Broughton House, London Road, Shardlow, Derbyshire. £795k


This is another of those rare things, a period house that is decorated and furnished with taste. It is listed grade ii, built in the early 19th century, for a merchant who developed Shardlow as an inland port. Those semi circular ashlar steps up to the front door are wonderful as is the Tuscan porch, though it must have been rather hard getting that rosewood concert grand into the drawing room. 




The cornices are marvellously painted, apparently by Italian prisoners of war.  There is a house not far from where I live whose drawing room was done in very fine stucco by Italian prisoners of war too, I’m glad we put them to such good use.  

The house is over 5000 sq feet, so pretty big, I think that includes the basement.  Have you noticed musical people often have good taste in furniture generally?  It is rare to see a collection of keyboard instruments in a house that is otherwise dull or naff. 

The rose coloured swags and curtain look lovely at the tall, elegant  sash window, restrained, drawing the eye, but not dominating, they pick up the rose shades in the oriental rugs and bring out the red of the mahogany table. 


The entrance hall is a lovely, regency blue the arm chairs either side of the front door are a nice touch.  one could imagine one might need to sit down after coming up those 8 stone steps after a walk. 



I’m glad the current occupants have two regency sideboards in the dining room.  So often people seem to think they have furnished a dining room if they have bought a big table and a set of ten chairs.  Regency sideboards are very good value at the moment, I hope they are not going the same way as writing furniture, because I gave 2 1/2k for a Hepplewhite type sideboard 20 years ago and I would hate to see it valued at only a couple of hundred now, as so many bureaux are.

I don’t think I would have made this former reception room into a kitchen.  I quite like the big space and high ceiling, but knowing the house has a basement level, I would prefer the kitchen down there, with a utility room, laundry room, boot room and walk in pantry.  I would furnish it with more vernacular and rustic furniture than in the rest of the house.  But as recently fitted kitchens go, like the one at Bridge House in Cockermouth, see below, this is as good as they get. 

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-79775771.html




Given the size of the property there aren’t many pictures.  Perhaps the rest of the house is not in such a splendid state of decoration and has not been furnished to the same standard. It doesn’t have a vast deal of garden, but what there is seems private and pleasant and the conservatory would be a nice place to sit. There are good views over the river Trent at the front. 





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