A homely house with Edwardian elegance

Thimbleby Lodge is an outstanding country family home tucked away in a picturesque rural village location close to Horncastle’s historic market town.
Approached from a sweeping, tree-lined driveway and through timber gates, Thimbleby Lodge is an imposing detached residence dating back to the early 20th century with an abundance of charm and a wealth of history.

It’s easy to see why vendor Rebecca O’Brien – who moved here in 2002 with her partner and two daughters, plus the family’s Border Terrier, Ethel, and a pet cockerel called Omelette – fell in love with this impressive house from the moment she first set eyes on it.

“I loved it as soon as I walked in; it felt very grand but at the same time very homely,” says Rebecca, who relocated back to Lincolnshire from Norfolk where she worked for BP. “I was super impressed with the size of the rooms and height of the ceilings. It had also recently been renovated so didn’t have any carpets and the kitchen wasn’t finished, but I just loved the feel of the house and felt very safe and content here. My dad used to say, ‘It stands well’ which I think sums the house up perfectly.”

Having found their perfect home, Rebecca shook hands with the seller on the first viewing and moved in with her family just three weeks later.

“The house is in a perfect location being only half an hour from Lincoln, Boston and the coast. It is also close to good schools and both my daughters went to nearby Horncastle grammar school so are able to walk there.”

This handsome five-bedroom Edwardian residence, which is screened from the road by mature trees, showcases plenty of character features associated with the era, including a return staircase and gallery landing, together with high ceilings featuring ornate moulded coving, dado and picture rails, moulded four-panel doors with wide architraves and generous windows allowing natural light to flood into the spacious rooms.

The spacious dining lounge with deep velvety soft carpets extends into the side lobby, with the bonus of a luxurious bespoke Marenda Lindsey dining-kitchen featuring an Aga and Kardean flooring which extends into the snug next door.

Upstairs the large double master bedroom, with ensuite bathroom, features a high ceiling, ornately moulded coving, large walk-in front sash window, built-in window seat and storage, built-in double wardrobe, side V-shaped oriel bow window and an old-fashioned cast-iron radiator.

“We put an ensuite in the third bedroom so we have four bedrooms and four bathrooms in the house, and installed a log burner in the sitting room which makes it so cosy,” explains Rebecca.

Adjacent to the kitchen is the welcoming sitting room featuring a spacious walk-in bay window with subtly coloured square leaded top lights. A pair of internal French doors with arched glazed panels open with step down into the attractive airy garden room with uPVC double-glazed windows to three sides, and French doors opening out onto a large timbered decking area.

“Over the years, we have changed the use of the garden room so it’s been a playroom, pool room, office and during lockdown also a greenhouse and more recently a Christmas grotto!” says Rebecca.

Coach house conversion
On the far side of the parking courtyard positioned in large mature and secluded grounds of nearly three quarters of an acre, the property also features a detached coach house holiday cottage conversion.

This luxurious haven has proved extremely popular for guests or holidaymakers looking to explore the Lincolnshire Wolds and beyond.

This cosy cottage which features Welsh/part-sloping ceilings throughout, has been beautifully and sympathetically converted to offer a large double bedroom and attractive dining lounge with oak flooring, fitted kitchen with roll-edge work surfaces and spacious shower room with full amenities.

“I had the Coach House, which was previously in quite a sorry state, converted into a holiday cottage about 12 years ago and it has proved very popular,” says Rebecca.

The property stands in spacious grounds with well tended lawns sheltered by a mature line of trees along the front boundary with a pedestrian entrance, gate and wide pathway leading around the front garden to the main entrance.

There is an impressive raised timber deck wrapped around the garden room with exterior lighting set into the side plinths and creating an ideal al fresco dining and seating area.

A long beech hedge with pedestrian opening separates the main garden area from a further large lawn with ornamental trees and there is a patio garden area adjacent to the holiday cottage. To the rear of the main house there is a sheltered small courtyard enclosed by the side and rear walls of the house and a range of brick outbuildings with slab paving finished in white, gravel border which creates a further seating area ideal for morning coffee.

“The gardens are private and huge (I’m so pleased we have a ride-on mower), the sun shines all day and it is big enough for the lads to play footy during summer parties as well as providing fabulous places for hide and seek, den-making and tree climbing when the girls were little.”

Rural community and amenities
Thimbleby is a small, sought-after country village with a Grade II listed church dedicated to St Margaret and the highly regarded Durham Ox country pub and restaurant just a stone’s throw from Thimbleby Lodge.

Nearby Horncastle, just over a mile away, offers a range of shopping, schooling and recreational facilities, while the cathedral city of Lincoln is approximately 20 miles away.

“Horncastle is a lovely market town, with all the local amenities you will need. Woodhall Spa, which has some lovely bars and restaurants, is only three miles away,” says Rebecca, who has made the decision to move to look after her 70-year-old mother in Mablethorpe and help run the family business. “I will miss being so central to everywhere, but sadly the time has come that I feel I need to make the sacrifice. It’s a lovely family home and I think anyone would love living here; both the size and layout make it suitable for buyers and families of all shapes and sizes. I feel so lucky to have found the house and been able to buy it and raise my children and stepchildren here.

“Thimbleby Lodge has been my haven for nearly 20 years, I am sorry to leave it. I just hope whoever lives here after us has just as lovely a time as we have and makes as many memories as possible.”

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