Bolingbroke House, Old Bolingbroke, Spilsby, Lincolnshire. £780k



Not far away from this lovely 18th/19th century house is a sign which reads “To Old Bolingbroke and Mavis Enderby” to which the words  “A Son!” are regularly added.  Not far away from the delightfully named village of Mavis Enderby is Bag Enderby, where I feel it is my duty to live out my retirement.  I like to think of Bag Enderby as Old Bolingbroke’s mother in law. 

https://britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/101063610-bolingbroke-house-bolingbroke#.XS92mMrTWf0







When this house was on the market earlier in this century there was a lovely photograph of a herd of brown cows in the field in front of it, which somehow made me want it.  On the British listed buildings website there are sheep in front of it, which don’t tempt me in quite the same way as the cows did. 

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-62932989.html

The people who live here now don’t go in for period furniture very much, although they have a nice pair of blue cushioned bergere chairs from the 1920s or 30s and one or two other bits and pieces.
They do have lots of good paintings and drawings though and lots of books on display, which makes a pleasant change.  Their modern furniture is tasteful and shows what can be done in a homely way with modern design, if you have enough of it and aren’t an obsessive minimalist. 

I feel very jealous of the pantry.  I feel the need for shelves full of preserved, home grown things and dried goods and big baskets and pancheons.

Generally this house is one of my all time favourites.  It is quirky and eccentric and slightly muddled up, but beautiful and appealing and sits well in its gardens.












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