4 bedroom house

Stunning country house set below the Ashridge Estate.


Description

With an extensive and documented history dating back to the 1700s, Forge Farm is now an exceptional country house with an original brick built farmhouse linked to a stunning oak framed, timber-clad barn and stable offering a unique blend of traditional and contemporary style. Once a working Forge as part of the Ashridge Estate and steeped in history, this remarkable property with approaching 4000sq’ of principal accommodation is one of the finest houses in the area.

Entered via the original wellhouse with its glass topped brick and flint well, one turns left into the vaulted barn offering breath-taking spacious sitting and dining areas packed with original features and complimented by oak and travertine flooring throughout. An open bay leads through to a delightful, mostly glazed, oak framed Garden Room with a vaulted ceiling and doors opening to the patio, terraces and gardens. Opposite at a slightly lower level is the heavily beamed home office space (fibre to premises) once a stable and complete with exposed brick flooring, manger and hay rack.

Back to the hallway a latched door leads through to the farmhouse sitting room with an impressive inglenook fireplace and leaded light windows affording pretty views over formal gardens to the front. A further door leads to the kitchen/breakfast room with its range of hand crafted units and integrated appliances and steps lead down to the original dairy (naturally lit and fitted for extra storage) and up to a split level laundry room above.

On the first floor there are four double bedrooms with two en-suites and a family bathroom, each with a character of its own. The main suite is split level enjoying a fabulous outlook through double barn-style doors with shutters across the gardens to open fields beyond. A turning staircase rises to a spacious and flexible mezzanine area with inset windows overlooking the barn below.

Outside the gardens are something to behold with extensive lawns sweeping around three sides of the house with mature tree and hedgerow boundaries sloping gently up to neighbouring fields. With a variety of pretty seating areas set into flower and herbaceous borders the gardens offer an exceptional level of privacy and seclusion including a fabulous stone terrace linking barn and house and boasting a sheltered, southerly aspect perfect for outdoor entertaining.

To the west the original vegetable garden, bounded by the churchyard wall, offers a covered log store, a large storage shed with shingle driveway and a separate slate roofed ‘gardener’s kitchen’ and WC, fitted throughout for additional storage.

For those looking for further land there is direct, gated access to an adjacent 5.83 acre meadow field/paddock to the east and enclosed by mature hedgerows. Although bounded by Nettleden Road it is worth noting that the land has no public Rights of Way making it totally private. With a second vehicular access and gated holding area at the eastern end, this could be perfect for those possibly wishing to keep livestock or horses.

To the front Forge Farm features a large gravel driveway and garaging with delightful formal gardens to the right and parking for numerous vehicles to the left.

Location

Mileages Approx:
Berkhamsted mainline station with direct access to London Euston - 2.8 miles, Berkhamsted town centre shopping - 3.2 miles, M1 Junction 8 - 6.7 miles, London Luton Airport - 12 miles, National Trust Ashridge Estate visitor centre - 4.7 miles, Local shops and pubs nearby including The Alford Arms public house and restaurant - 0.6 miles, Berkhamsted & Ashridge golf courses - 2.1 and 4.2 miles respectively.

With no less than 10 listed buildings, Nettleden is a delightful, historic hamlet enjoying Conservation Area status adjacent to the beautiful 4000 acre Ashridge Estate and within the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Forge Farm itself occupies a prominent, central position offering direct access to delightful walks and bridleways and is easily accessible to the historic market town of Berkhamsted offering the renowned Berkhamsted School for boys and girls together with a range of supermarkets, High St names, individual retailers and eateries.

Square Footage: 3,899 sq ft




Acreage: 7.78 Acres

Marketed by: Savills, Harpenden