High Street, Barkway, SG8

Property Insight
Set on the high street in the heart of Barkway, this detached Grade II listed cottage — known as Duck Cottage — makes an immediate impression, with its thatched roof, tall period chimney pots and rendered elevations set behind a raised step up to the front door. Recently rethatched to the rear, ridge and eaves, it pairs genuine period character with a considered, contemporary interior across a generous plot. Two double bedrooms, dual-aspect living space, an established and extensive garden, and a sought-after village-centre position all sit within easy reach of Royston's fast trains to London. Offered with no upward chain, it is ready to move straight into.

A raised entrance opens into a welcoming hallway laid with wood flooring, with inset spotlights, integrated storage, exposed beams and stairs rising to the first floor behind open balustrades. The kitchen/dining room is a bright, dual-aspect space fitted with a wide range of lavender and white shaker units, composite worktops, a butler sink and tiled splashbacks, along with an integrated microwave, wine cooler and extractor hood, space for a range cooker, and a fireplace housing a wood-burning stove. A generous separate utility room adds further units, a sink and wood worktops. The lounge, also dual-aspect, centres on a second wood-burning stove beneath exposed beams, while a contemporary ground-floor shower room completes the level with a walk-in double shower and feature tiling.

Upstairs, two well-proportioned double bedrooms continue the cottage's character, each with exposed beams, fitted wardrobes and dormer windows drawing light from dual aspects. Outside, the rear garden is a real feature — established, extensive and fully enclosed by fencing, walls and mature hedgerows, laid mainly to lawn with a sunken paved patio by the house for dining and entertaining. Well-stocked borders bring colour through the year, and mature trees, a wood store, a large summerhouse and further seating areas towards the rear give several places to sit and unwind. A characterful period home in a settled village-centre setting, it rewards a closer look in person.

At a Glance
Type: Detached cottage, Grade II listed, freehold
Size: 1,028 sq ft (95.5 sq m)
Bedrooms: 2 double bedrooms
Bathrooms: 1 — ground-floor shower room with walk-in double shower
Reception Rooms: Dual-aspect lounge with wood-burning stove, plus kitchen/dining room
Kitchen: Lavender and white shaker units, composite worktops, butler sink, integrated microwave, wine cooler and extractor hood, space for a range cooker
Outside: Established, extensive rear garden laid to lawn, sunken paved patio, large summerhouse, wood store and further seating areas
Parking: On-street parking (no private off-road parking)
Station: Royston, direct to London Kings Cross from 38 minutes
Chain: No Upward Chain

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Location – Barkway

Barkway is a long-established village in North Hertfordshire, about five miles southeast of Royston, 35 miles from London and 15 miles from the centre of Cambridge. It has a real sense of community with many clubs and groups, and is served by Barkway VA Church of England First School, with further primary schools in nearby villages and a choice of secondary and private options. The Barkway Pavilion, completed in 2015, replaced the previous sports pavilion on the recreation ground and is accompanied by a traditional children's playground. The Tally Ho is popular with locals for a drink, a meal or the quiz night, and other village landmarks include the Village Hall, The Reading Room, The Wagon Wash, the Church and the Chapel. The village is easily found by the famous RAF Barkway mast, which replaced an earlier wooden one forming part of the RAF's wartime GEE navigation system. Royston station is around 10 minutes away, with multiple trains each hour to London Kings Cross in as little as 38 minutes.

Parking - On street