Jack of Clubs is an exceptional five-bedroom barn conversion designed by the acclaimed architect Colen Lumley, of Owers & Lumley. Set within one and a half acres of grounds, with a separate paddock of approximately two acres, the house comprises a main barn of just under 2,560 sq ft and a series of adjoining outbuildings. Bordered by open fields, the rural location is exceptional, with the city of Cambridge just seven miles to the west.

Positioned at the edge of the picturesque village of Lode, the house is approached via a quiet country lane, which runs along the river of the same name. A private driveway leads up to the house, with off-street parking for several vehicles. Arranged in an L-shaped layout, the façade is a pleasing pairing of pale brick and dark-timber cladding with double-height slanted roofs and lower, single-storeys.

On entering, the tactile materiality of the interior is immediately apparent. Characterful, thick oak beams intersect the entrance hall, giving a wonderful sense of open space and volume. Red brick flooring is coupled with white-painted brick and varnished-timber cladding.

At ground level there are three bedrooms (currently set out as painting studios and studies) and an open-plan kitchen and dining room. The interior is replete with well-preserved original features such as cork flooring, hand-crafted cabinetry and a large wood-burning stove which sits on a brick platform at the heart of the kitchen.

Occupying the south side of the house, the kitchen and dining room have excellent natural light, streaming through a set of timber-framed glass doors throughout the course of the day and opening this entire section of the space onto the lawned rear garden. Lumley was invited to extend the original house in 1993, adding a large self-contained annexe on the ground floor with an adjoining shower room, providing a good provision for a nanny or as a guest wing.

The first floor is given over almost entirely to the expansive living space; a warm and welcoming room with far-reaching views across the fens. The original pitch pine runs underfoot and a second log-burning stove sits centrally. The principle bedroom and a family bathroom are also positioned on this level.

Externally, the expansive rear garden is primarily laid to lawn, with mature hedging and specimen trees creating excellent privacy. The front gardens have beds of planting, a well, and a small bridge to the road. The paddock, formerly used for two horses, sits on the opposite side of the road and the river.

The house has a rich and interesting history; thought to have once been a public house and appearing on maps as Jack of Clubs Farm from 1880. The sole residents of the house, Professor Horn, Professor of Zoology at the University of Cambridge and Priscilla Barrett, a celebrated wildlife artist, bought the property in 1979 and commissioned Colen Lumley of the firm Owers & Lumley to transform the barn on the site to a home for them both.

Owers & Lumley were both former collaborators with the influential architect Sir Leslie Martin — Owers on the original project with Jim Ede to create the gallery at Kettle’s Yard, and Lumley on the auditorium of the University Music School in West Road, Cambridge.

The village of Lode, the first of the Fen edge villages, is easily reached from the house on foot or by bicycle. The village has a shop, post office, a local pub and tennis, cricket and polo clubs. Nearby is Anglesey Abbey, a large country house now owned by the National Trust which also maintains Lode watermills. The area is well-served for schooling with primary schools in Bottisham and Swaffham Bulbeck. Bottisham Village College is two miles away.

The house is positioned amongst open fields and paddocks, including the ambitious National Trust Wicken Fen Vision project which seeks to establish a 53 km2 nature reserve between Wicken Fen and Anglesey Abbey.

Central Cambridge can be reached in around 15 minutes by car from the house. Although a city that is relatively intimate in scale, Cambridge’s international reputation ensures that it offers some of the country’s best shops, dining opportunities and cultural events; Kettles Yard and The Fitzwilliam Museum among the highlights.

World-renowned for centuries for its University and the quality of its historic architecture, the city is increasingly being recognised as an international business hub, thanks to its growing technology and science industries. A direct train service runs from Cambridge to London St Pancras in approximately 50 minutes.

Please note that all areas, measurements and distances given in these particulars are approximate and rounded. The text, photographs and floor plans are for general guidance only. The Modern House has not tested any services, appliances or specific fittings — prospective purchasers are advised to inspect the property themselves. All fixtures, fittings and furniture not specifically itemised within these particulars are deemed removable by the vendor.