House For Sale £1,200,000
The subject of impressive remodelling and extension, this five-bedroom house occupies a peaceful and secluded position in the heart of rural north Essex. Originally built as two mill workers’ cottages, the house has been cleverly reimagined to create flowing, contemporary living spaces characterised by large sections of glazing and verdant views. Unfolding over around 4,500 sq ft and sensitively renovated with careful modern touches, the works also focused on high-specification eco-credentials, including an air-source heat pump and solar panels to support sustainable modern living.
The Tour
Approached via a quiet country lane, the house is set back from the road with a low brick wall forming a boundary; there is a private driveway with parking for eight vehicles. A paved courtyard, edged with colourful planting, leads to a pretty gabled porch. Beyond, the living spaces follow an L-shaped plan, optimising views of the gardens and across the surrounding countryside.
The interiors artfully combine an understated modern palette of materials and tones with a carefully considered aesthetic sympathetic to the building’s early 20th-century origins. There is a brilliant quality of natural light throughout, enhancing a smooth transition between indoors and outdoors.
The ground floor is arranged in a predominately open plan, creating a sense of flow from one room to the next and ensuring the spaces are easily adaptable to suit daily family life and entertaining. There are generous, sociable places to gather and more intimate spaces for working and private retreat.
The primary entrance leads into a spacious reception hall, where sensitive planning has opened brilliant views through the length of the house to the lovely south-west facing gardens. Red-brick flooring unites the hall with the main living room, which is a wonderfully bright and welcoming space with huge expanses of bi-fold doors establishing a seamless connection between the interiors and garden in warmer months.
At one end is a beautifully designed kitchen, finished with impeccable attention to detail. A large central island, replete with a waterfall oak worktop, creates an open layout and is the perfect spot for family breakfasts. Anthracite grey cabinetry runs the length of the walls, neatly housing appliances and pantry storage. A British racing green, electric Aga sits within the chimney breast recess with an oak lintel over the opening.
At the opposite end, there is a wonderful living space. Natural light pours through wide glazed doors that open onto an expansive dining terrace. The dining space currently sits in the middle of the room and has framed verdant views of the enticing garden.
Set in a quiet corner of the plan is a large yet cosy snug, the perfect place for family nights. A double-aspect chimney breast with a warming log burner divides the room, creating separate zones to lounge, read and play.
A quiet office overlooks the front courtyard, and carefully considered utility and boot rooms and a butlery give generous service and storage accommodation. A WC adjacent to the front door completes the ground-floor layout.
A u-shaped staircase ascends to a bright landing. Four bedrooms are located on the first floor, each distinct in character and outlook. The main bedroom is positioned on the garden side of the house, where floor-to-ceiling glazed doors open to a Juliet balcony with far-reaching leafy views. The room is complete with a walk-through dressing area leading to a beautifully appointed en suite bathroom.
The other three bedrooms feel equally quiet and peaceful. One has an en suite shower room and built-in storage, another original handcrafted cabinetry, and the third is dual aspect, with lovely views over the lane and courtyard.
A further fifth en suite bedroom is located over the large double garage. Independently accessed, this room is perfectly positioned for extended family members or visitors. From here, sliding glazed doors open onto a roof terrace, a wonderful spot to enjoy a sunset over the neighbouring willow wood.
Designed with energy efficiency in mind, the house has an air source, heat pump and solar panels.
Outdoor Space
Unfolding over around half an acre, the layout of this garden has been carefully conceived to take advantage of the sun’s changing position, creating several spots to gather and enjoy alfresco entertaining. The sociable ground-floor rooms open onto a large terrace, from where a paved path leads to further places to barbeque and gather around a firepit.
The garden has an abundance of mature, broad-leafed specimen trees, acting as a backdrop to the expansive central lawn. At the bottom of the garden are carefully tended raised vegetable beds, a polytunnel, a garden shed, an orchard of apple and pear trees, and a chicken run.
The River Colne edges the eastern side of the garden, attracting a variety of birds and wildlife and enhancing the tranquil atmosphere. The current owners have installed extensive flood defences, including pumps and flood gates.
The Area
This house is one of five homes that form a small, quiet hamlet, centred around the mill and far away from any road noise. It is surrounded by rolling countryside, meadowland and woodland accessed via a network of footpaths.
The house is a short walk from Molly’s Wood, a 10-acre community nature reserve that hosts an array of events throughout the year. There are ample walks, plenty of which can be accessed directly from the house, along the bucolic river and through bluebell-filled woods.
There are many good pubs and restaurants in the nearby villages, from French bistro-style restaurant The Secret Garden in Sudbury to deli and bar The Foragers’ Retreat in Pebmarsh, as well as local pub The Bell Inn in Castle Hedingham.
Seven minutes' drive away is the hillside town of Halstead, which has numerous supermarkets, a family butcher, a bakery and a good selection of independent shops and coffee houses. Neighbouring Sudbury hosts two market days a week and has a monthly farmers’ market and a Waitrose.
Hedingham Castle has an old Norman keep and some very popular jousting events and is a terrific place for a day out.
Cambridge is only a 50-minute drive from the house. Famous for its university and college buildings, it is home to plenty of pubs, shops, parks, a weekly market and the River Cam.
There are numerous good primary and secondary schools in the area, including a renowned local primary school St Giles. The house is also in the catchment area for the Colchester grammar schools – Colchester Grammar for Boys and Colchester Girls High – which consistently top the league tables. There are several private schools in the area, including Gosfield, Felstead and Stoke College.
The house is a 15-minute drive from Braintree Station, which runs trains to London Liverpool Street Station in around an hour.
Council Tax Band: F
The Tour
Approached via a quiet country lane, the house is set back from the road with a low brick wall forming a boundary; there is a private driveway with parking for eight vehicles. A paved courtyard, edged with colourful planting, leads to a pretty gabled porch. Beyond, the living spaces follow an L-shaped plan, optimising views of the gardens and across the surrounding countryside.
The interiors artfully combine an understated modern palette of materials and tones with a carefully considered aesthetic sympathetic to the building’s early 20th-century origins. There is a brilliant quality of natural light throughout, enhancing a smooth transition between indoors and outdoors.
The ground floor is arranged in a predominately open plan, creating a sense of flow from one room to the next and ensuring the spaces are easily adaptable to suit daily family life and entertaining. There are generous, sociable places to gather and more intimate spaces for working and private retreat.
The primary entrance leads into a spacious reception hall, where sensitive planning has opened brilliant views through the length of the house to the lovely south-west facing gardens. Red-brick flooring unites the hall with the main living room, which is a wonderfully bright and welcoming space with huge expanses of bi-fold doors establishing a seamless connection between the interiors and garden in warmer months.
At one end is a beautifully designed kitchen, finished with impeccable attention to detail. A large central island, replete with a waterfall oak worktop, creates an open layout and is the perfect spot for family breakfasts. Anthracite grey cabinetry runs the length of the walls, neatly housing appliances and pantry storage. A British racing green, electric Aga sits within the chimney breast recess with an oak lintel over the opening.
At the opposite end, there is a wonderful living space. Natural light pours through wide glazed doors that open onto an expansive dining terrace. The dining space currently sits in the middle of the room and has framed verdant views of the enticing garden.
Set in a quiet corner of the plan is a large yet cosy snug, the perfect place for family nights. A double-aspect chimney breast with a warming log burner divides the room, creating separate zones to lounge, read and play.
A quiet office overlooks the front courtyard, and carefully considered utility and boot rooms and a butlery give generous service and storage accommodation. A WC adjacent to the front door completes the ground-floor layout.
A u-shaped staircase ascends to a bright landing. Four bedrooms are located on the first floor, each distinct in character and outlook. The main bedroom is positioned on the garden side of the house, where floor-to-ceiling glazed doors open to a Juliet balcony with far-reaching leafy views. The room is complete with a walk-through dressing area leading to a beautifully appointed en suite bathroom.
The other three bedrooms feel equally quiet and peaceful. One has an en suite shower room and built-in storage, another original handcrafted cabinetry, and the third is dual aspect, with lovely views over the lane and courtyard.
A further fifth en suite bedroom is located over the large double garage. Independently accessed, this room is perfectly positioned for extended family members or visitors. From here, sliding glazed doors open onto a roof terrace, a wonderful spot to enjoy a sunset over the neighbouring willow wood.
Designed with energy efficiency in mind, the house has an air source, heat pump and solar panels.
Outdoor Space
Unfolding over around half an acre, the layout of this garden has been carefully conceived to take advantage of the sun’s changing position, creating several spots to gather and enjoy alfresco entertaining. The sociable ground-floor rooms open onto a large terrace, from where a paved path leads to further places to barbeque and gather around a firepit.
The garden has an abundance of mature, broad-leafed specimen trees, acting as a backdrop to the expansive central lawn. At the bottom of the garden are carefully tended raised vegetable beds, a polytunnel, a garden shed, an orchard of apple and pear trees, and a chicken run.
The River Colne edges the eastern side of the garden, attracting a variety of birds and wildlife and enhancing the tranquil atmosphere. The current owners have installed extensive flood defences, including pumps and flood gates.
The Area
This house is one of five homes that form a small, quiet hamlet, centred around the mill and far away from any road noise. It is surrounded by rolling countryside, meadowland and woodland accessed via a network of footpaths.
The house is a short walk from Molly’s Wood, a 10-acre community nature reserve that hosts an array of events throughout the year. There are ample walks, plenty of which can be accessed directly from the house, along the bucolic river and through bluebell-filled woods.
There are many good pubs and restaurants in the nearby villages, from French bistro-style restaurant The Secret Garden in Sudbury to deli and bar The Foragers’ Retreat in Pebmarsh, as well as local pub The Bell Inn in Castle Hedingham.
Seven minutes' drive away is the hillside town of Halstead, which has numerous supermarkets, a family butcher, a bakery and a good selection of independent shops and coffee houses. Neighbouring Sudbury hosts two market days a week and has a monthly farmers’ market and a Waitrose.
Hedingham Castle has an old Norman keep and some very popular jousting events and is a terrific place for a day out.
Cambridge is only a 50-minute drive from the house. Famous for its university and college buildings, it is home to plenty of pubs, shops, parks, a weekly market and the River Cam.
There are numerous good primary and secondary schools in the area, including a renowned local primary school St Giles. The house is also in the catchment area for the Colchester grammar schools – Colchester Grammar for Boys and Colchester Girls High – which consistently top the league tables. There are several private schools in the area, including Gosfield, Felstead and Stoke College.
The house is a 15-minute drive from Braintree Station, which runs trains to London Liverpool Street Station in around an hour.
Council Tax Band: F
