A delightful former mill house occupying a peaceful setting with excellent links to the city.

Description

A wonderful former mill house offering tranquillity and convenience with direct access to countryside and river walks. The Mill House is a substantial family home, set upon the River Colne, dating back to around 1840 having been a prominent and important building of its time.

This attractive Grade II listed home extends to about 3,000 sq ft, with the accommodation set over three levels enjoying the charm and character associated with properties of this age including exposed timber work, high ceilings and open fireplaces. The property has been extensively improved including ornate Victorian-style radiators and pipework, replacement boiler and bespoke blinds in many of the rooms. There are brushed steel light switches and a modern wood-burning stove.

A small proportion of the property is attached to the mill itself with the accommodation offering five double bedrooms arranged over the first and second floors with the principal bedroom suite offering a walk-through dressing room and a newly-fitted luxury bathroom. There are two fine reception rooms to the ground floor, a stunning reception hall and a kitchen/breakfast room of open-plan design providing breathtaking southerly views.

The ground floor includes two delightful reception rooms. The sitting room is a light-filled room with a large bay window, added during the Georgian period. An open fire with a decorative surround and a beautiful stripped and polished wooden floor add to the charm of the room. The dining room has exposed timbers and studwork which have been stripped and restored, and its vast red-brick fireplace now incorporates a new high-level log burner. The heart of the home is the kitchen which was opened up into the breakfast room during the renovations to create a bright living and entertaining space. It has double doors opening to the riverside terrace and a stable door to the rear.

The spacious reception hall is extremely welcoming and has access to a new cloakroom; it features an open fireplace, a mix of wooden and original decorative tiled flooring and newly installed box seating.

There are five double bedrooms arranged over the first and second floors with two of the rooms sharing a recently re-fitted shower room. The principal bedroom enjoys use of a luxury bathroom. The two bedrooms on the top floor (the second of which is accessed through the first) could be re-purposed as a principal bedroom suite, a teenager’s level or a private work-from-home dual office space. The bathroom on the top floor offers a WC and wash basin, however there is room for a bath to be added if required, subject to consent.

Outside
The property is approached from the front providing a wonderful first impression. There is ample private parking and a turning space. A double garage is in the process of being constructed and will be located at the foot of the drive. A large proportion of the outside space is located to the front of the property, predominantly laid to lawn with privacy hedging. To the side and rear of the property and accessed from the kitchen is a delightful south-facing terrace with frontage to the river and overlooking the weir - a haven for wildlife.

Services
The property is connected to mains water and electricity supply. Oil-fired central heating system and a private sewage treatment system. Broadband speeds: 40 Mbps download/5 Mbps upload.

Agent's note
The property is Grade II Listed and is semi-detached, with less than a quarter of its wall space being attached to its neighbour. There is a private right of access being retained by the seller, to the single lock gate, beyond the rear courtyard.

Location

Chappel train station: 0.5 of a mile, Earls Colne: 2.9 miles, Colchester: 7.8 miles, Chelmsford: 24.2 miles, Ipswich: 24.2 miles. All distances approximate.

The Mill House is located at the end of peaceful lane in a lovely stretch of Essex countryside, on the fringes of Chappel and Wakes Colne and some 3 miles east of the larger town of Earls Colne.

The drive serves six properties which include three other period homes (one of which is also being renovated) and two architecturally designed contemporary homes, currently under construction with an expected completion of July/August 2023. The immediate area surrounding The Mill House is truly stunning with a wealth of natural interest and direct access to a network of footpaths providing delightful river and countryside walks around the Colne Valley.

Wakes Colne is a small rural community, north of the River Colne, and is very close to the neighbouring village of Chappel which includes the Swan pub, a primary school and a shop/post office. The village’s impressive viaduct and historic train station are also nearby providing a frequent service to London Liverpool Street. Chappel's Millennium Green is nearby and has two areas: a nature reserve and a general recreation area.

The nearby village of Earls Colne enjoys a heritage museum and many footpaths in the surrounding countryside and nearby Chalkney Wood. There are also two golf courses, several pubs and restaurants and a selection of shops.

Colchester offers a more comprehensive shopping centre, excellent recreational facilities and a good choice of private schools including Holmwood House prep school at Lexden, Colchester Royal Grammar School and Colchester County High School for Girls. Earls Colne has a primary and a nursery school.

By road, the A12 is accessible with Tollgate just five miles away, providing a Sainsbury’s supermarket and a Marks and Spencer Food Hall.

Square Footage: 3,095 sq ft