Politics is very much in the news at the moment with the approaching election.
Tanat House in Shropshire belonged to a Conservative MP who once managed to earn the respect of both sides of the house.
John Biffen, who died in 2007, was a cabinet minister during Margaret Thatcher’s government.
Noted both for his intelligence and his humour, he was leader of the house from 1982 to 87. It was his opposition to the controversial poll tax that lead to a parting of the political ways between him and the Iron Lady.
He was the MP for Oswestry for more than 30 years, and became Lord Biffen of Tanat in Shropshire when he was given a life peerage in 1997
His family home in Llanblodwel, near Oswestry, is a Grade II listed property built in the 18th century (though it probably has earlier origins) from local stone.
The Georgian front has sash windows, some with shutters, and portico entrance.
It has a sweeping gravel drive at the front of the house and a cobbled courtyard to the back.
There are many original features in the house, including the fine oak staircase in the hallway.
Impressive reception rooms include a dining room with book shelves and a fireplace with marble surround and mantle. The drawing room also has an open fireplace.
Another room could be used as a study – ideal for focusing on parliamentary papers – or a sitting room.
In the kitchen there are more original cupboards and drawers and a recessed two-oven Aga.
Beyond is the scullery, larder and a door leading out into the courtyard.
A conservatory overlooks and opens out on to the garden.
An octagonal cupola illuminates the first-floor landing.
At the front is a guest bedroom which links to a bathroom.
The main suite has a dressing room/spare bedroom and an en suite bathroom.
At the back of the house overlooking the courtyard are two further bedrooms.
The back staircase continues to the top floor where there are two more rooms.
There is a courtyard outside which can be accessed from the lane. It has a number of single-storey buildings around it that include a garage with loft above, original stables and stalls, garden storerooms and a small cobbled yard which is ideal for a dog run.
A carport is beside the house.
Stone walls act as boundaries for the garden, topped by laurel hedges at the front and roped trellising.
The main garden runs along the back of the neighbouring church and has distant views across the fields.
At the far end there is a vegetable garden.
Borders are packed with perennials and the large conifer has a Kiftsgate rose climbing through it while a Rambling Rector rose climbs the garden wall.
Tanat House stands next to the church of St Michael the Archangel in the pretty village of Llanblodwel. The village lies in the Tanat valley and is linked by an 18th century stone bridge.
VIEWING INFORMATION
AGENT: Knight Frank
TEL: 01432 273087
WEB: www.knightfrank.co.uk
GUIDE PRICE: £875,000
