THE HISTORY OF NORTHFIELDS HOUSE

In 1907 the first stone was laid at Northfields, the start of a building programme which was to last another twenty years as the second owner of the Northfields Estate, a wealthy marine engineer called Doxford, added a couple of new wings comprising a further six bedrooms, three large south facing reception rooms, and finally in 1928, (by knocking a hole through the east side of the house) his own squash court with a viewing gallery off the landing! In 1954, shortly after Mr Doxford died, the house was divided into two properties, and it remained as two separate six bedroomed houses for over five decades.

The opportunity to turn Northfields back in to one arose when the owners of the West Wing (the original half) sadly passed away at the end of 2006. They had lived in the same house for over fifty years and brought up their large family there. The friendship that developed between the two families cannot go un-mentioned. It was a gradual friendship which developed over forty three years living next door to one another, with mutual support in times of need and many happy shared family occasions, it is a friendship which has continued through the generations.

Northfields is nearly 13,000 square feet of building and its various additions and changes over the years give the house its unique character. Tudor fire places were added in the 1920's, and the strip oak floors and stone mullioned windows give the house that wonderful solidity and sense of permanence, the outlook probably hasn't changed in a 100 years!

The two houses were restored to one in June 2008, the three original connecting doors opened up, and for the first time in fifty four years it is possible to walk from one end of the house to the other! The houses are available for letting as either one or two properties, with each sleeping up to twelve people. There is a dining room which can seat up to thirty people comfortably as well as two smaller dining rooms which can seat up to fifteen each. The house divides extremely well, as does the garden, and both sides have complete privacy in their own right. It works equally well as one large house depending on your requirements.