Location

Sible Hedingham: 0.5 miles; Braintree railway station: 7.5 miles; Colchester: 16 miles (rail service to London); A120: 17 miles; Stansted Airport: 23 miles. All distances approximate.

Sible Hedingham is a charming village located in the county of Essex. It lies within the Braintree district and is part of the larger Hedingham area, which includes nearby villages including Castle Hedingham and Great Yeldham. Sible Hedingham has a rich history dating back many centuries. The village features historic buildings and landmarks, including St. Peter's Church, which dates back to the 13th century, and Hedingham Castle, a Norman motte-and-bailey castle located nearby. Whilst a relatively small village, it offers essential amenities including local shops, pubs, a post office, a village hall and recreational facilities.

The area is situated amidst the picturesque countryside of Essex, with rolling hills, farmland and woodland surrounding the village. This rural setting makes it an ideal location for those seeking a peaceful and idyllic lifestyle. As mentioned earlier, Sible Hedingham is accessible by road and is served by bus routes connecting it to nearby towns and villages.

Braintree and Halstead provide local shopping facilities with further shopping, recreational and educational facilities available in Chelmsford and Colchester. For the commuter, there is a train service from Braintree and a through train service from Witham to London Liverpool Street. There is access on to the A12 at Witham and access to the M11 at Junction 8 via the A120 dual carriageway to Braintree and the M11.

Description

Located in a leafy lane to the south of Sible Hedingham, this wonderful home occupies a discreet location, in an elevated situation, providing far-reaching south-facing views. Within the grounds is a delightful detached cottage, tennis court and pool.

The reception hall includes a fine staircase rising to a galleried landing and features a stone floor which continues to an inner hall accessing the ground floor rooms. Off the hall is a cloakroom, again with a stone floor. On the western end of the house is a light-filled drawing room with French doors and windows and access on to a sheltered terrace. The room features a fireplace with wood burner and adjacent display storage. Adjacent to the drawing room is a library with fitted book shelving and a door into a garage. An inner hall features some exposed timbers and includes the original front entrance door. To the eastern end of the house is a sitting room which overlooks lawned gardens - a focal point of the room is a pewter and carved wood fireplace. A back hall includes a secondary staircase and links to a family room, finished with a pine floor and matching fire surround with adjacent book shelving and storage. On the southeast corner of the house is a bespoke orangery with high-pitched glazed roof, limestone floor and designed to frame views of the gardens and pool. The kitchen is open plan to a breakfast and dining area and has direct access onto the terrace to the south. It is fitted with bespoke Shaker-style units, topped with granite which contrasts with an oak floor. There is a useful preparation area with pantry and matching units to the kitchen. A breakfast area includes a four-oven aga and door to a two-room cellar which includes a boiler. A dining area has a brick floor providing a lovely contrast to the kitchen and there is a door to a useful boot room and utility room.

There are two staircases - the principal has a bright, south-facing galleried landing standing centrally within the house, with the bedrooms on the east and west elevations. The principal bedroom enjoys the morning sun, offers a lovely vista over the gardens and has an en suite bathroom. An inner landing is accessed via a secondary staircase and includes a guest bedroom suite with nursery and en suite bathroom. There is a further bedroom and shower room. The west wing has three double bedrooms overlooking the gardens to the south, and a bathroom.

A broad gravelled drive meanders through the gardens and sweeps into an enclosed courtyard. The courtyard includes a cart lodge, garage, workshop and stores. Immediately behind the house is a sheltered south-facing flagstone terrace, accessed from the house via the kitchen, drawing room and hall. The terrace is retained by a redbrick wall and has steps to lawned gardens which extend to the rear boundary. To the east is an enclosed pool garden featuring a 'crinkle crankle wall', inground pool and a flagstone surround. At one end is a brick and flint outbuilding containing a filtration plant. The extensive lawns lie predominantly to the south and east. To the east is a walled vegetable garden which includes brick-lined pathways. Beyond is an avenue of lime trees leading to a sheltered area enclosed with hedging. Adjacent is a hard tennis court, shed and greenhouse. At the rear boundary the gardens are elevated with far-reaching valley views towards Southey Green. The gardens include many fine trees such as quince, beech, green oak and horse chestnut and in the far west corner is a copse with fruit trees.

In all about 1.88 acres.

Tower Cottage
Standing on the site of a former windmill is a detached two-storey weatherboarded cottage with living room/kitchen with exposed timbers, ground floor bathroom and stairs to a large bedroom with exposed timbers, timber-clad walls with elevated valley views to the south.