A Deceptive 2968 sq ft Five Double Bedroom New England Style Family Home situated on a mature and private plot of 0.48 of an Acre.

What We Say at The Zoe Napier Group

This attractive property offers a relatively humble New England-style front elevation. Until that is, you step inside to the delights of enormous, well-laid-out spaces, with all rooms offering practicality and character to what can only be described as a super family home on a substantial south-facing plot in a highly sought-after road. There is even planning permission to extend further, if needed.

What the Owner Says

This has been a superb and practical home for a family of 6 with additional space for our parents when visiting, as well as the vast spaces we have enjoyed for entertaining. The property is in a superb location, accessible to Chelmsford City yet is largely surrounded by countryside for scenic walks. We are fortunate to have secured our next move so we can offer an end-of-chain situation.

History & Background

A Deceptive 2968 sq ft, beautifully presented, five double bedroom New England Style family home situated on a mature and private plot of 0.48 of an Acre. The property is thought to date back in part to 1905, offering some attractive Victorian characteristics. Over more recent years the house has benefitted from having 20th and 21st Century extensions to provide accommodation of substantial proportions which have been excellent for entertaining larger family gatherings. Upstairs are five double bedrooms including the principal suite having a luxurious en-suite, a further bedroom en-suite, and a family bathroom – each of the bath/shower rooms benefitting from underfloor heating. The ground floor offers four reception rooms and a wonderful kitchen/breakfast room supported by excellent service rooms.

The extensive and secluded grounds of 0.48 of an acre offer a south-facing aspect to the rear with upper terraces, seating, and outdoor kitchen areas adjacent to a useful 2019 detached outbuilding which could easily be converted into ancillary/guest accommodation, if required. There is the additional benefit of the property gaining planning permission in May 2022 for an additional two-storey front extension and a further single-storey rear extension with a first-floor terrace. Details are provided in the agent's notes.

Setting & Location

The property is situated in a highly sought-after leafy semi-rural suburb, lying 3.7 miles to the southeast of Chelmsford City Centre and just over 4 miles from Chelmsford National Rail Service for London’s Liverpool Street. There is also the convenience of the Park & Ride at Sandon (on the A414) and A12/A130 access is approximately 0.5 of a mile away. The location is therefore well placed for Grammar and High Schools in both Chelmsford and Westcliff where buses run locally for Westcliff Schools and Sandon. There is a local C of E primary school in East Hanningfield (Ofsted Good) with senior schools in Sandon and Great Baddow. The private schools of Elm Green Preparatory in Little Baddow and New Hall School (bus stops in Howe Green) in Boreham are 6 and 8 miles respectively.

East Hanningfield and Sandon have become highly desirable semi-rural suburbs to Chelmsford City, not least for their accessibility to Major links and nearby Cities, but also for the surrounding scenic countryside from which to enjoy local walks. The villages also have thriving communities which include a local Cricket Club, a post office, and some excellent nearby pubs and restaurants, including Bella Vista in East Hanningfield and Pontlands Park in Great Baddow which also has Swimming Pools and a spa.

The house itself is nestled on a generous and secluded plot of nearly half an acre with extensive parking and beautifully mature south-facing gardens.

Ground Floor Accommodation

Stepping into the vast hallway gives an immediate sense of the open space and substantial proportions of this property, entirely deceptive from its modest but most attractive front elevation. The house has benefitted from numerous additions and from the images it is evident how far back the property extends. The hallway, with traditional wooden slatted flooring, incorporates attractive balustrade turning stairs to the first floor with some double-width openings to rooms immediately featuring their character and magnitude. The front sitting/TV room with parquet flooring, faces north and remains cool during the summer months with a wood-burning stove to keep warm during winter. The main family room enjoys Bifold doors onto the south-facing terrace, with stunning Mahogany parquet flooring and a wood-burning stove. Open plan to the family room is a small octagonal garden room, used as the music room. Adjacent is the study featuring a Victorian fireplace feature and original picture rails. Double doors from the hall lead to the sizeable, dual-aspect dining room, which on occasion, has seated up to 24 people. There is a further fireplace with wood burning stove and the room is partly open to the superb kitchen/breakfast room which has B & R Barnes bespoke cabinetry beneath attractive hardwood worktops including the vast island/breakfast bar to seat 4/5 people. The kitchen enjoys numerous features including an attractive sandstone fireplace and a Stoves Range Oven with an induction hob and brushed chrome extractor finishes. The Vintage AGA remains as a storage display feature (decommissioned) set into a chimney breast-style recess. There is space for an American-style fridge/freezer and two dishwashers will remain. The room is finished with quality natural travertine flooring where doors open onto south facing terraces for access to the outdoor kitchen. The service rooms include a superb size utility room with walk-in cupboards, a Butler sink with douche tap, and an integral freezer. Matching cupboards provide housing for twin washing machines and a tumble dryer. A door leads out to the external kitchen. There is also a stylish cloakroom/w.c.

First Floor Accommodation

The first-floor landing is bright with a Velux window and storage/linen cupboard. Access leads to each of the five double bedrooms, some with restricted head height in the lower eaves, yet each offers character. The principal suite has a semi-vaulted ceiling with fitted cupboards to one wall area. Access leads to the luxurious en suite/dressing room which features a Jacuzzi-style spa bath with jets, a twin sink, a separate shower, and W.C. Additional fitted wardrobes provide for extra storage, and the room is finished in Moroccan limestone flooring with underfloor heating. The shower in this en-suite has its own water tank. The remaining four bedrooms include two larger rear bedrooms, one of which features a Juliette balcony overlooking the rear garden and the other rear bedroom has a small en-suite shower room with underfloor heating. The modern family bathroom has attractive porcelain flooring with underfloor heating and features a bath with a fitted shower screen and a plumber shower over.

Ancillary Outbuilding

This building was constructed in 2019, currently providing extensive storage for sports equipment with a separate rear room, for a home office/gym. The building lends itself to alternative uses such as a guest annexe.

Grounds

The property is nestled in its own established plot extending to 0.48 of an acre. The frontage provides a carriage-style gravelled driveway with plenty of parking and there are double gates leading to an additional storage/parking area. A further gate provides access to the rear and there are also Ring security cameras on each flank wall. The front elevation features a New England-style veranda with traditional quarry tiled flooring suitable for covered bench seating overlooking the small lawn with a small summerhouse. To the rear the grounds widen to an expanse of undulating lawns, which have the benefit of a automatic mower system (to remain if desired), whilst the gardens offer maximum seclusion and with mature Silver Birch Trees and a Dovecot with resident white doves. The rear terraces are tiered with an upper outdoor/BBQ kitchen terrace with Iroko wood cabinetry, a central BBQ, and porcelain shelves incorporating a small bar with stools. There is also a lower terrace and an expansive side terrace with a vine-clad pergola. Within the undulating grounds is a part sunken gazebo which provides covered seating for 15 to 20 people with space for a central firepit. There is also a large barn-style storage shed and a small ‘fishing equipment’ shed.

 Agents Notes

• Registered Tile Number EX322550
• 22/00768/FUL Raising of the roof height. Construction of single-storey rear extension with first-floor terrace. Two-storey front extension. Addition of front porch canopy. Alterations to existing fenestration.