House For Sale £950,000
Homelands is a substantial and uniquely attractive period house set in the heart of the village of Fordham and on the east bank of the River Snail. The house dates from c. 1580 and has some later, sympathetically achieved, additions. Part of the south and west facing elevations feature pargeting with rose design. The pedimented front door, on the Mill Lane side, leads from a front garden planted as a dry garden with silver birches, laburnum and an Italian quercus ilex.
Accommodation inside the house includes the Entrance Hall, Sitting Room with open fireplace, herringbone brick hearth, and a door onto the enclosed yew tree garden at the side. Also leading off the hallway are the Drawing Room, Kitchen/Dining Room, Shop/Show Room with street frontage, including large shop window and access. The shop was previously an antique shop and prior to this it was Hutt's grocery store. Both Sitting Room and Drawing Room have decorative ceiling mouldings, recessed alcoves and very pleasing proportions. Leading on from the shop is a downstairs bathroom, with shower, and a sizeable anteroom/store, which leads through to an office/study with pleasing garden views. These rooms have various potential for commercial use or further residential configuration. From the tiled hallway, part of which features an innovative vaulted wooden ceiling, there is access to a cloakroom and a cellar. Accommodation flows into the characterful, traditional and open-plan kitchen and dining space. The vaulted kitchen features an array of cabinetry, with ample space to dine and access to the west-facing terrace.
A generously proportioned doglegged staircase leads to the first floor landing with large, full-length mirror. This area also features many exposed beams. From here leads off a family bathroom, with attractive mural by Ursula
Galloway. The family bathroom may also be used as an en suite to the Principal Bedroom and has extra connecting door. The Principal bedroom benefits from dual aspect windows with wood-panelled ceiling.
Including the Principal Bedroom, this floor offers three sizeable and well-proportioned double bedrooms, two of which are en-suite. The rooms are each very different in character; one, the Oak Room, has historic panelling and open fireplace. Concealed cupboards lie behind the panelling which is believed to have come, in the form of a dowry, from the former Fordham Abbey with which Homelands has historic connections. A notable feature of this panelling is the celebrated ‘Tulip Panel’, a 17th century stylized relief carving of tulips and other flowers, recalling the Dutch tradition. On the second floor are three more well-proportioned bedrooms with elevated aspects, one of which benefits from an en suite shower room. Two of these bedroom have exposed beams.
The garden is walled with river frontage along one side. Mature native trees contribute to the secluded feel of this garden, which is not overlooked and provides plenty of privacy. Grounds are set out in an informal style with a small wildflower meadow at the far end. As part of a ‘wildlife corridor’, which follows the river from Fordham Woods, the garden of Homelands provides a good habitat for nesting birds and other wildlife. The walled aspect and river form a deterrent to predators, such as foxes, thus making the garden safe for chickens and domestic animals. Part of this idyllic garden is landscaped with small mound and steps. The lawn sweeps down to the river. The south facing aspect makes the garden a successful space for fruit trees and vines, and it is abundantly planted with shrubs and flowers, including heritage rose varieties.
The property provides plenty of space for offroad parking with gated driveway; four vehicles may be parked under the large ‘Covered Way’ and a further six or more vehicles could be accommodated on the adjacent gravelled turning area. A range of outbuildings comprises the following: a recently restored greenhouse, an outside toilet/utility room, a workshop, feed store, stable or animal pen, rabbit house, coal shed and large 16th century, grade II listed, timber framed barn. The barn, which faces the river on one side and the street on another, has potential for commercial use or conversion into living accommodation
Homelands, which along with the barn, is listed Grade II, has historic connections with St John’s
College, Cambridge, and was one of the original manors of Fordham. The house has been in the same family ownership for over 50 years and is situated in the village’s conservation area. Fordham is a popular village between Ely and Newmarket, offering convenient links to the A14 and M11 for Cambridge and rail links via Ely, Soham and Newmarket stations to both Cambridge and London. The village benefits from various amenities, including a school, convenience stores, public houses and restaurants, along with two garden centres and a garage. Cambridge and Ely offer a comprehensive selection of further leisure, educational and cultural facilities.
Accommodation inside the house includes the Entrance Hall, Sitting Room with open fireplace, herringbone brick hearth, and a door onto the enclosed yew tree garden at the side. Also leading off the hallway are the Drawing Room, Kitchen/Dining Room, Shop/Show Room with street frontage, including large shop window and access. The shop was previously an antique shop and prior to this it was Hutt's grocery store. Both Sitting Room and Drawing Room have decorative ceiling mouldings, recessed alcoves and very pleasing proportions. Leading on from the shop is a downstairs bathroom, with shower, and a sizeable anteroom/store, which leads through to an office/study with pleasing garden views. These rooms have various potential for commercial use or further residential configuration. From the tiled hallway, part of which features an innovative vaulted wooden ceiling, there is access to a cloakroom and a cellar. Accommodation flows into the characterful, traditional and open-plan kitchen and dining space. The vaulted kitchen features an array of cabinetry, with ample space to dine and access to the west-facing terrace.
A generously proportioned doglegged staircase leads to the first floor landing with large, full-length mirror. This area also features many exposed beams. From here leads off a family bathroom, with attractive mural by Ursula
Galloway. The family bathroom may also be used as an en suite to the Principal Bedroom and has extra connecting door. The Principal bedroom benefits from dual aspect windows with wood-panelled ceiling.
Including the Principal Bedroom, this floor offers three sizeable and well-proportioned double bedrooms, two of which are en-suite. The rooms are each very different in character; one, the Oak Room, has historic panelling and open fireplace. Concealed cupboards lie behind the panelling which is believed to have come, in the form of a dowry, from the former Fordham Abbey with which Homelands has historic connections. A notable feature of this panelling is the celebrated ‘Tulip Panel’, a 17th century stylized relief carving of tulips and other flowers, recalling the Dutch tradition. On the second floor are three more well-proportioned bedrooms with elevated aspects, one of which benefits from an en suite shower room. Two of these bedroom have exposed beams.
The garden is walled with river frontage along one side. Mature native trees contribute to the secluded feel of this garden, which is not overlooked and provides plenty of privacy. Grounds are set out in an informal style with a small wildflower meadow at the far end. As part of a ‘wildlife corridor’, which follows the river from Fordham Woods, the garden of Homelands provides a good habitat for nesting birds and other wildlife. The walled aspect and river form a deterrent to predators, such as foxes, thus making the garden safe for chickens and domestic animals. Part of this idyllic garden is landscaped with small mound and steps. The lawn sweeps down to the river. The south facing aspect makes the garden a successful space for fruit trees and vines, and it is abundantly planted with shrubs and flowers, including heritage rose varieties.
The property provides plenty of space for offroad parking with gated driveway; four vehicles may be parked under the large ‘Covered Way’ and a further six or more vehicles could be accommodated on the adjacent gravelled turning area. A range of outbuildings comprises the following: a recently restored greenhouse, an outside toilet/utility room, a workshop, feed store, stable or animal pen, rabbit house, coal shed and large 16th century, grade II listed, timber framed barn. The barn, which faces the river on one side and the street on another, has potential for commercial use or conversion into living accommodation
Homelands, which along with the barn, is listed Grade II, has historic connections with St John’s
College, Cambridge, and was one of the original manors of Fordham. The house has been in the same family ownership for over 50 years and is situated in the village’s conservation area. Fordham is a popular village between Ely and Newmarket, offering convenient links to the A14 and M11 for Cambridge and rail links via Ely, Soham and Newmarket stations to both Cambridge and London. The village benefits from various amenities, including a school, convenience stores, public houses and restaurants, along with two garden centres and a garage. Cambridge and Ely offer a comprehensive selection of further leisure, educational and cultural facilities.
