House For Sale £900,000
Gorgeous, Period, 3,000+ sq ft, 5 Bed Farmhouse in the Lovely Village of Isleham. Set in generous walled grounds + a large outbuilding of circa 1,000 sq ft with planning consent for conversion to Guest Accommodation + Gym + Office + Cart Lodge. Nr Soham, Ely & Newmarket + Easy access to Cambridge.
The Area
The Parish of Isleham is situated on the Cambridgeshire/Suffolk border less than 4 miles from the lovely village of Soham, 7 miles from Wicken Fen, 8 miles from Newmarket and 10 miles from Ely.
'Colsor' House
The property is steeped in character and charm with many original features and exposed beams. The home is exceptionally light and spacious and is arranged over four floors extending to a sizeable 3,303 sq ft.
Many of the rooms benefit from either dual or triple aspects which flood the property with natural light, often rarely found in period properties. Some of the original features include brick and inglenook fireplaces, ceiling beams, brick floors as well as beautifully large and original 18"wide floorboards to three of the bedrooms.
From the imposing facade fronting the street, the front door leads you directly into a small entrance hall with a lovely exposed brick floor and further leading to two well proportioned reception rooms.
The reception room to the left as you enter enjoys exposed timber flooring, inglenook fireplace and French doors to a delightful private terrace; a sun trap in the mornings for breakfast and with gorgeous views of the gardens. The terrace is beautifully framed by a white stone wall, offering the feeling of a holiday terrace and reflecting lots of natural light as well as providing useful privacy.
To the right of the entrance hall; a charming sitting room with inglenook fireplace, brick floor and exposed timbers, with a double aspect on to the gardens. The stairs to the first floor and beyond also link from here as well as a study and access to the large cellar.
Adjoining the sitting room is a spacious farmhouse style kitchen/dining room complete with inglenook fireplace, tiled floor, exposed timbers and 3 x oven gas fired Aga with companion oven. Comprising 2 x further electric ovens and 4 x gas burners.
A doorway off the kitchen leads to what is currently a large pantry housing an American Fridge Freezer. This space is ideal as a utility/laundry room, and a WC. (Planning permission has been granted to incorporate the WC within a single storey rear extension to create a cloakroom as well as additional access in to the garden).
The Study area houses the gas boiler and provides a well lit and useful space to work. A surprisingly grand, brick, sweeping staircase leads you down to the cellar.
The cellar is a large, dry room with reasonable head height and provides a lovely separate access to the garden via timber doors and a flagstone steps to the garden. The cellar could be utilised for many additional means such as gym/hobby room/office space.
Exploring the first floor; there are 3 generous, well lit, double bedrooms full of character features including exposed timbers, period windows and beautifully restored cast iron radiators.
A large family bathroom provides more than ample space for the family with a traditional Sanitan suite including a high level WC with a very regal looking thunderbox. There's also a bidet, wash hand basin and lovely traditional roll-top bath.
Two bedrooms interconnect and subject to some reconfiguration could be utilised differently such as an impressive dressing room/en suite to the other, or perhaps a secret games/play room for the children.
A winding timber staircase leads to the second floor where 2 further double bedrooms complete the accommodation.
A lovely, large walled garden, mainly laid to lawn enjoys a southerly aspect. There are superb outbuildings which had planning permission granted for conversion to additional 'ancillary living accommodation'. Currently the plans are designed to incorporate a gymnasium, home office, hobby room, shower room and cart lodge. STP, it may be possible to create a self-contained annex suitable for dependent relatives, guests or au pair etc. with its own views overlooking the gardens. This outbuilding space is significant at 1,000+ sq ft.
A delightful terrace to the eastern elevation provides a good level of privacy as well as a further terrace to the southern elevation, with an original Well. This area benefits from the afternoon and early evening sun, ideal for entertaining and BBQ's.
A large expanse of lawn is bordered by a variety of shrubs and bushes and there are several trees, including a fig tree.
Parking for several cars is available to the side of the house, together with a single garage of clunch construction under a pantile roof, for which access is via a gravelled driveway on the western side of the house.
Historic Information / Construction
Grade II listed (of architectural and/or historical interest), the property is described by Historic England as a former farmhouse dating from the mid-late 17th century constructed of timber frame with early 18th century chequer-board pattern brick casing to the ground floor and later, 19th century casing to the first floor, under a steeply pitched, plain tiled roof.
Planning permission Ref: 16/00301/FUL and listed building consent Ref: 16/00302/LBC
Granted on the 6 May 2016 for the conversation of the outbuildings to create additional ancillary living accommodation and on the 3 October 2018 planning permission Ref: 18/01108/FUL and listed building consent Ref: 18/01109/LBC were granted for a single story extension to the rear. Copies of the permissions and associated drawings can be viewed via East Cambridgeshire District Council planning portal
Transport Links
For the commuter there is a branch line railway station at Newmarket providing services to Cambridge and ultimately London.
The Locality
The property is situated within a Conservation Area in the center of the village within walking distance of the local facilities, which include a variety of shops, Co-op supermarket, butchers, post office, church's as well as a public house.
The popular and highly regarded Merry Monk restaurant, with its roaring log fires during the winter and delightful pub garden, is just a few hundred yards away.
There is a great sense of community spirit within Isleham, highlighted by the large recreation ground home to the football and cricket clubs and The Beeches, a modern, purpose built community centre which hosts a wide selection of clubs and activities including pilates, cubs, scouts, ballet classes and book club to name just a few.
There is also a regular farmers market selling produce from nearby farms.
Wicken
Wicken is a pretty village with a quintessentially English feel with a village green and duckpond, enjoyed by the property.
Home to an historic village pub, church, village hall and The National Trust nature reserve; ideal for dog walking, bird spotting, horse riding and cycling.
The charming village of Wicken is around 14 miles from the historic University City of Cambridge and 9 miles south of the Cathedral City of Ely. Newmarket is just around 8 miles, famed for its horse racing activities. This attractive village with its windmill, greens and pond is classed as a Conservation Area.
National Trust: Wicken Fen Nature Reserve
The important National Trust reserve at Wicken Fen lies on the edge of the village with extensive reed beds and rare wildlife species. There are many walks in the local area taking in this important countryside. Wicken Fen was the 5th entity that the Trust purchased over 100 years ago. They are now custodians of over 500 important areas and landmarks. Sir David Attenborough recently filmed here for his 3 part series on the evolution of species that fly.
Travel / Infrastructure
For the commuter there are fast and frequent train services from both Ely and Waterbeach, serving London's Kings Cross and Liverpool Street Stations. There is also ready access to the A14, A11 and M11 with Stansted Airport being just approximately 40 miles distant. The property is conveniently located 14 miles from Cambridge and 9 miles from Ely.
Schooling
The area offers a wide range of state schooling including a Church of England primary school residing in Isleham itself. Secondary school education is available in nearby Soham (approx 4.5 miles away). Soham Village College and Newmarket Academy, together with a good selection of noted independent schools including King's Ely (a coeducational independent day and boarding school), Fairstead House in Newmarket and the many independent schools and sixth form colleges in Cambridge.
Newmarket
Newmarket which is generally considered the birthplace and global centre of the thoroughbred horse racing industry and stages some of the finest racing in the world. It is also home to the National Horseracing Museum, Tattersalls auctioneers and two of the world's foremost equine hospitals for horse health.
Ely
Nearby Ely, renowned for its magnificent 11th century Cathedral has an excellent choice of facilities, together with delightful walks along the banks of the River Ouse.
Cambridge
The university city of Cambridge, an important centre for the 'High tech' and 'bio-tech' industries, with the University Research and Development Laboratories, Cambridge Science Park, ARM, Microsoft, AstraZeneca and Addenbrooke's Hospital/Biomedical Campus is situated about 17 miles to the south west.
Tenure & Possession
The property is for sale freehold with vacant possession on completion
Health & Safety
In the interest of Health and Safety, please ensure that you take due care when inspecting
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