3 bedroom detached house

Part of our Signature collection, dating from the early 1600's and set in the Rayne conservation area, Highways Cottage is one of the oldest houses in the village, with later additions and alterations the property is of a oak framed construction with weatherboarding and washed elevations to the rear which sit under a thatched roof.

Steeped in character with many original features such as exposed beams to walls and ceilings, inglenook fireplaces and elm wood staircases. The property has been sympathetically restored providing beautifully presented accommodation along with a new luxury kitchen.

A solid wood door opens in to the entrance lobby with original brick flooring, turned elm staircase and a doorway leads off to the kitchen which offers flagstone flooring, complemented by light coloured bespoke units and work surfaces. There is a is a range cooker, induction hob and views over the rear garden along with a separate utility room allowing space and plumbing for all the necessary appliances. From the lobby, the cloakroom can be accessed along with the formal dining room with large redbrick Inglenook fireplace with working fire, exposed beams to walls and ceilings, French doors leading out to the front garden and a further doorway leads through to a sitting area. This impressive reception space flows through to the generous living room with superb redbrick inglenook fireplace, and a further turned elm staircase leads to bedroom one. The study is positioned to the front with small fireplace and external door giving access to the front garden. To complete the ground floor accommodation is the tiled family bathroom with roll top bathtub, walk in shower, WC and wash hand basin.

To the first floor are three generously proportioned bedrooms which can be accessed by either staircase. From the lobby area, stairs rise to bedrooms two and three, whilst a second staircase accessed from the main reception room, rises to bedroom one with an inter-connecting door connecting all bedrooms.

Outside
The property is approached by gated access to a beautifully maintained laid to lawn front garden interspersed with fruit trees and shrub borders. A wrought iron gate leads to the to the rear garden which is well established with an abundance of fruit trees, predominantly laid to lawn with well-stocked borders and ornamental fish pond. A paved terrace is laid behind the property perfect for alfresco dining and to the rear of the garden is a double oak cart lodge with power and water and storage above, driveway and double opening gates from the road.


Location

The village of Rayne has an attractive centre with many fine period and listed properties and has previously been named 'Essex Village of the Year'. There are two public houses, village primary school rated Good by Ofsted and also served by school bus routes to Helen Romanes school and Dunmow Newport grammar, near Saffron Walden and Colchester grammar schools. Within walking distance of the property are Flitch Way country park and Notley country park. Further amenities can be found at the nearby market town of Braintree, where you will also find the popular Freeport Designer Village. Rayne is bypassed by the A120 trunk road which gives access to Stansted Airport and M11 beyond. For the commuter the nearby railway station at Braintree provides branch line links to London Liverpool Street (approximate journey time 1 hour 5 minutes) and the City of Chelmsford and market town of Witham are approximately 12/10 miles away, both having mainline railway stations serving London Liverpool Street (Approximate journey time 35 minutes). Witham is bypassed by the A12 which leads to Chelmsford to the South and Colchester to the North.

Directions

From the A120 Stansted bound, take the exit off the bypassed signposted Great Notley, turn right back under the A120 at the roundabout signposted Braintree Town Centre. At the next roundabout turn left into Rayne Road, proceed along Rayne Road continuing to the traffic lights at the Swan Public House then turn right into Shalford Road where the property can be found shortly after on the right hand side on the corner.

Important Information

Council Tax Band - F
Services - We understand that mains water, drainage, oil and electricity are connected to the property.
Tenure - Freehold
EPC rating – NA Grade II Listed