Horse-lover's dream property on market

Estate agents acting for the owner of Wigginton Grange, near St Martins, say they are expecting potential buyers from across the country to be interested in the property.

Famous names such as top equestrian eventer Oliver Townsend have settled in north Shropshire and the county is also home to racehorse Overturn and trainer James Unett.

And this week a new business near West Felton announced the official opening of its equine swimming pool, the only one in the area available for hire by the public.

Many of the small farms in the area have been transformed into equestrian centres – and fields in the north Shropshire area are now as likely to have horses on them as cows.

Halls, the agent selling the property, describes Wigginton Grange as 'an impressive and superbly situated equestrian country property which will appeal to both commercial and private buyers'.

The guide price for the property is £795,000.

Mr John Quin, for Halls, said: "Wigginton Grange includes a period four-bedroomed farmhouse with gardens, extensive equestrian buildings served by concreted yards, 21 stables, tackroom, fodder barn, floodlit manège and first class grass turnout paddocks."

The property sits in 23.5 acres of land just outside the village.

Mr Quin said: "Wigginton Grange is extremely well set up for the running of a private or professional equestrian yard or could accommodate other commercial ventures."

Also part of the centre is a traditional four-bedroom farmhouse, gardens, a garage and outbuilding.

Photographs show a picture postcard country property complete with a typical farmhouse kitchen and cosy country lounge.

But it is the equestrian centre that Mr Quin said would attract attention from buyers.

"The stable yards, equestrian facilities and general outbuildings have been subject to considerable improvement and financial investment in recent years. A separate double gated access leads to these buildings, yards and paddocks," he said.

"The land is divided into conveniently sized enclosures with every paddock having a water supply and access from a hard surface track."

Mr Quin said he was expecting great interest in Wigginton Grange, especially as it was just a few miles from the A5 trunk road.

He added: "This area is very well known in the equestrian world.

"We have over the years seen many small farms which have been converted for horses and we now market them as having potential, not just for agriculture but also for horses."

Mr Quin said: "If you drive through north Shropshire today, you will see almost as many fields with horses in them as cows – the more traditional sight in north Shropshire.

"We have had interest in the past in such properties not only locally but from across the country, as far afield as London.

"I am sure that there will be a lot of interest in Wigginton Grange."