Superb period house with contemporary extensions set on about 3.24 acres with moat and river frontage.

Description

Roxford House is a charming Grade II listed Georgian house built in the early 1700s for John Brassey, a London Goldsmith. The house was substantially extended in the mid 19th century and then again in 1960 when the modernist architect E Maxwell Fry added a striking double height studio space to the rear, maximising the views over the grounds and River Mimram. In 2008 the current owners added an oak clad kitchen/breakfast room and garage block extension that also has bifold doors to a terrace overlooking the gardens.

The house was and has been beautifully preserved with a variety of character features, including original fireplaces, sash windows, exposed beams and wood floors. The more recent additions have blended modern conveniences to the existing character to create a bright, spacious and contemporary family residence fit for the modern day. The kitchen and reception spaces are a real highlight, with the voluminous double height and galleried sitting room offering a fabulous space for entertaining.

The substantial accommodation extends to more than 5,600 sq ft across four floors, with a good degree of versatility throughout. The original part of the house is accessed via a large entrance hall with WC and storage leading to a 27 ft sitting room with inglenook fireplace, dining room, library, utility room, wine cellar and family room with double doors leading through to an air-conditioned modern extension, which comprises a stunning double height studio/sitting room with floor to ceiling windows and a well-equipped kitchen/breakfast room featuring handsome cabinetry, complementary granite work surfaces, an AGA and bi-fold doors out to a balcony, both of which enjoy lovely views over the grounds.

The principal bedroom has an en suite bathroom, original fireplace and fitted wardrobes. The second bedroom could be an alternative main, having bedroom area with access through to an mezzanine level overlooking the studio sitting room useful as a study or reading area, a shower room and a dressing room which the current owners presently utilise as a dark room. There are two further bedrooms and a family bathroom. There is a further bedroom on the top floor and ample storage in additional rooms in the eaves.

The house is situated within a rural setting approached via a long private lane and is set in about 3.24 acres of attractive gardens which include both a spring fed moat left from a former manor house on the site and frontage to the River Lea. The gardens include a patio to the rear of the house, a swimming pool with adjacent pergola and both formal and natural areas of lawn. An oak framed summer house with verandah is beautifully situated overlooking the moat. The house has parking space for several cars and access to an integral single garage which has an electric charging point. There are additional sheds, stable and storage areas.

Further points of interest, the composer Joseph Haydn stayed as a guest in 1791-2 and there is also a surviving underground ice house in the gardens which the owners inform us is a scheduled monument.

Location

Roxford House is nestled in the picturesque Hertfordshire countryside less than three miles from Hertford on the outskirts of the village of Hertingfordbury. The village straddles both banks of the river Lea and has amenities including a popular pub, cricket club, allotments, and a church.

Located in a peaceful rural setting, the property is less than an hour's commute to Central London, and within easy reach of the major local towns and amenities of Hertford, Hatfield and Welwyn Garden City. The village is separated from neighbouring Hertford by the A414, which feeds into the major local roads network, including the M25 and A1M. It also provides fast access into Hertford, which has a wide variety of cafes, bars and restaurants, a Tesco superstore and retail park and an M&S Simply Food. There are excellent rail links at both Hertford and Hatfield stations, which runs trains direct to London's Kings Cross from 18 minutes.

Hertingfordbury is located within reach of an excellent range of schools including Presdales, Richard Hale, Simon Ball, Haileybury and Cowper Primary School.

Square Footage: 5,613 sq ft


Acreage: 3.24 Acres