St Ives Close, Digswell

BRIDGE TO THE FUTURE/BEAUTIFUL SOUTH

With a gorgeous, south-facing garden and spacious, flexible accommodation, the attractive, house at Digswell offers a perfect balance between countryside living and convenience.

Stepping out from their home on a bright, sunny day, the owners of the single-storey property at Digswell can head off on a long walk across the picturesque fields. At the same time, they are just 10 minutes’ drive from Welwyn Garden City, well placed for the A1/M and within four minutes’ walking distance of the train station, where they can catch trains to take them into King’s Cross in half an hour. “We do have the best of all worlds here,” one of them admits. “It is a lovely place to live, with a beautiful, south-facing garden and tranquil, spacious interior. We are only moving now for family reasons; we have been very happy here and we are very sad to be leaving.”

LIGHT AND AIRY

Believed to have been built some 45 years ago, the attractive house has been their home for almost 10 years now. “It was the garden that really appealed to us when we first saw it,” she recalls. “It was so large, sunny and private and it has a gate that you can open so you can cross the road and go straight over to the park. Our grandchildren used to love it.” Since moving in, the couple have not only extended the property, but they have also renovated it throughout. They have replaced the kitchen and bathrooms, installed a new boiler, and redecorated every room. “We changed the hallway and added a porch,” she explains. “We extended out to the side of the house to create a new family room, utility room and cloakroom. The whole place is light, airy and with neutral décor – it is ready for someone else to just move straight into to enjoy.”

A BRIGHT FUTURE

Despite its immaculate, bright interior and versatile layout, the property does still hold scope for new owners wishing to enhance it further or make their own mark on it. Subject to the relevant planning permissions, there is ample space for further extension, thanks to the sizeable plot in which the house sits. “The single-storey house next door was given permission to go up an extra storey and the one on the other side has added a garden studio. We have a concrete hardstanding that currently has a shed on it, which could be ideal for an outbuilding.” The house also has a detached, double garage, which could hold potential for conversion to alternative use, either as a leisure or work space, or even possibly as annexe accommodation. “There are certainly lots of options here for anyone wishing to increase the amount of accommodation,” she adds.

FAMILY LIVING

Entered via the porch and then the central reception hall, the house is cleverly laid out with its bedroom and bathroom accommodation to one side and living space to the other. There is an easy flow between the reception rooms and kitchen. The kitchen leads to the utility room, which in turn offers access to the cloakroom, garden and long family room. The dining room, which is open plan to the sitting room, also opens into the family room. Doors from both the family room and the sitting room can be opened on to the garden during the summer months. “This part of the house is wonderful for both family living and entertaining,” she says. “We have had so many lovely Christmas and Easter lunches here, with everyone wandering between the spaces. In the summer, we have had the children’s birthday parties outside and above-ground swimming pools, football goals and all sorts of other play equipment in the garden.”

STREAMING SUNSHINE

The sitting room, family room, master bedroom and one of the guest rooms are all south-facing and benefit from glorious, streaming sunshine. “The bedrooms here are lovely,” she says. “They are all a good size – even the smallest room, which I now use for my sewing and craft-making – used to be a bedroom.” The dual-aspect master bedroom, which has built-in wardrobes, benefits from an en-suite shower room. The other three bedrooms, two of which also have fitted storage, share the family bathroom. Any of these rooms could have an alternative use – including as a study, snug or playroom – should that suit the requirements of the next owners.

THE BEST PLACE

Behind the house stands the impressive structure of Digswell’s viaduct. A notable, local landmark, it was opened by Queen Victoria. The couple agree they will miss it when they leave. They will also miss the peace and quiet of their internal living space and their generous garden, which has been the scene of so many happy family occasions. “This is such a comfortable, light and easy home to live in,” she adds. “Its location has been ideal for us, with everything we have needed within easy reach, including the park and beautiful countryside.”

SETTING THE SCENE

To the front of the house there is an immaculate front garden and a large driveway with space for up to seven cars to park. There is also a double garage. To the rear, the property opens on to a very generous lawned garden, with terraces, sheds, and ample space for entertaining and for children to play.

“We do have the best of all worlds here.”

“It is a lovely place to live, with a beautiful, south-facing garden and tranquil, spacious interior.”

“We are only moving now for family reasons; we have been very happy here and we are very sad to be leaving.”

“It was the garden that really appealed to us when we first saw it.”

“The garden is large, sunny and private.”

“We have a gate that you can open so you can cross the road and go straight over to the park.”

“The whole place is light, airy and with neutral décor.”

“It is ready for someone else to just move straight into to enjoy.”

“There are certainly lots of options here for anyone wishing to increase the amount of accommodation.”

“The reception areas are wonderful for both family living and entertaining.”

“We have had so many lovely Christmas and Easter lunches here, with everyone wandering between the spaces.”

“In the summer, we have had the children’s birthday parties outside and above-ground swimming pools, football goals and all sorts of other play equipment in the garden.”

“The bedrooms here are lovely. They are all a good size – even the smallest room, which I now use for my sewing and craft-making – used to be a bedroom.”

“This is such a comfortable, light and easy home to live in.”

“Its location has been ideal for us, with everything we have needed within easy reach, including the park and beautiful countryside.”