage and a further outbuilding of good proportions (3.35 x 4.57 metres) complete with waterheater, WC and hand wash basin. This studio is of recent construction with structural insulated panels and would be ideal for a number of uses such as crafting or wellbeing sessions. Betweenthese two buildings is a large attractive grassed area with trees and a pond. The garden is naturally divided into areas which would provide an ideal vegetable plot and another for possibly keeping chickens or even ducks with a des respond ready and waiting!

This property offers a considerable amount for your money and is on the market for £420,000 with Newton Fallowell Estate Agents  www.newtonfallowell.co.uk

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