Main Street, Grendon Underwood, Buckinghamshire. HP18 0ST

DESCRIPTION
Shakespeare House was formerly a 16th century hostelry known as ?The Ship?. According to tradition, William Shakespeare stayed there on several occasions when en route between Stratford upon Avon and London and it is said he gained inspiration there for ?A Midsummer?s Night Dream?. With later Georgian additions, the house has been lovingly restored in recent years and beautifully finished by the current owners to create a wonderful residence of great character incorporating a mix of original period features and full working fireplaces throughout with contemporary living. The entrance hallway opens into a spacious reception hall which has exposed ceiling timbers, an original brick fireplace, and has been fitted with painted wood panelling and a black marble floor. Broad oak steps lead up to the elegant drawing room in the Elizabethan part of the house; which has high ceilings, a stunning open fireplace, leaded light windows on three sides, oak floor and a wealth of exposed wall and ceiling timbers. Above the door which leads out to a rear hall, is a wall painting mentioned in Pevsner?s ?Buildings of England?.
The striking black marble floor continues from the entrance hall through to the dining room and kitchen on the ground floor. The impressive dining room has a wonderful inglenook fireplace with tiled hearth and storage cupboards on either side. It has been fitted with painted panelling and part glazed illuminated display cupboards. A leaded window looks out to the front of the property and a door leads to one of the two staircases up to the first floor. The contemporary L-shaped kitchen breakfast room is certainly a major feature of the house and has been cleverly designed to create separate food preparation, cooking, and dining areas. It has been fitted with a handsome range of bespoke
hand made oak units with Golden Persa granite work surfaces and splash backs
Full height cupboards provide abundant food storage. In one corner, a cosy ?reading area? has been created where a door leads out to the rear hallway providing access to a large cellar and door to the rear garden.
The ?cooking area? is ergonomically designed to incorporate Villeroy & Boch twin Belfast together with space for a large fridge/freezer and wine cooler. There is also large stainless steel gas range cooker with double ovens and further display cupboards and drawers. There is a freestanding island/breakfast bar with additional built in cupboard space and wine rack, adjacent to full height windows overlooking the pretty courtyard. From the kitchen a door leads to a useful utility area and cloakroom with access to the outside. Adjacent to the kitchen, a family room/study completes the ground floor accommodation. From the rear hallway an oak Jacobean staircase leads up to master bedroom suite which has a double aspect, original feature fireplace and stripped wood floor. The en suite shower room is largely marble tiled and fitted with twin sinks and Matki double-sized shower unit. Continuing up the staircase to the second floor landing with former ?priesthole?, is a dressing room with full height fitted cupboards and wardrobes. From here a door leads through to sitting room/bedroom 7 (dubbed ?The Shakespeare Suite? and reputed to be where William Shakespeare stayed) with its delightful original ?lozenge shaped? window overlooking the front.
A second staircase leads up from the dining room to the first floor bedroom accommodation where three double bedrooms and two bathrooms are situated. The charming guest bedroom, with window to the front and good storage cupboards, has a stripped wood floor, painted panelled walls and an attractive fireplace. A door leads to a rear vaulted hall which connects the two sides of the house, where there are two guest bathrooms, one of which has a Jacuzzi bath and marble wall tiles and separate shower, the other finished with travertine limestone mosaic tiles. From the landing, stairs lead up to the second floor where there are two further double bedrooms, one with an en suite bathroom and the other with a lovely vaulted ceiling. There is also a separate bathroom
with corner Jacuzzi bath to this floor. This part of the house could be utilised as potential staff accommodation, if required.

Garden and Outbuildings
Shakespeare House is approached over an impressive in and out gravelled carriage driveway to the front of the property intersecting an area of lawn with mature trees and saplings, and the gravel drive down the side leads to the garaging. Adjacent to the kitchen is a delightful stone flagged courtyard, screened by a curved brick wall with inset lighting, which provides privacy and a wonderful sun trap and seating area. A brick edged gravel path leads to a large stone flagged terrace and the stunning rear garden. Immediately to the rear of the house there is a fully restored ?parterre? garden with rose bushes, topiary box and yew hedging all intersected by gravel pathways. To one side is a well and areas of trellising. The remainder of the garden is mostly laid to lawn with shrub and flower beds and several specimen trees, including apple and lilac. There is a large, fenced pond, lovely willow trees, and the owners have introduced a wild flower border to encourage bees and wildlife. The grounds afford a high degree of privacy and are bordered by post and rail fencing and hedging and back on to open fields with wonderful countryside views.The detached double garaging is accessed along the eastern side of the grounds via a gravel drive, it has electric doors and the loft area has been converted into a large office or den with it?s own bathroom & shower.