A charming Grade II* listed house on the site of the former fortified manor house.

Description

History
There has been a house at Bletsoe since 1327 and one with a formidable pedigree of owners, which includes Margaret Beaufort who was born at Bletsoe in 1441 and became the mother of Henry VII, the first of the Tudor kings. The present house is a much altered and renovated house of late 16th Century origins. Since 1813 it has been used as a farm house where only the outer walls of the original Elizabethan fabric remain. The old moat, which is Grade I listed, can still be traced for a considerable distance around the old walls of the castle.

The House
What strikes any visitor to the house is how manageable and friendly it is, where the main entrance opens onto a spacious hall that leads in turn to the main entertaining rooms. These fine rooms enjoy access to and views of the garden where there are terraces to take the entertainment outside. All the bedrooms are spacious with a particularly impressive principle bedrooms suite and dressing room, in the West corner of the house. With seven of the eight bedrooms all enjoying southerly views.

Gardens
The gardens are the undoubted joy of Bletsoe. They are mainly laid to lawn and are interspersed with wonderful flower beds, herbaceous borders, specimen trees and shrubs. Of particular note is the Grade I listed moat which the current owners have dredged and restored during their ownership. Also within the gardens are the relics of the original stone moat bridge. Adjacent to the driveway is a tennis court as well as a range of outbuildings including a 3 bay open fronted barn and stabling. To the east of the house is a fabulous walled garden that is stocked with an abundance of seasonal vegetables, fruit trees and flora. Beyond the gardens there is a paddock containing parkland trees such as oak, beech, flowering cherry and is enclosed partly by a post and rail fence. There are further fenced paddocks which lie to the north of the house and in all the grounds extends to some 25 acres.

Outbuildings and Cottages
To the north east of the house there is a range of brick and slate outbuildings under tiled roof including; 2 one bedroom grooms cottages that could be knocked into one, machinery stores, further stables and tack room. To the east of the house are further outbuildings including garages, garden stores and a greenhouse.

Location

Bletsoe Castle is situated in the attractive and unspoilt village of Bletsoe about 5 miles north of the county town of Bedford. Trains to London St Pancras are from 35 minutes. The house is surrounded by gently undulating countryside with The River Great Ouse a short distance to the west. Bedford is a thriving shopping centre and close at hand are a wide range of superb State and Independent schools. Access to the M1 motorway is just 5.5 miles south west and central London is just 60 miles. Local sporting activities include hunting with the Vale of Aylesbury Hounds, the Oakley and Woodland Pytchley. Whaddon Chase and Bicester hunts are within easy reach. Golf can be played at Woburn, Apsley Guise and various other courses around Bedford

Square Footage: 7,590 sq ft


Acreage: 24 Acres

Directions

From London take the M1 north exiting at J13. Take A421 for 7 miles then exit onto the A428 and take the new north Bedford by-pass to the A6. Follow the A6 for 5 miles before turning right to Bletsoe. Follow the lane into the village and having passed the church turn immediately right onto Coplowe Lane. After 100 yards the driveway to Bletsoe Castle can be found on your left hand side.