12 bedroom detached house for sale

A substantial listed former hotel with potential for a variety of uses.

Description

This landmark listed building is in Braintree's conservation area. Dating from the 17th century, the building is timber framed with rendered elevations. Steeped in history, the property was known as the Freyers manor house and became a children’s home from 1915 to 1948. In 1962, it became the Friars Hotel, and then The Old Court Hotel until 2008. In 2023, Braintree Council granted a certificate of lawfulness of the change of use from hotel to house (residential dwelling – planning ref: 23/01585/ELD).

With approximately 7,354 sq ft in a plot of about 0.4 of an acre, there appears to be potential for a variety of uses, including one or more houses or flats, subject to the necessary consents. The local planning authority might allow a rear annexe to be built (as in neighbouring properties), based on buildings recorded in old maps (e.g. Ordnance Survey 1939, 1875 and earlier) and large sheds demolished in the 1980s. The council's historic buildings consultant has said: "a small residential annexe, retained in the same ownership of the listed building in perpetuity and with an associated use, could be appropriate. This could be built and designed in such a way as to preserve the setting of the listed building and not have a detrimental impact on the Conservation Area." Buyers are asked to make their own enquiries as The Old Court is being sold on a sold-as-seen basis.

The property is predominantly over three floors. The ground floor comprises three principal open-plan rooms – sitting room, dining room, and a commercially fitted kitchen. In addition, there is a library, a utility room and storerooms. The first floor consists of eight bedrooms (seven en suite), and there are a further four bedrooms (three en suite) on the second floor, which includes a modernised self-contained flat.

The property has space for parking at the front. In addition, the driveway passes through an undercroft into a substantial gravel parking area at the rear. There are formal gardens, which include mature evergreen trees, with split level beds and terraces. There is a paved terrace and further raised beds alongside the house providing all-year colour and interest.

Agent's note
1. Unconditional offers are sought for the freehold interest.

2. Please note the undercroft has been damaged and is currently scaffolded, with scaffold loaned from the council. It will be the responsibility of the buyer to take on the responsibility of repairing this area. Listed building consent and building regulations approval have been granted for repair of the wall and timbers along the driveway.

Services
All mains services connected.

Location

Braintree town centre: 0.5 of a mile; Chelmsford: 12.9 miles; Stansted Airport: 16.8 miles. All distances approximate.

The Old Court is situated in a conservation area to the north of the town centre in one of the oldest parts of this attractive mid-Essex market town. Braintree town centre has shopping facilities, bars and restaurants and Braintree Village is close by with its purpose-built shopping centre and leisure facilities. Both Braintree and Braintree Village have train stations offering a frequent branch line service into London Liverpool Street.

Square Footage: 7,354 sq ft


Acreage: 0.43 Acres

Directions

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