8 bedroom house

PROPERTY DESCRIPTION A handsome, elegantly proportioned Old Rectory tucked away in a private setting on a no-through lane, en-route to Alresford Creek with its boat moorings and estuary path along the River Colne to Wivenhoe. Enjoying unlisted status, this rarely available distinctive property is being offered to the market for the first time in approximately 30 years and offers classically proportioned, characterful accommodation in excess of 4,700 sq ft arranged over three floors. Retaining many of the hallmarks and features associated with a country residence of this standing, the property is understood to date from the Regency period and set behind a classically styled redbrick exterior with notable features and characteristics including sash windows, panelling, cornicing, open fireplaces and nine-foot ceiling heights. Adapted and enhanced by the current owners, the property has benefitted from a pitched rear extension by the award-winning Rose Builders with honed slate and oak fittings, bespoke, vaulted AGA kitchen/breakfast room.

Arranged with three distinctive reception rooms and eight bedrooms in its present layout, the property offers considerable adaptability and versatility with scope for self-contained residential/commercial space at the second-floor level with existing kitchenette and bathroom facilities servicing this floor. The property further benefits from a detached three-bay carport, substantial outbuilding understood to have originally been designed for use as the village hall in addition to established, well-screened private grounds comprising dense borders, woodland and formal gardens with tennis court. In all a total plot size of approximately three acres (subject to survey).
 

Brick framed entrance porch with tiled approach and archway door opening to: 

ENTRANCE HALL: An elegant, characterful approach with sash window to front, panelling, parquet flooring, original skirting and cornicing. Notable further features include a central fireplace with recessed book shelving either side, elevated Jotul wood burning stove set on a raised plinth, pine staircase off and further panelling to side. Nine-foot ceiling height, central ceiling rose and four-panel door to: 

DRAWING ROOM: A classically proportioned, elegantly styled dual aspect drawing room enjoying a south westerly aspect, central fireplace with marble hearth, wooden surround and mantle over. Recessed shelving, deep skirting, cornicing and French doors opening to side gardens. Sliding double panel doors opening to: 

MORNING ROOM: Embracing a south and easterly side and rear aspect with sash windows, extensive panelling, nine-foot ceiling heights, deep skirting, cornicing and fireplace with marble hearth, detailed wooden surround and mantle over. 

INNER HALL: Forming part of a rear extension to the property and linking the entrance hall to the vaulted kitchen/breakfast room with range of integrated storage units, Travertine tiled flooring, spotlights and opening to: 

AGA KITCHEN/BREAKFAST ROOM: An outstanding addition set beneath a 14ft vaulted roofline with oak cross timbers and support struts. The bespoke, fitted kitchen comprises a matching range of traditional solid oak base and wall units with honed slate preparation surfaces and upstands above. Double sink unit with vegetable drainer to side, mixer tap over and casement windows to rear affording views from the window seat across the formal gardens. A four-door gas-fired AGA provides the primary cooking source with lighting above and kitchen units comprising fold-out corner units, deep-fill pan drawers and cutlery drawers. Fitted appliances include a dishwasher. Single door to side opening to terrace with gardens beyond and afforded a triple aspect with windows to both sides and rear. Opening to side with fridge/freezer, Travertine tiled flooring and stable door to outside. Door to larder with extensive shelving, electricity points and vented airflow system. 

CLOAKROOM: Fitted with ceramic WC, Adelphi pedestal wash handbasin and towel radiator. Travertine tiled flooring, under stair storage recess and further door to entrance hall. 

UTILITY ROOM: Fitted with a matching range of base level storage with worktops above, stainless-steel single sink unit with mixer tap above and space and plumbing for washing machine. 

DINING ROOM: Conveniently placed in relation to the kitchen with sash-windows to front elevation, nine-foot ceiling heights and extensive LED spotlights. The focal point of the room is a redbrick fireplace with slate hearth, wooden surround and mantle over. Recessed glass shelving to sides and storage below.  

STUDY: Set with views across the courtyard garden with French doors to rear, extensive fitted shelving with storage units below. 

STUDIO: Currently utilised as a studio due in part to its north-facing light source with excellent ceiling heights, extensive spotlighting and central island unit with base level storage. Particularly versatile in its appeal, the room is fitted with a further range of gloss fronted base and wall units with chrome handles, granite-effect preparation surfaces over and ceramic single sink unit with mixer tap above. Single panel glazed door to rear providing east-facing morning light with loft-ladder access to storage space above. 

BOILER ROOM: With wall-mounted gas-fired boilers and providing useful cloaks storage space with window to rear.  

First-floor  

LANDING: Providing access to all first-floor bedrooms, family bathroom, shower room and access to mid-level secondary staircase. Two sash-windows to rear elevation and mid-level door to: 

CLOAKROOM: Fitted with ceramic WC, wash handbasin and tilting window to side. 

PRINCIPAL BEDROOM: Enjoying a southerly side aspect with three sash-windows to side, further window to front and rear within an elegant side bay affording views over the established, well-screened gardens. Nine-foot ceiling heights, fitted shelving and door to: 

DRESSING ROOM: With extensive range of hanging rails, storage space above and lighting.  

EN-SUITE BATHROOM: Fitted with a ceramic WC, Heritage pedestal wash handbasin with wall-mounted mirror above, bath with tiling above and chrome shower attachment, wall-mounted heated towel rail and two sash-windows to rear.  

BEDROOM 2: An outstanding, dual aspect bedroom with three-window range of sash-windows to front and side elevations affording a south and westerly aspect with extensive range of fitted wardrobes, skirting and fireplace (presently sealed). 

BEDROOM 3: With two sash-windows to front, Victorian style corner fireplace with brick surround and mantle over and wash handbasin.  

BEDROOM 4: With two sash-windows to front, nine-foot ceiling heights, wash handbasin and fitted wardrobes. Panelled door to linen store housing water tank with shower pump, useful fitted shelving and window to rear.  

FAMILY BATHROOM: Fitted with ceramic WC, Adelphi pedestal wash handbasin with tiling above, bath with tiling above and mounted chrome shower attachment. Wall-mounted heated towel rail and sash-window to rear. 

SHOWER ROOM: With screen to fully tiled shower unit with mounted shower attachment.  

Second-floor  

LANDING: With hatch to loft and door to: 

BEDROOM 5: With Yorkshire sash-window to front elevation, spotlights, range of fitted wardrobes and hatch to loft. 

BEDROOM 6: With Yorkshire sash-window to front affording elevated views over the surrounding landscape. 

BEDROOM 7: With Yorkshire sash-window to front affording outstanding views over farmland distant with woodland beyond. A versatile room principally used as second-floor storage space with door to storeroom and useful fitted shelving. 

BEDROOM 8: With Yorkshire sash-window to side opening to balcony space with outstanding views towards Alresford Creek. 

FAMILY BATHROOM: With ceramic WC, pedestal wash handbasin, bath and wall-mounted heated towel radiator. 

KITCHENETTE: Fitted with a matching range of base level storage with stainless-steel single sink unit and hot and cold tap above. Yorkshire sash-window to rear. 

Outside The property is discretely located on Ford Lane, completely hidden from view behind a sweeping driveway which opens to frame this elegant Regency property. The in-and-out access is interspersed by a magnificent central cedar tree within a lawned island with adjacent border plants and the driveway.  

TRIPLE CART LODGE: With three open bays to front, light and power connected.
 

GARDENS
The gardens and grounds of The Old Rectory are notable for their extensive range of mature shrubs, hedging and trees. They offer a private aspect from all elevations with a brick patterned courtyard well placed to enjoy the morning sun with brick framed water feature, seating area and a further brick walkway to the formal gardens. Comprising a range of lawns, established beds and both perennial and evergreen planting, the formal gardens offer various walkways and seating areas with the south-facing terrace ideally placed for entertaining with a further Indian sandstone terrace.

Navigating the various paths and walkways the grounds develop to frame an astro turf surface tennis court with fenced border, kitchen garden and increased volume of trees leading to a well-stocked area of woodland to rear.

 

OUTBUILDING: Further enhancing the overall offering is an outbuilding understood to have originally been constructed with the intended use as Alresford village hall. Requiring complete overhaul and modernisation throughout, the property lends itself as either a self-contained residential premises, holiday let or annexe/ancillary accommodation (subject to the necessary planning consents). Light, power and water connected. 

SERVICES: Mains water, drainage and electricity are connected. Natural gas-fired cooking and central heating. NOTE: None of these services have been tested by the agent.

Marketed by: David Burr Estate Agents, Leavenheath