This light-filled, four-bedroom home built from pale Cotswold stone occupies a quiet yet central position in the popular town of Stroud in Gloucestershire. A comprehensive renovation over recent years replaced outdated layers with modern interior detailing, seamlessly pairing the generous proportions with carefully retained architectural features. Internal living space of over 2,300 sqft extends two storeys, and there are mature south-facing gardens and terraces chock-full of herbaceous plants and flowering perennials. Rodborough Hill is ideally located for easy access to the town centre and train station, easily reached on foot in around ten minutes or by bicycle in five minutes.

The Tour

A wide, paved driveway sets the house back from the road and offers a generous provision of off-street parking. Tall mature specimen trees and verdant borders of ferns and shrubs make for a private and secluded entrance set to one side of the house.

Entry is to the hallway, the access point to the living spaces across the ground floor. Here, high ceilings and decorative floor tiles dominate and create a welcoming introduction to the house.

The kitchen and dining room are organised in a predominantly open-plan, a sociable, family-friendly layout designed to work in unison with the ensemble of daily life.

Lines of hand-crafted cabinetry and a central island form a bespoke kitchen set at one side of the room. Here, steel supports and splashbacks add a characterful industrial finish. A patchwork of original floor tiles adds patina to the modern touches that have been added. Crisp white walls are set in contrast with striking anthracite; a large original sash window illuminates the cooking areas. A wall of sliding glass doors optimises the southerly orientation, inviting natural light to flood in throughout the day, while allowing a natural flow between the inside and outside spaces.

In an effective economy of space, a fully sound-insulated music room is tucked discreetly behind the dining room wall, and a large utility space is positioned next door. A large adjoining storage area has direct access to the garden.

High ceilings and generous proportions characterise the two reception rooms at ground floor level. The living room is replete with period features; an expansive bay window spans one wall, the original dark, oiled floorboards run underfoot and a deep open fireplace is set into one wall. The second reception room, another quiet and peaceful space, has a large sash window which frames the leafy backdrop.

The spiral staircase is at the centre of the plan and has a beautiful retained curved handrail. It leads up to a wide-open landing and access to the four bedrooms. The main bedroom has an en suite shower room, and there is also a family bathroom with both a bath and a shower. The two bedrooms on the southerly aspect, one currently used as an artist’s studio, have views across the gardens.

Outdoor Space  

The gardens and terraces have been lovingly developed over many years, carefully designed around the southern exposure and optimising the changing light to the best effect throughout the day. A bamboo screen provides a natural division between the upper and lower lawns, where more intimate pockets have been carved out for eating and drinking. Full herbaceous borders ensure interest throughout the seasons, and there is also a productive patch for growing vegetables, fruit, and flowers.

The Area

Stroud stands at the meeting point of the Five Valleys and is surrounded by the Cotswold Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in all directions. Rodborough Hill is a quiet residential area of the town, ideally located for easy access to the town centre, which lies around half a mile away.

The town has long attracted artists, designers and makers and is characterised by a creative spirit, reflected in the numerous independently run businesses which shape the town centre. Among the many cafes and eateries, Woodruffs and The Woolpack rank highly amongst local residents. There is also a national award-winning farmers’ market which takes place weekly on Saturdays.

Cheltenham is a 30-minute drive away, a regency town renowned for its festivals of literature, jazz, film, folk music, comedy and science, as well as a busy racing calendar, including the Gold Cup.

Transport links from the house are very good. The train station is a 10-minute walk away, providing direct links to London Paddington in around an hour and a half.

Council Tax Band: F

Please note that all areas, measurements and distances given in these particulars are approximate and rounded. The text, photographs and floor plans are for general guidance only. The Modern House has not tested any services, appliances or specific fittings — prospective purchasers are advised to inspect the property themselves. All fixtures, fittings and furniture not specifically itemised within these particulars are deemed removable by the vendor.