Contact Details

This summary of the property was prepared by Paul Reichel who owns the copyright to this document.For further details and to view the property please call or text00 33 6 29 39 68 53or emailpaulreichel@mac.com(All rights to this document are shared with Julian, the owner.). Volckerinckhove

Approach to the Village

Julian’s HouseVolckerinckhove, Nord/ Pas-de-Calais, France

VolckerinckhoveApproach to the Village

Entrance

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Walled garden with out building including garage

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Introduction

The property which is the subject of this offer is situated in the heart of the village of Volckerinckhove, which, together with another 6 villages which form part of the commune, is situated within 15 minutes of St Omer to the South and approximately equidistant from Calais and Dunkerque to the North (25 minutes journey time). The property is the former village inn, situated close to the Church and facing onto a square. The property has been owned by an Englishman for more than 20 years; he has visited, updated and maintained the property over this period. For short periods it has been his principal residence. Personal reasons make it now impossible for him to live in the house permanently and visits will seldom be possible. Throughout his ownership, renovation work has been continually undertaken, so that the fabric of the house complies to current norms and all rooms are presented to an excellent standard. The house is available for immediate occupation.The house is offered at €200,000 (plus usual selling fees and the buyers legal costs) as a basis for negotiation.

Opposite: An approach to VolckerinckhoveThis Page: The house from the church square

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Two of the reception rooms

View of a reception room

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Property Description

The house has a small walled garden enclosed by a garage and outhouses. The ground and first floor are arranged as two separate flats. The property would thus lend itself to

• Simple conversion to one dwelling• Permanent or periodic residence by the owner in one flat whilst offering the other

for either residential or holiday letting. • Residential or holiday letting of both flats

The estimated residential rental income for either of the flats is €450 per calendar month. An equivalent or greater income could be achieved by holiday letting over 12 to 15 weeks each year. The property is thus ideally suited for occupation, as an investment property or mixed use.

Interior Details

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Property Description

The surface area the ground and first floors (and thus also the loft space) is approximately 120m2. The loft spaced is fully boarded but not converted to living space and of sufficient height, which could provide additional living space. No planning permission would be required for this. The surface are of the property is approximately 400m2.Atypically for this area, but required in its original identity as an inn, the property has a basement - a large dry cellar. Normally, in the area, which has a relatively high water- table (no risk of flooding in the case of this property), dry cellars were expensive to construct and residential homes would either have half- height ‘wet’ cellars or none at all.

One of the kitchens

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Kitchens

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Two of the bedrooms

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Two further bedrooms

One of the two bathrooms (detail)

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The Cellars

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Volckerinckhove

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Volckerinckhove

Volckerinckhove is a preferred location, since it has a butcher (with cafe), a very good artisan bakery/ grocery and a restaurant. The restaurant serves a menu which is unbelievably good value; all home- cooked. All served by members of the family.

I say ‘a preferred location’ since this was a factor which we largely overlooked when moving to the area, but we now realise that our own village, with baker, butcher, chemist, bar, hairdresser, plumbers merchant and garden centre is great. And is an exception. Always needing to get into the car, whatever the need, is a bind and a bore and if it can be avoided it’s a big plus. 5 minute walk for the croissants at the weekend? An advantage not to be underestimated.

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Nearby

The area is situated ‘above the beer line’ (as defined by British whit and commentator Jonathan Meades). Flanders is the home to many micro- brewers and brewing monasteries. Speciality breads from the local bakeries also has more to do with German and Belgian ‘land breads’ although baguette is found everywhere. St Omer is the ‘Cauliflower Capital of the World’ and Nord/ Pas-de-Calais is covered with market gardening, producing the aforementioned cauliflowers and endives, cabbages, sprouts etc etc. The land shares many characteristics, including climate, with its nearest English cousin, Kent and other counties on the South- East coast of England. Flanders has a unique identity, French, northern French but nevertheless unique. Its rise to fame, driven by the success of Dany Boon and his film ‘Bienvenue Chez les C’htis’ must be taken with a pinch of salt. ‘Bienvenue’ is set in Bergues, but Bergues is not C’hti. C’hti is Lille, the capital of the département Nord and itself only about 45 minutes away (if you really want to give vent to your shopaholic tendencies, Lille is truly comparable with, say, Brussels, with Printemps, Lafayette and lotsa boutiques. Old Lille is quaint and up- market with Meert (a truly BCBG café with mega- tradition), Nespresso, A L’Huitière (Michelin Guide, lunch a bargain, evening eye- watering, take out an extra mortgage!) and on and on!