Beautifully situated equestrian property in about 5.32 acres.

Description

Firs House is a beautiful detached equestrian home with permitted development rights allowing for enlargement, occupying a delightful rural situation with unspoilt countryside views over its own land and farmland beyond, yet only 37 minutes away from Central London. It is situated in a highly sought after Essex village which is also conveniently located for Chipping Ongar, Brentwood and Epping. The property enjoys light-filled accommodation with four bedrooms and three comfortable reception rooms, thoughtfully designed and orientated to make the most of its glorious position and grounds and first class equestrian facilities, set in just under 6 acres. The nearby area also provides access to miles of bridleways and cycle and walking routes, making this an ideal property for those seeking a country lifestyle but being commutable to London. The house is ideally situated for equestrian pursuits, with Berwick cross country course less than 15 minutes away and several competition yards within the immediate area (Hastingwood, Beechwood, Brook Farm). The equestrian facilities also provide further residential development opportunities, subject to planning.

Ground floor
The house is approached from the front into a vestibule with door into a spacious and welcoming hall positioned within the centre of the house. There is a cloakroom to the front, and at the rear is a study/bedroom five which overlooks the rear gardens. Occupying the left of the house is a dual-aspect sitting room, featuring a fireplace with woodburner. Patio doors lead on to the full length flagstone terrace with electric awning and the landscaped garden beyond. This provides a fantastic outdoor entertainment space or could allow a full length extension. The house has permitted development confirmed for a single side and double storey extension (EPF/1551/23) and lapsed planning permission for a rear single storey extension (EPF/0874/09). On the opposite side of the hall, a dining room lies at the front with connecting double doors into the kitchen which is at the rear. The kitchen has a range of traditional wooden units fitted by Smallbone with granite work surfaces. Adjoining is a fitted utility/boot room with a second downstairs cloakroom, and also provides access to the patio and the rear garden.

First floor
On the first floor are four generous double bedrooms, three with fitted wardrobes. The principal bedroom suite has a walk-in wardrobe and en suite shower room. A family bathroom with separate bath and shower serves the remaining bedrooms. The loft has been over-boarded and has power and lights. This area offers the potential to be converted into further bedrooms/bathrooms, subject to planning permission.

Outside
The property is set well back from its country lane setting and is approached via electric gates which open onto a large gravel drive, with a substantial parking area at the front for several vehicles. The front gardens are professionally landscaped and adjacent is a detached brick-built double garage with light, power and water connected. The house sits centrally in its plot with a five-bar gate providing vehicular access along the boundary, past the ornamental pond and rear gardens to the equestrian facilities and fields beyond. The professionally landscaped rear gardens provide a wonderful extension to the property, with the terrace seating area opening to lawn of around half an acre, edged with deep shrub beds and fruit trees. To the other side of the garden there is an enclosed summer house/outdoor office with lights and power connected, and an adjacent covered BBQ/bar area with power and water connected.

Equestrian facilities
The equestrian facilities are discreetly set at the end of the garden, and can be viewed from the house. There are two substantial detached stable blocks comprising six loose boxes by Ascot Buildings, each with rubber floor and wall mats, automatic waterers and lights. On the first yard there are four stables (two oversized suitable for large horses/foaling), separate feed store and tack room with fitted storage units and plumbing for a washing machine. There is also a covered wash down/farrier box with solarium. Covered storage runs the length of the first stable block, used for storing rugs/bedding/yard equipment. Adjacent is a fenced sick pen with bark footing. The second stable block has two stables (with rubber mats/automatic waterers) arranged as an open barn opening onto a fenced-in yard, and an adjoining feed/tack room. Water and lights are connected.

There is an adjacent hay barn (35’ x 12’) with power and lights, and enclosed concrete yard for storage to the side. A vegetable and soft fruit garden is close by along with a seventh (Shetland) stable used for storage and a hardcore area used for parking for a horse/box trailer.

Beyond the stables and barn is a professionally built manège by KLH Arenas – 20 x 40 m with sand and rubber chip surface, windbreaker barriers and LED floodlights.

A hardcore pathway, a thoughtful addition, leads from the stable blocks to the paddocks which extend to approx. 4.1 acres, currently separated into four paddocks. The paddocks are enclosed by post and rail with mains electric fencing and have automatic waterers with further independent taps in three paddocks. The fields back onto open farmland with far-reaching views and there are no rights of way over/alongside property. One of the paddocks has a field shelter.

In all about 5.32 acres.

Services
Fibre optic broadband, oil central heating, private drainage, mains electricity and water.

Local authority: Epping Forest District Council. Council tax band = G.

Location

Chipping Ongar village: 3.1 miles; M11 (junction 7): 3.6 miles; Epping: 5.4 miles (underground rail service to London); Chelmsford city: 14.5 miles; Stansted Airport: 16 miles. All distances approximate.

Firs House occupies a lovely rural situation, and to the rear enjoys extensive views over unspoilt countryside. The surrounding area has miles of bridleways. Nearby, the town of Chipping Ongar provides an excellent range of traditional shops, pubs and restaurants as well as a Sainsbury's and Tesco, a doctors' surgery and a library.

More comprehensive facilities can be found at Epping, Brentwood, Chelmsford and Harlow and for the commuter there are excellent connections to London with the M11 (junction 7), which connects with the M25, an underground rail service (Central Line) at Epping and overground services from Brentwood, Shenfield and Harlow to London Liverpool Street in less than an hour.

There is an excellent choice of notable schools in the area including the Ongar Academy, Bancrofts at Woodford Green, Brentwood School, King Edward Grammar School, Chelmsford County High School for Girls, New Hall, Felsted and St Nicholas at Old Harlow.

Square Footage: 2,380 sq ft


Acreage: 5.32 Acres

Directions

From the Four Wantz roundabout at Chipping Ongar, proceed towards the M11 on the A414 Epping Road. Continue for 2.3 miles taking the second turning on the left into Moreton Road. The house will be found on the left after a quarter of a mile.

Postcode: CM5 0LU

Additional Info

Equestrian facilities: The equestrian facilities are discreetly set beyond the rear garden, providing a degree of privacy, and have been professionally constructed.

There are two substantial detached stable blocks comprising six Ascot loose boxes in total, each with rubber mats, auto waterers and lights. On the first yard there are 4 stables with a separate feed store and also a tack room with fitted storage units and plumbing for a washing machine, together with a separate washdown/farrier box with solarium. Covered storage runs the length of the stable block, ideal for the hanging of rugs/bedding. Adjacent is a fenced sick pen with deep bark footings. The second stable block has two stables which have had the partition and doors removed to provide an open barn (these can easily be reinstalled). This opens on to a fenced-in concrete yard with double gates, with water connected, and has a separate feed/tack room. There is an adjacent hay barn (35’ x 12’) with power and lights, and enclosed concrete storage to side. A vegetable and soft fruit garden is close by along with a seventh (Shetland) stable used for equestrian storage.

Beyond the stables and barn is a professionally built manège by KLH Arenas – 20 x 40 m with sand and rubber chip surface, windbreaker barriers and LED floodlights.

A hardcore pathway lead to the paddocks, a thoughtful addition, extending to approx. 4.1 acres, currently separated into four paddocks, with the option to be split into more. One of the paddocks has a field shelter. The paddocks are enclosed by post and rail with mains electric fencing and have auto waterers with further independent taps in three paddocks. The fields back onto open farmland with far-reaching views and there are no rights of way over/alongside property.

In all about 5.4 acres.