Live The Good Life at Buerton Old House, a secluded centuries-old farmhouse just a mile from the village of Audlem. Grow your own vegetables, harvest fruit from the orchard and entertain beneath centuries-old beams, becoming the latest custodian of a home whose greatest luxury is the life it invites you to lead.

Tucked behind two sets of secure electric gates allowing two-way entrance, Buerton Old House reveals itself in style, its golden gravel driveway culminating in a turning circle of neatly clipped privet and sculpted planting throughout the immaculately trimmed lawnwrapping around the home.

Clad in timber, the wooden frame barn with its high, vaulted ceiling, now serves as a series of storage rooms, with vast potential for renovation.

Recently inspected and in excellent condition, the ridge of this Grade II-listed home’s roof is embellished with traditional thatched finials depicting a mother fox and her cub in pursuit of a hare, a fitting nod to the wildlife that surrounds Buerton Old House.

OWNER QUOTE: “The thatch keeps the house cool in the summer and warm in the winter”.

Embracing the past

Respectfully renovated and extended to create an easy flow for modern living and entertaining, Buerton Old House celebrates its centuries-old craftsmanship in a tactile, tangible manner from exposed beams to inscribed initials within the ancient door frames. Traditional materials and time-honoured building techniques, including wattle and daub and horsehair plaster, were employed to create seamless extensions to the kitchen and lounge, allowing the original elements of the home to sit effortlessly alongside the comforts of contemporary family life, with little to distinguish old from new. 

Originally known as Dairy House Farm, Buerton Old House has witnessed centuries of rural Cheshire life, once surrounded by a larger holding complete with piggery and extensive orchards. Hidden beneath the floorboards during renovations was an ink etching dating from 1867, depicting local landowner John Tremlow with horse and cart, just one of the many tangible reminders that Buerton Old House’s agricultural roots remain woven into its character today, making it feel almost inseparable from the landscape around it.

Welcome home

Setting the tone from the very first step, the robust front door, salvaged from nearby Peckforton Castle, lends an unmistakable sense of heritage and occasion. Beyond, the welcoming entrance hall is warmed by a traditional cast-iron radiator . Panelling to the walls, beams above and practical flagstone flooring, laid by the current owners throughout the entireground floor, evokes the history of the home. Nearby, freshen up in the cloakroom beneath the stairs before exploring the versatility and warmth of Buerton Old House.

OWNER QUOTE: “Walking in felt like being hugged. It has such a warm, gentle atmosphere and everyone who visits says exactly the same thing."

A grandly sized room, with depth of character, step through into the family room. Exposed ceiling beams, painted in a creamy latte colour, timber-framed walls and warm brickwork combine to create a room of unmistakable heritage, whilst the impressive inglenook fireplace, now home to a contemporary log-burning stove, is the ultimate focal point from autumn evenings through to snowy winter mornings.

French doors offer a modern frame out to uninterrupted views across the surrounding garden and countryside, opening directly onto the courtyard terrace; ideal for entertaining in summer. 

Comfortable throughout the seasons, the natural insulating qualities of the thatch help keep rooms refreshingly cool during the height of summer before holding warmth through the colder months, creating a home that is as cosy in December as it is cool and restful in July.

OWNER QUOTE: “In winter, the log burner is lit, the Christmas trees go up and it becomes the most magical place to spend an evening. Every season brings something different, and we genuinely love them all."

Feast your eyes

A modern, minimal space, handleless cabinetry in soft shades of creamy white almost countrifies the kitchen without allowing it to become clinically contemporary. Practical spotlighting is a welcome convenience above, with plenty of storage, counter space and even seating at the breakfast bar peninsula, creating a sociable place to gather. Appliances include an induction hob, oven and microwave with wide pan drawers and a dishwasher.

The utility sits slightly apart from the main flow of the kitchen, where ceramic flooring continues underfoot and the same cabinetry offers further storage, with an inset sink with chef’s tap pairing with integrated appliances such as a washing machine and dryer. Laundry rarely feels laborious with such enchanting views out over the lawn and shrubs to the distant trees.

Dine and entertain

Wine and dine in comfort and character in the dining room, where a handsome fireplace forms a fascinating focal point set against a blue-green backdrop. Windows to two sides draw in the light, while panelling made from original floorboards taken from upstairs celebrates the very fabric of the home, warmed by underfloor heating. Handmade shutters provide another quirky touch, featuring throughout the home, with each room subtly marked with a different suit of playing card in tribute to the bridge-loving couple who originally restored the home.

Beyond, in the study, deep blue-green panelling continues the sense of old school comfort, where an entire wall of freestanding cabinetry currently offers storage for books, files and other items. 

Returning to the dining room, continue through to the tucked-away butler’s pantry, furnished in old oak and currently used as a bar area. Tucked beneath the stairs and positioned between the dining room and drawing room, it provides ample storage while ensuring refreshments are always close at hand when entertaining.

Beyond the butler's pantry, the drawing room streams with an abundance of natural light, with windows to three sides and French doors opening onto the garden. Exposed beams and a log-burning stove, set within a substantial stone fireplace add warmth, while the room's easy connection to both the dining room and butler's pantry maintains an easy entertaining flow.

Indoor outdoor flow

OWNER QUOTE: "We were actually about to buy a plot of land to build our own home when we spotted a photograph of Buerton Old House. It was our dream home. The moment we walked through the front door, I knew this was where we were meant to be."

Rest and refresh

From the butler’s pantry, a staircase – one of two featured at Buerton Old House – rises up to the first-floor landing, where beams exposed within the walls evoke the home’s ancient heritage.

To the left, a walk-through dressing area provides access to a large double bedroom suite, drenched in natural light and finished in refreshing forest green tones, furnished with further built-in storage alongside a bathroom lined with warm buff mosaic tiles, a large bath with overhead shower, wash basin and WC.

Calm, quiet and stillness prevail at every turn in Buerton Old House, where warmth and welcome seem inherent to the fabric of the home. 

Directly ahead from this staircase, step into a light-filled bedroom, where exposed beams and vaulted ceiling create an airy sense of peace, currently housing twin beds and with windows to two sides. 

Returning to the landing, to the right of the staircase, discover a light filled double bedroom with high beam laden ceiling and en suite with bath. Observe the door architraves carryinginitials carved into the wood over hundreds of years.

Versatile living

Accessed via both the twin bedroom and up its own private set of stairs from the main entrance hall, discover the master bedroom, another spacious, serene room with plenty of space for storage and access to its own exceptionally sized en suite. Accessed through double doors, refresh and revive in the freestanding bath, while a walk-in rainfall shower, twin-door wardrobe, pedestal wash basin and warm limestone-toned tiling create a calm, understated backdrop. Natural light streams through the windows, drawing the eye out across the surrounding greenery enhancing the sense of peace and tranquillity that define this home. Two walls of mirrored sliding door wardrobes provide plenty of storage.

The landing beyond the master bedroom features warm exposed brickwork, keeping cohesively to the tactile palette of this traditional period home, while the unique layout with its twin staircases invites flexibility. 

The arrangement of the bedrooms, together with two separate staircases, creates a home of remarkable versatility, offering scope for multigenerational living, the privacy for guest accommodation or for independent as family needs change.

OWNER QUOTE: "Sometimes I'll run my hand along the old beams and wonder where they were hundreds of years ago. You don't really own a house like this; you're simply its custodian for a while. It's a privilege to become part of its history."

The Good Life

If Buerton Old House is the gift, its gardens are the ribbon that ties everything together. Sheltered by mature planting and wrapped around a patio, the gardens feel wonderfully secluded, despite the vibrant village of Audlem lying little more than a mile away. 

Wrought iron fencing creates a secure enclosed space immediately outside the home, ideal for younger children and pets to enjoy the outdoors in safety.

For those who dream of embracing a more self-sufficient lifestyle, the gardens provide every opportunity, with a substantial greenhouse, complete with power, water and space for a table and chairs, overlooking four raised vegetable beds, making it as much a place to relax as to grow. 

Pleached pear trees line the barn, while the orchard yields both eating and cooking apples, ideal for those who love to bake. With fruit trees yielding a seasonal harvest, the current owners have embraced a true 'Good Life' lifestyle, even producing their own perry and cider from the orchard's fruit.

Rolling lawns wrap around the home, dotted with ancient trees offering shelter and shade for a hammock on warm summer afternoons, from where you can look back and admire the striking black-and-white timbers of the house. 

Elsewhere, a secluded sunken garden, edged with heart-shaped box hedging, overflowing hydrangeas and a wildlife pond with bespoke bench, provide another peaceful corner in which to pause.

Beyond the gardens, a separate one-acre paddock has been acquired by the current owners to preserve the uninterrupted rural views, whilst also offering potential for keeping a pony, donkeys or simply additional open space to enjoy.

Potential to grow

Alongside the double garages, a substantial barn and workshop also offer impressive versatility, whether retained for storage or explored for future leisure or lifestyle uses, subject to the necessary consents. Planning permission has previously been granted for the creation of a self-contained annexe, ideal for those seeking multigenerational living, guest accommodation or independent space for older children.

Out and about

Safe, secluded and perfectly private, Buerton Old House feels a world away from the hustle and bustle, yet is little more than a mile from the thriving village of Audlem. 

Renowned for its strong community spirit, throughout the year Audlem plays host to a variety of events from monthly market stalls selling local produce, plants and honey to classic car gatherings, Party in the Park, bonfire celebrations and the much-loved Audlem Music & Arts Festival. For everyday essentials, the village also offers a range of independent shops, cafés, a tennis club while the beautiful St James' Church is at the heart of the village.

For walkers, the Shropshire Union Canal is almost on the doorstep, and you can park in Audlem before following the towpaths through peaceful countryside, calling in at one of the many villages nearby for refreshments along the way. Country pubs are never far away, with welcoming village inns and traditional Cheshire pubs dotted throughout the surrounding countryside. The Shroppie Fly is a firm local favourite, whilst nearby Nantwich offers a wide choice of independent cafés, restaurants and bars for everything from relaxed lunches to evening drinks.

Goldstone Pool Nature Reserve, another picturesque destination, provides a place to unwind amidst nature, while the surrounding lanes and footpaths are also ripe for exploration. 

Families are well served by local schooling, with a primary school in Audlem itself and secondary education at Brine Leas School, where school transport is available, with independent schools also within easy reach.

Rural, but not remote, Crewe Railway Station is around 20 minutes away, offering direct mainline services to London and making commuting or business travel straightforward. Nantwich, Whitchurch and the wider Cheshire road network are all readily accessible.

So much more than simply a beautiful period home, Buerton Old House offers the opportunity to embrace a life more in tune with nature and the outdoors, offering the exciting opportunity to become the next custodian of a home whose history is so uniquely interwoven with the countryside in which it is set.

Disclaimer 

The information Storeys of Cheshire has provided is for general informational purposes only and does not form part of any offer or contract. The agent has not tested any equipment or services and cannot verify their working order or suitability. Buyers should consult their solicitor or surveyor for verification. Photographs shown are for illustration purposes only and may not reflect the items included in the property sale. Please note that lifestyle descriptions are provided as a general indication. Regarding planning and building consents, buyers should conduct their own enquiries with the relevant authorities. All measurements are approximate. Properties are offered subject to contract, and neither Storeys of Cheshire nor its employees or associated partners have the authority to provide any representations or warranties.