Settle into country living while keeping the city close, at Hale Bank, a home of character and heritage, ushered elegantly into 21st century living.

Where country meets city

Close to road and rail links bringing the airports of Manchester and Liverpool within easy reach, retreat to the calm and quiet of Kingsley at Hale Bank. Dating back to the 1900s as a ‘penny school’ for the children of local farmers, Hale Bank plays an ingrained role in local history, now beautifully updated for modern family life.

Pull up onto the driveway where there is ample parking, in addition to space for a further two cars within the timber clad double garage. Fitted with electric doors and two solar panel-powered EVC points there is also convenient access through to a shower room – handy after weekend football games and muddy dog walks.

Step into the entrance hall and the 1900s charm of Hale Bank belied by the modernity of crisp white walls, soaring ceilings and pale herringbone floors, where a statement, angled oak sliding door on black steel tracks marks the contemporary tone found throughout.

OWNER QUOTE: “We’ve always loved Scandi design — clean, minimal and clutter-free, but with plenty of storage. After living in Australia, open plan living and big windows felt essential.”

Indoor-outdoor design

A home that embraces indoor-outdoor living, instantly the garden makes its presence felt, through the ‘broken plan’ design of this extended, remodelled home. Inspired by a love of Scandinavian design and the relaxed, open plan living of antipodean culture, the renovation was conceived as a complete reimagining of the home’s interior, centring on clean lines, minimalism and intelligent storage.

A true Cinderella story spanning six years, the transformation of Hale Bank began structurally, opening up walls to create a flowing layout, installing a new garage and introducing large windows to maximise natural light and strengthen the connection to the garden.

Light streams down from the roof light above, while built-in storage to the right provides space for coats and shoes. Meanwhile the shower room ahead, with handsome hexagonal tiling, is so convenient when returning home from walks.

Wine, dine and unwind

Lavished with light, to the left, the dining area remains connected to both entrance hall and living room whilst remaining its own distinct space, looking out over the front garden through a bay window.

Emanating warmth throughout the downstairs space, the two-way gas fire serves as a cosy focal point, connecting the dining area with the living room beyond. A peaceful, mature space, a corner of glazing provides plenty of natural light to read by, with the large picture window to the side providing perfect views out over the firepit. With indoor-outdoor living a defining principle of the home, sliding doors offer instant access out to the rear, both from the living room and kitchen which opens up to the side.

OWNER QUOTE: “We wanted to be able to walk straight out and make the garden into almost another room – to actually use that space.”

Scandi design for calm of mind

Soft sage-green cabinetry retains the minimal ambience of the home, subtly echoing the outdoor space; ever present throughout Hale Bank. A pure white veined quartz island forms the centrepiece of the space, positioned to face the garden beyond, ensuring the cook remains connected to the garden.

Housing a five-ring Bosch hob within the seamless quartz surface, which continues as a full-height splashback to the surrounding surfaces, wrapping the room for a clean, cohesive finish,two Bosch ovens are stacked neatly to one side, alongside an integrated dishwasher and cleverly designed bin and recycling unit. A full-height fridge is complemented by a half-height freezer, with additional freezer space in the garage.

A walk-in pantry cupboard keeps surfaces clear, with electrical points for a microwave and air fryer tucked discreetly away, ensuring the kitchen remains streamlined, practical and exceptionally well organised.

Savour the view

Pluck a bottle of red from the full height, single bottle-width wine rack running up the side of the cupboard and slide open the door before stepping out beneath the cover of the outdoor ‘garden room’. Beyond the glazing, this covered terrace extends the living space outdoors, bringing a distinctly Australian approach to year-round entertaining. Sheltered beneath a contemporary canopy, listen to the sound of rain softly drumming overhead as warmth radiates from the suspended fire - a bespoke adaptation made for dusky autumn evenings with a mulled wine and a shared pizza, fresh from the outdoor oven. Shaded in summer and cosy in cooler months, this is an outdoor room in the truest sense: a space designed not simply to admire the garden, but to live within it, embracing that unmistakable hygge feeling all year round.

Returning indoors, beneath the kitchen lies a substantial cellar, mirroring the footprint of the room above and offering impressive additional potential. Currently accessed via a discreet trap door at the far end of the island, this space retains its original brick walls and flagstone flooring, remaining dry throughout. With a good ceiling height of almost 6ft, it already provides excellent storage, though plans had once envisioned a striking wine cellar with glass hatch access and illuminated displays. Subject to excavation, the depth could be increased to create full standing height, opening possibilities for a cinema room, hobby space or extensive storage.

To one side of the dining area, another Crittall-style door opens into an inner hall where an illuminated nook beneath the stairs offers space for a piano, opposite the calming blue hues of the cosy snug.

With bespoke, built-in sofas - designed and upholstered by the current owners - forming an L-shape and leaning back into the bay window, a glass-fronted fire keeps the snug toasty and intimate in winter. Where better to hunker down and watch a box set, or catch up with friends over a glass or two?

Back in the hallway, light floods in through a tall rectangle of glass, and opposite, conveniently positioned at the foot of the stairs, a dedicated laundry closet with slender rose gold handles houses the washing machine and dryer, completing the effortless flow of the ground floor.

Rest, repose, refresh

Ascending the stairs, wood plank flooring lies underfoot on the first-floor landing, while to the left, framing full height views out over the garden and surrounding Cheshire countryside, the master bedroom offers country luxury encapsulated. Sliding doors open to the Juliet balcony, where a slice of glass balustrade is all that stands between the indoors and open views beyond.

From the comfort of a super king size bed, which the master bedroom more than comfortably accommodates, wake up to sunrise views of migrating geese and watch as the sun rises, before finishing the day to the twilight chords of evening birdsong and furtive foxes slipping silhouetted through the field.

Soak away the aches in the main bathroom whose circular bathtub, with brushed brass, wall-mounted fittings, invites leisurely bathing. Twin wash basins sit atop a wooden vanity unit, beneath arched mirrors illuminated by a statement vertical light.

Next door, blush pink adds a muted warmth to the second of the bedrooms, an inviting double with wooden flooring underfoot and views out over the countryside at the front.

The fourth bedroom, another roomy and light-filled double offers space for a double bed, also featuring a built-in wardrobe, and sharing in the leafy views opening out over the front.

To the rear, a bountiful guest bedroom offering space for a super king size bed overlooks the garden and panoramic countryside beyond, with sliding doors opening to a Juliet balcony, connecting seamlessly to the rural vistas.

Drop down ladders descend from the loft hatch in a guest bedroom providing access up to the loft, where planning has been passed for an attic master suite with balcony views across the Cheshire Plains and further on to the Derbyshire Peaks — the next chapter in Hale Bank’s story, ready for its new custodians to complete.

A garden for all seasons

A true extension of the home, the garden at Hale Bank is a sociable, safe and family friendly space. Children can play on the lawn, bordered by hedging at the foot for privacy, with a gentle step down to a slightly sunken area. Perfect for parties, the garden comes to life in spring as the trees come into leaf, with striking sunrises out over the Derbyshire fells as the garden lingers in sunset at dusk.

Tucked to one side, the sheltered terrace offers summer shade beneath its canopy, with a suspended fireplace at its heart, ensuring all-season enjoyment of the outdoors. Cook up a feast with the built-in barbecue and outdoor kitchen, garnishing dishes with herbs freshly plucked from the raised vegetable beds at the rear. Outside the living room, a sheltered firepit and seating area adds to the enduring appeal of Hale Bank’s garden.

OWNER QUOTE: “It’s a great entertaining space all year round.”

Meanwhile, the garage, also accessible from the garden, offers far more than simple storage. Currently arranged with a small workshop area and a makeshift gym to the rear, it has also been thoughtfully future-proofed: plumbing is already in place for a WC, with pipework ready should conversion to a self-contained annexe ever be desired. Even the roof has been engineered to support a grass covering, reflecting the care taken in its design.

Out and about

Set on the cusp of the friendly Cheshire village of Kingsley, Hale Bank captures the perfect balance of leafy quiet and convenient connections. The Co-op is just a mile away on foot, while schools lie in the opposite direction; The Grange School is around five miles away for independent schooling.

Discover the area on foot, with several pubs on hand for slaking your thirst, including the welcoming interiors of The Fishpool Arms, The Tiger’s Head in Norley and The Carriers in Delamere, while The Leigh Arms is another welcome retreat, downhill towards the River Weaver. Delamere Forest is just a mile and a half away, perfect for cycling trails, running routes and walks.

Frodsham, a short drive or cycle away, offers a wealth of restaurants and independent shops while everyday convenience is equally handy: Aldi and Tesco are around ten minutes away in Helsby, and Cheshire Oaks is within 15 minutes’ drive.

For commuters, rail connections are excellent, with nearby Acton Bridge on the Liverpool branch of the West Coast Main Line and Delamere Station within cycling distance for Manchester Piccadilly. From Frodsham there are also direct links to Liverpool – making international travel accessible.

A home built by a family, for a family, Hale Bank is a gracefully updated period home, whose mix of ‘broken plan’ living and separate spaces makes it ideal for all types of family set up,with plenty of potential for multigenerational living. Retaining all the buzz of the city simply a motorway junction or train stop or two away, return home from work or leisure to the tranquillity of rurality at Hale Bank.

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.