Kingswood

About the house contd.

On the first floor there are five bedrooms and a refitted shower room. The master bedroom has a separate dressing room and a walk through with fitted wardrobes leading into the en suite bathroom. The guest bedroom also has fitted wardrobes and an en suite bathroom.

Ground Floor

The covered pillared porch leads into the entrance lobby with a high ceiling, dado and picture rails and openings into the reception hall which has feature archways into the dining room. The cloakroom is fitted in a white traditional style range of Sanitan sanitaryware.

Reception Rooms

A major feature of the property is the drawing room which has a high vaulted ceiling with exposed beams and timbers. A period feature open fireplace has tall arched windows either side, overlooking the gardens and grounds. There are additional dual aspect windows and two sets of glazed double doors, one set opening onto a side terrace, and the other into a glazed porch which has further glazed doors to the swimming pool terrace. The triple aspect snooker room overlooks the formal gardens, houses a full sized snooker table and has a traditional fireplace and glazed doors to the pool terrace. There is also a study overlooking the pool terrace. The dining room has a traditional style open fireplace, moulded ceiling covings, picture and dado rails. Dual aspect windows overlook the formal gardens.

Kitchen/Breakfast Room, Conservatory and Utility Room

The kitchen/breakfast room is fitted with a range of hand built solid wood units including dresser style units and a central island unit, all with granite work surfaces incorporating a drainer and inset double bowl sink. A recess houses a four oven Aga and there is also a further freestanding cooker, and an integrated dishwasher. The breakfast area has part glazed double doors into a custom built conservatory which has two sets of glazed double doors onto the rear terrace. The utility room has matching cabinets and work surfaces with space and plumbing for appliances. There is a separate boiler cupboard housing the freestanding oil fired boiler and a separate wine cellar. The boot room has been created by partly converting one of the garages, but still retaining its remotely operated door to the front and has a door onto the rear terrace.

First Floor

The first floor is accessed from the hall by a full turn balustraded staircase that leads up to a galleried landing with centrally positioned lantern skylight for natural light. Arched openings on the stairs look into the drawing room. There is also a built-in shelved storage cupboard.

Master Bedroom Suite

The master bedroom suite has glazed double doors onto an ornate wrought iron balcony that overlooks the heated outdoor swimming pool and terrace, as well as enjoying views of the gardens, grounds and surrounding countryside. It has a separate dressing room and a walk through with fitted mirrored wardrobes either side. The en suite bathroom has exposed floorboards and is fitted in a white Sanitan suite including a bath, wash basin, WC and bidet.

Other Bedrooms and Bathrooms

The guest bedroom has built-in wardrobes and an en suite bathroom fitted in a traditional suite of Ball and Claw footed bath, wash basin and WC. A door leads into a lobby area suitable for storage, and has a further door to a first floor home office/gym which has dual aspect Velux skylights, exposed oak effect flooring and a sink unit set into a base level storage cupboard. Two further double bedrooms enjoy views of the gardens and open countryside beyond. One bedroom is currently used as a dressing room/walk-in wardrobe.

Gardens and Grounds

Kingswood has a high level of screening and privacy at the front, with the property enclosed by a high ornate wall with a pillared remotely operated gated entrance that opens to a gravel driveway with a central island. The driveway provides parking and access to the remaining two garages which have remotely operated doors. The formal gardens surround the house and have shaped lawned areas and well stocked borders with shrubs and bushes for additional screening and shaped ornamental trees interspersed. They are enclosed by a combination of post and rail fencing, mature trees and hedgerow. The full sized hard tennis court is situated between the house and driveway and is enclosed by court fencing. Pathways from the front lead to an outdoor entertaining area which incorporates the heated outdoor swimming pool which is of varying depth. The terrace area continues around both sides of the property and includes an ornamental fish pond. There is a separate vegetable garden with (truncated)

Stables and Paddocks

The stables and paddocks are accessed by a separate security gate and driveway situated adjacent to the house. To the left of the driveway is a post and rail fenced paddock with trees and fruit trees. The manège arena is fully enclosed by walled sleepers. At the far end is a fully automated and enclosed horse exerciser by Claydon. There is a man made lake, again fully enclosed by mature trees, hedgerow and post and rail fencing. There is extensive stabling in detached timber buildings and including a rug room and tack room as well as a hay barn and staff facilities. Paddocks adjacent to the property are leased by the current owners by separate negotiation and it may be possible to continue the agreement subject to clarification.

Lilley

Lilley is a small village, part of the civil parish in Hertfordshire between Hitchin and Luton and within the parliamentary constituency of Hitchin and Harpenden. The village has a village church, rebuilt in the 19th century, which contains many original features and a fine Elizabethan heraldic memorial. There is also a village pub and the village is about 10 minutes’ drive from Hitchin town centre which has a wide range of shops, pubs and restaurants. The Hitchin Swimming Centre has outdoor and indoor pools allowing year round swimming. The town has a range of schools including the Boys' and Girls' schools which are both rated Outstanding by Ofsted and the Priory School, the only co-educational secondary school in Hitchin. For commuters, Hitchin has trains to Kings Cross in just 33 minute