For Victoria and Rob Ayling’s three children, Anthony, aged 18, William, aged 17 and Hunter, aged nine, Stickford House is a very cool Lincolnshire home.

Mum and dad, a District Councillor with East Lindsey and record label owner respectively, have created an extremely impressive teenage des-res, complete with swimming pool, tennis courts, and 12-seater cinema!

Set in five acres and with its own lake complete with island, the family house is very popular with the children’s friends, and many happy family parties have been hosted in the home, which has been sympathetically modernised to provide surprisingly practical, modern accommodation despite the beautiful Georgian  architecture and modest proportions of the original house.

Extended several times during its life, the family has lived in the house since 2004, refurbishing and extending it once again having moved to the county from Surrey and Yorkshire respectively. The couple wanted to afford their children a better standard of living and better schools, and say they have found Lincolnshire welcoming and safe, with a great pace of life and great food.

The house was constructed in 1740 by a Yeoman on a toft near Stickford, just off the A16. The house is constructed, it is believed, on the site of the original Bolingbroke Castle, and upon digging the foundations for what is now their new kitchen, the family commissioned an archaeological survey which found iron age and medieval relics.

Later to become a farmhouse, this Lincolnshir home still has tiny 17th century doors behind the skimming, and still retains its bullrush insulation within walls and underneath floors.

“The years of 1755 and 1770 yielded magnificent harvests.” says Victoria. “And in 1755 the house was extended and refurbished. Then, in 1770, a music room was added which is now the drawing room.”

The family has also extended the property, adding in 2010 a new kitchen and converting the former kitchen into a 12-seater cinema complete with Odeon tiered seating and professionally engineered sound system created by Rob’s business contacts — the cinema also doubles as a venue for Rob to preview DVDs and music tracks to his clients.

Along with a complete rewiring, replumbing and roof refurbishment, Victoria created a new kitchen with huge island and Sheraton cabinets supplied by Jacksons Building Centre in Skegness.

“Alison at the store was fantastic.” says Victoria. “She designed an amazing kitchen with American fridge freezer, two pyrolytic ovens, hob, dishwasher and plenty of storage. It’s really practical and modern, and there are areas in the kitchen to dine, sit & relax and a lovely breakfast terrace.”Bathrooms in the property were supplied by Horncastle Tiles, about whom Victoria is equally enthusiastic. A lavish master suite features a two-person whirlpool bath, two sinks and steam Roman shower enclosure.

Six bedrooms and four en-suites provide practical family living, and with a walk-in linen cupboard, utility with drying rack, cellars, and hotel-specification drainage and zoned central heating system, wired entertainment and networking & phone system throughout the house, every provision has been made to ensure the house is a la mode.

This is despite the specially imported Spanish marble for the entrance hall, Georgian architraves installed with advice from the National Trust, and original period features such as beams and bell system to summon servants. The property is approached by a long driveway, set back from the A16 and nestling within five acres of grounds.

The Lincolnshire home also features an outside pool house, currently an office/studio, currently retired swimming pool, lake with island, tennis courts and paddock of around one and a half acres, making it ideal for anyone with equestrian interests.

The house also features an annexed wing with two bedrooms, bathroom and dedicated entrance, making it ideal for those with elderly relatives or teenagers.

“It’s very practical.” says Victoria. “We’ve had guests from political backgrounds staying here, and those with music backgrounds staying here whilst working with Rob.”

Rob is also a keen photographer, and in addition to the Cinema’s bon homie to 1970s/1980s prog rock exponents — to whit The Doors, Pink Floyd, Led Zep and Cream — the house also features his own images. The kitchen, for example, is home to Joss Stone, Tom Jones, Florence and the Machine, Paul Weller and Yusuf Islam, all taken by Rob.

“It’s an amazing property and we’ll be really sorry to leave, but we’re really keen to pursue a new project.” says Victoria. “Because of my work with East Lindsey

District Council we’ll still be living in the area, but we’ve so many lovely memories of the house, and the kids absolutely love it!”

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