House For Sale £495,000
Located in the pretty village of Ridgewell, with its charming village green and excellent local pub, Hall End Cottage is a delightful Grade II listed, semi-detached property, dating back to circa 1400. Beautifully presented, the cottage offers a wealth of traditional features, with original beams throughout, brick paver flooring and original fireplaces.
Seller's insight
We've always lived in this area and regularly drove through the village, commenting on how pretty it was, so when we saw the details for Hall End Cottage, we were keen to take a look.
We had viewed quite a few properties at that point, and a timbered house was not part of our criteria, but as soon as we walked into the cottage, we loved the character and the sense of history that was on show throughout, with its feature fireplaces and exposed beams. Since then, we've discovered more about its origins from the Essex County Historical Society. The cottage dates back to approximately 1400 with the 'new' extension, now our next-door neighbours, added on in the 1600's!
It was quite a challenge initially, with a fair amount of work needed to bring it back to life so over the years we've re-wired the house, installed new plumbing, a new heating system, bathroom and kitchen. Our lovely Rayburn, which also supplies the hot water and heating, is now housed in the original fireplace and brings a lovely cosy atmosphere to the kitchen on cold winter days.
Ridgewell has lived up to our expectations with a very sociable and welcoming community. The village sent us a welcome pack when we arrived and there always seems to be something going on. There are numerous village societies; a farmer's market and Christmas market; activities at the newly refurbished Village Hall which has a fantastic play area for children; plus a well-regarded village primary school. Our fantastic local pub, The White Horse, has become an extension of our home over the years, providing additional accommodation in their lovely cottages, when we have large family gatherings and parties.
I think one of the aspects we'll miss the most when we leave are the outside spaces. Our garden is secluded with a lovely terrace for family parties in the summer and we've turned the flint outhouse into a den-come-utility room with a log burner – an ideal space for teenagers! The amount of parking we have will be hard to replicate, as will the wonderful walks we have, right from our front door.
We've decided to move, to be closer to our grandchildren, but we will be sad to leave this unique house which has been a much-loved home for almost fifteen years.
The property
Located in the pretty village of Ridgewell, with its charming village green and excellent local pub, Hall End Cottage is a delightful Grade II listed, semi-detached property, dating back to circa 1400. Beautifully presented, the cottage offers a wealth of traditional features, with original beams throughout, brick paver flooring and original fireplaces.
The pedestrian approach to the house is through the front garden, surrounded by a picket fence and mature hedging, with a stone path leading to the front door. However, the most popular entrance is generally to the rear of the property from the parking area at the end of the garden. With vehicle access to the side of the property, the gravel driveway leads into a spacious parking area for a number of cars, including a garage (currently used as a workshop) with useful personnel door.
On entering the property, through the utility room and past the guest cloakroom, the house opens out into the most charming country cottage kitchen, with brick paver floor, traditional style Shaker kitchen and the 'must have' Rayburn set into the original kitchen fireplace – which acts as a focal point of the house on cold winter days, whilst also running the heating and hot water system. The kitchen is well-equipped with an additional oven and hob, good storage, a central island with breakfast bar, and a breakfast room area, separated by open beams.
Leading directly from the kitchen into the cosy sitting room and dining room, separated once again by open beams, both rooms have a sense of space, with natural light entering from the front and rear aspects of the cottage. The sitting room boasts an imposing brick feature fireplace with log burner and the bright dining room has double doors which lead out onto the pretty terrace to the rear.
Ascending to the first floor are three double bedrooms, all with traditional style doors, Suffolk latches and fitted wardrobe space, and serviced by a smart contemporary family bathroom with over bath shower.
The outside space is a delight, with a private terrace to the rear, leading onto a mature garden surrounded by wood panelled fencing for privacy. A flint built outhouse, located to the side of the terrace, has been converted into an overflow utility room and a snug area, complete with its own log burner – an ideal space for a teenager's den or work studio.
Location
Ridgewell is an attractive village with a variety of period architecture centred around a village green. In earlier times, Ridgewell was a place with its own Trade Guild and was a self-supporting parish with many amenities including a Butcher, Dairy, Baker, Cobbler, Tailor, Blacksmith, and Coal Merchant. It is believed that Clare and Pembroke Colleges, Cambridge, originally owned most of the land here. Today, the amenities include one public house, 14th-century Parish Church of St Lawrence, Nursery and Primary schooling.
Further, and more comprehensive facilities, are located in nearby towns including Clare (approximately 4 miles), Haverhill (approximately 5 miles) and Halstead (approximately 10 miles). Approximately 25 miles equal distance from Ridgewell is Bury St Edmunds, Cambridge, Colchester and Chelmsford.
M11 access is via the A120 or A11 and mainline rail journey time to London Liverpool Street is approximately 66 mins at peak time from Braintree Rail Station (approximately 13 miles).
Services
Mains Water, Electricity and Drainage- Iol Fired Central Heating.
Please note that the above services have not been tested by the agent.
Seller's insight
We've always lived in this area and regularly drove through the village, commenting on how pretty it was, so when we saw the details for Hall End Cottage, we were keen to take a look.
We had viewed quite a few properties at that point, and a timbered house was not part of our criteria, but as soon as we walked into the cottage, we loved the character and the sense of history that was on show throughout, with its feature fireplaces and exposed beams. Since then, we've discovered more about its origins from the Essex County Historical Society. The cottage dates back to approximately 1400 with the 'new' extension, now our next-door neighbours, added on in the 1600's!
It was quite a challenge initially, with a fair amount of work needed to bring it back to life so over the years we've re-wired the house, installed new plumbing, a new heating system, bathroom and kitchen. Our lovely Rayburn, which also supplies the hot water and heating, is now housed in the original fireplace and brings a lovely cosy atmosphere to the kitchen on cold winter days.
Ridgewell has lived up to our expectations with a very sociable and welcoming community. The village sent us a welcome pack when we arrived and there always seems to be something going on. There are numerous village societies; a farmer's market and Christmas market; activities at the newly refurbished Village Hall which has a fantastic play area for children; plus a well-regarded village primary school. Our fantastic local pub, The White Horse, has become an extension of our home over the years, providing additional accommodation in their lovely cottages, when we have large family gatherings and parties.
I think one of the aspects we'll miss the most when we leave are the outside spaces. Our garden is secluded with a lovely terrace for family parties in the summer and we've turned the flint outhouse into a den-come-utility room with a log burner – an ideal space for teenagers! The amount of parking we have will be hard to replicate, as will the wonderful walks we have, right from our front door.
We've decided to move, to be closer to our grandchildren, but we will be sad to leave this unique house which has been a much-loved home for almost fifteen years.
The property
Located in the pretty village of Ridgewell, with its charming village green and excellent local pub, Hall End Cottage is a delightful Grade II listed, semi-detached property, dating back to circa 1400. Beautifully presented, the cottage offers a wealth of traditional features, with original beams throughout, brick paver flooring and original fireplaces.
The pedestrian approach to the house is through the front garden, surrounded by a picket fence and mature hedging, with a stone path leading to the front door. However, the most popular entrance is generally to the rear of the property from the parking area at the end of the garden. With vehicle access to the side of the property, the gravel driveway leads into a spacious parking area for a number of cars, including a garage (currently used as a workshop) with useful personnel door.
On entering the property, through the utility room and past the guest cloakroom, the house opens out into the most charming country cottage kitchen, with brick paver floor, traditional style Shaker kitchen and the 'must have' Rayburn set into the original kitchen fireplace – which acts as a focal point of the house on cold winter days, whilst also running the heating and hot water system. The kitchen is well-equipped with an additional oven and hob, good storage, a central island with breakfast bar, and a breakfast room area, separated by open beams.
Leading directly from the kitchen into the cosy sitting room and dining room, separated once again by open beams, both rooms have a sense of space, with natural light entering from the front and rear aspects of the cottage. The sitting room boasts an imposing brick feature fireplace with log burner and the bright dining room has double doors which lead out onto the pretty terrace to the rear.
Ascending to the first floor are three double bedrooms, all with traditional style doors, Suffolk latches and fitted wardrobe space, and serviced by a smart contemporary family bathroom with over bath shower.
The outside space is a delight, with a private terrace to the rear, leading onto a mature garden surrounded by wood panelled fencing for privacy. A flint built outhouse, located to the side of the terrace, has been converted into an overflow utility room and a snug area, complete with its own log burner – an ideal space for a teenager's den or work studio.
Location
Ridgewell is an attractive village with a variety of period architecture centred around a village green. In earlier times, Ridgewell was a place with its own Trade Guild and was a self-supporting parish with many amenities including a Butcher, Dairy, Baker, Cobbler, Tailor, Blacksmith, and Coal Merchant. It is believed that Clare and Pembroke Colleges, Cambridge, originally owned most of the land here. Today, the amenities include one public house, 14th-century Parish Church of St Lawrence, Nursery and Primary schooling.
Further, and more comprehensive facilities, are located in nearby towns including Clare (approximately 4 miles), Haverhill (approximately 5 miles) and Halstead (approximately 10 miles). Approximately 25 miles equal distance from Ridgewell is Bury St Edmunds, Cambridge, Colchester and Chelmsford.
M11 access is via the A120 or A11 and mainline rail journey time to London Liverpool Street is approximately 66 mins at peak time from Braintree Rail Station (approximately 13 miles).
Services
Mains Water, Electricity and Drainage- Iol Fired Central Heating.
Please note that the above services have not been tested by the agent.
