3 bedroom semi-detached house for sale

A Grade II listed 17th century farmhouse set within about 2.5 acres of grounds, nestled within Essex countryside.

Description

This delightful period home offers a rare opportunity to acquire this charming farmhouse, believed to date back to the 1600s with a wealth of original features including exposed beams, open fireplaces and traditional joinery.

Accommodation to the ground floor comprises an open plan study area, featuring a staircase rising to the first floor and practical built-in storage beneath. Beyond lies the sitting room, rich in period detail with exposed ceiling timbers and an attractive brick fireplace housing a wood-burning stove.

The generous kitchen/dining room serves as the heart of the home, offering the perfect space for family living and entertaining. It is fitted with a range of wooden units, a butler sink and a five-ring electric range cooker. Tiled flooring runs throughout, and French doors provide direct access to the rear garden. A useful cloakroom completes the ground floor accommodation.

Upstairs, the first floor landing leads to three double bedrooms, each enjoying its own outlook over the surrounding countryside. Bedrooms one and three overlook the front of the property, with bedroom one retaining an original fireplace, while bedroom two enjoys a dual aspect. The family bathroom is well appointed with a roll-top bath, panelled walls and wooden flooring, while a separate wet room adds practicality.

Outside
Approached via a shingle driveway providing ample parking, the property enjoys a wonderful setting surrounded by mature gardens and open paddocks. A sunny terrace wraps around the house, offering a perfect spot for al fresco dining, while the formal gardens are private and bordered by mature shrubs and trees.

The land extends to about 2.5 acres, including a fenced paddock and a stable yard with two large loose boxes and space for a third or hay store if required.

Of particular note is the historic, soundproofed outbuilding - formerly the renowned ‘Cook House Studios’, where a number of well-known 1970s and 1980s bands recorded.
This building now benefits from planning consent (ref: 22/02042/FUL) for conversion into a two-bedroom self-contained annexe, offering excellent potential for multigenerational living or guest accommodation.

To the rear of the garden, a further soundproofed garden office provides an ideal workspace with delightful views over the grounds and countryside beyond.

Services
Mains water and electricity. Private drainage (compliant system). Oil-fired heating.

Local authority
Chelmsford City Council. Council tax band = D (with improvement indicator).

Location

2 Mill Hill Farm Cottages is in a peaceful rural setting within Rettendon Common, offering a mix of countryside tranquillity with practical amenities, schools and transport links. Local facilities include a village hall, some pubs and nearby farmshop-style outlets, while larger supermarkets and retail options are a short drive away.

For families, Rettendon Primary School provides nearby primary education, and other well-rated primary schools are also accessible in the surrounding area, though secondary schools are located a little further afield.

Transport links are reasonable for a rural village, with bus services connecting to nearby towns such as Wickford, and Battlesbridge railway station within a short drive offering rail connections. By road, Chelmsford and other local centres are easily reachable, making the location suitable for those seeking a quiet countryside lifestyle without being entirely cut off from everyday conveniences.

Square Footage: 1,400 sq ft


Acreage: 2.5 Acres

Directions

What3Words: ///reinstate.spend.dragons