A Victorian villa in Warboys is set to go on the open market for the first time this September, more than 100 years after it was built.

The Hunts Post: Warboys villaWarboys villa (Image: Archant)

Mayfield, which dates back to 1907, has been home to the same family for generations, and, thanks to their care, still includes untouched period features like cast iron fireplaces and bay windows.

John Harvey, 67, whose grandparents Benjamin and Dorothy Ashley built the property, said: “We preserved the majority of the main house and the features which were installed by my grandparents all those years ago.

“We added a double garage and a veranda and a brick built outhouse with wooden greenhouse.

“I have trained over 125 winning greyhounds from the purpose-built kennels in the garden which can house up to six greyhounds at a time.

The Hunts Post: Warboys villaWarboys villa (Image: Archant)

“We are leaving an original garden seat from 1907 when the property was built, as well as original rockery and mature chestnut and walnut trees.”

The property has also been used to help Mr Harvey’s son, Northants Saints cricketer Zak Harvey, perfect his skills on the bowling machine in the garden.

In fact, the garden extends to 0.7 acres with a garage, greenhouses and polytunnels, which is available by separate negotiation with a guide price of £80,000 to £100,000.

The property itself has been valued between £400,000 and £425,000, with the sale being managed by Cheffins Auctioneers.

Simon Gooderham, director at Cheffins, “In need of updating, Mayfield is an opportunity to modernise a substantial house set on a no-through road.

“It has been the most wonderful family home to the Harveys since 1988 and it is hugely rare for a property to have never come to the market since being built over one hundred years ago.

“As such a substantial house with the offering of the additional land, I would expect us to see a number of bidders on the day.”

The sale will take place on September 28 at 2pm at 1-2 Clifton House in Cambridge.