Alderley Cottage, Alderley Edge
When is a cottage not a cottage? When it’s a landmark property for sale in Alderley Edge
Alderley Cottage was indeed once a cottage, of the timber-framed, thatched variety that only needs roses round the door to make it story-book perfect. Today, while the term cottage might be somewhat of a misnomer, its five bedrooms, four bathrooms, luxurious annexe and two-minute walk to Alderley Edge village will most certainly make it somebody’s quite perfect home.
The original building dates to the 17th century, elements of which can still be seen in the house, in the thick stone walls and wood panelling of the snug, but the renovations and extension undertaken by current owners Omar and Helen Jabr bring it right up to date.
‘The house has been in my family for 76 years,’ Helen says. ‘My grandfather bought it in 1947, right after World War Two, moving his family from Didsbury to what was then the end of the railway line, in Alderley Edge. He made some changes in the 1950s, enlarging it for his family, and my mother grew up here from the age of 13 – and didn’t make many changes herself.
‘In 2010 she thought it was time to downsize, but Omar and I decided to buy it from her and created an annexe for her, with her own kitchen-living room, bathroom and bedroom, where she could lead an independent life but still in the home where she grew up.’
Omar and Helen did somewhat more than ‘create an annexe’. They completely stripped back and rebuilt Alderley Cottage from the inside, maintaining its original structure but making it somewhere fit for a 21st-century family.
‘Everything was changed,’ Omar says. ‘It took us about 18 months and involved every trade you can imagine but was a wonderful experience. There was no central heating, we replaced the roof, completely replumbed and rewired, added underfloor heating in some areas, replaced windows with new oak-framed windows, and added a staircase with a bespoke replica of the original, but in light oak. We also brought in local architect, James Wareham, and said we wanted to reconfigure it to suit a modern lifestyle, and to take better advantage of the wonderful views from the rear.’
While the house itself couldn’t pivot, of course, James helped Helen and Omar move all the main living spaces from the front of the property to the rear, replacing what was a bedroom, a larder, a bathroom and a walk-in wardrobe with a fabulous large, light and bright kitchen, with a walk-in pantry (oh, the joy) and a large bay window looking out across the very secluded, beautifully landscaped garden, on a wall where there was once a fireplace.
‘When we first walked into the kitchen, we wondered what on earth we were going to do with this massive kitchen,’ Helen laughs, ‘but our life absolutely pivots around it. From the rear of the house, we can see the sun rise across the garden and then set across the Welsh Hills. It’s marvellous for gathering friends and family – we seated 28 for dinner, once – and with the doors from the kitchen open onto the terrace everybody can spill outside, too.’
James didn’t limit his development to repurposing only. He also helped Helen and Omar create a private living space for Helen’s mother, by adding a first-floor extension over the new kitchen space, which contains a rather spectacular kitchen and living room, a bedroom and a bathroom, all of which can be closed off from the rest of the house and accessed via the new staircase.
‘It’s a wonderful space,’ Helen says. ‘My mother enjoyed a very independent and private lifestyle and then last year my daughter moved in for three months while her flat was being renovated. It would make a perfect consulting space, or private offices, or teenage annexe... The options are there for whoever lives here next.’
Helen and Omar met in 1978, at university, and Omar has fond memories of visiting Helen’s family in this beautiful Alderley Edge home.
‘Having known this house 35 years, when we bought it in 2010 it felt like a real privilege to renovate it and bring it into the 21st century for our family. It was a wonderful project, maintaining its beautiful aspects, protecting its history yet making it suitable for modern family life.’
Now, with their own children having flown the nest, Helen and Omar are looking to downsize, but not too far away.
‘This house is just two minutes' walk from Alderley village,’ Helen says. ‘We certainly don’t plan on going very far away. This is what we shall miss the most, I think. Our children had their teenage years here, and they were able to just walk into the village and live their lives – we were determined not to have our own lives ruled by taxiing our children about, and we didn’t. Now, we love to stroll in and sit in the Village Café and can often be found in there.’
Or perhaps it will be the views they miss the most?
‘The views are wonderful,’ Omar. ‘We’re set on a rise, so there is nothing between us and the Welsh Hills. Every sunset is a different joy.’
Alderley Cottage is for sale through Jackson-Stops Alderley Edge for offers in excess of £2.4m
jackson-stops.com
