7 bed detached house for sale

Mill Lane, Hartford End, Chelmsford CM3

A landmark country estate with its own cottage, converted barn and extensive outbuildings, all set in about 49 acres.

Description
A unique opportunity to acquire a beautifully restored former mill house together with a superb collection of buildings, offering excellent supplementary accommodation or potential for additional income. The property occupies a private position within about 49 acres of grounds in Hartford End, close to Felsted. Set well back within its land and surrounded by mature parkland, the house enjoys long views towards the River Chelmer and a wonderfully peaceful semi-rural setting. Listed Grade II* and part Grade II for its architectural and historic importance, the property has been the subject of an extensive and exacting refurbishment. Dating from the late 18th and early 19th centuries, it is constructed of mellow red brick with part stuccoed elevations beneath clay tiled and slate roofs. The elegant front façade looks east across the terrace, the mill pond and the surrounding parkland. The accommodation in the main house extends to around 7,500sq ft, with a further 1,800sq ft of outbuildings including former stabling, garaging and a gym complex.

The estate also includes a separate, modern two bedroom cottage, discreetly positioned at the edge of the grounds. Beyond this lies a converted barn, currently arranged as offices, together with a modern agricultural barn and an additional range of outbuildings offering further development potential.

House
The principal house provides an impressive sequence of reception rooms, each with generous proportions and period detail. A welcoming reception hall leads into the principal living spaces, including a beautifully light drawing room with views over the water, a lounge, a comfortable sitting or family room and a well positioned study. The beautifully appointed kitchen and breakfast room form the heart of the house, supported by a utility room and boot room.

The first floor offers a well balanced arrangement of bedrooms, including a superb principal bedroom with far reaching views, an en suite bathroom and dressing space. Several further double bedrooms and well appointed bath/shower rooms complete this level. The second floor provides a bedroom and bathroom, ideal for guests, teenagers or hobbies, together with useful storage areas within the eaves.

Cottage
The cottage is a recently constructed single-storey building, set on brick footings and part weatherboarded beneath a clay tiled roof. It provides well designed accommodation including an open plan kitchen, dining and sitting room, two bedroom suites, a utility room and a WC, with a separate open fronted cart lodge and its own garden.

Nearby, the offices have been beautifully created from a traditional Essex barn, also built on brick footings and partially weatherboarded under a clay tiled roof. Arranged over two floors and extending to about 1,511 sq ft, they include two WCs and a kitchen area.

A modern barn, constructed of breeze block and part-weatherboarded beneath a shallow pitched roof, offers approximately 2,860 sq ft of internal space, including a secure storage area.

Two further traditional farm buildings, the old stables and tractor store, lie on the edge of the courtyard and now require modernisation.

The wider estate includes formal gardens, sweeping lawns, woodland, paddocks and direct frontage to the River Chelmer.

The property is steeped in local history, forming part of the former Hartford End Mill estate once owned by Ridley, whose19th century operations expanded into brewing, flour milling and malting, linking rural mills such as this with urban maltings near the Chelmsford railway lines.

Approached through gated entrances, two independent drives skirt through rolling parkland. The top drive crosses the River Chelmer and the mill race, creating a stunning approach to the house. The gardens and grounds are a truly wonderful extension to the house, with the river forming a striking focal point. To the west lie the formal gardens, enclosed by a mellow red-brick wall that provides shelter for the well tended lawns and richly-stocked herbaceous borders. To the east, the mill pond creates a beautiful outlook, complemented by an ornamental lily pond and a weir waterfall, all set against the backdrop of mature parkland. Leading directly from the dining area is the west terrace, bordered by a low protective wall and perfectly positioned for al fresco dining while overlooking the mill race.

All in around 49 acres.

Services
The property benefits from a biomass wood pellet boiler providing heating and hot water, along with a Klargester private drainage system. A separate generator also serves the house.

Location
Mill House is situated to the south of Felsted, in the small hamlet of Hartford End, positioned between the villages of Ford End and Littley Green. The house sits beautifully within its own grounds and enjoys direct access to miles of footpaths and bridleways that wind through rolling countryside and along the River Chelmer.

Felsted, approximately two miles away, together with the market town of Great Dunmow, about 7.7 miles distant, provide a good range of day to day shopping and amenities. Chelmsford offers a more extensive choice of recreational, leisure and educational facilities, as well as a wider retail offering.

The area is well known for its excellent pubs - including The Compasses at Littley Green, a traditional and much loved local inn, and The Green Man at Howe Street, run by the Michelin starred Galvin brothers. The Galvin Green Man is an award winning Bib Gourmand pub and modern British restaurant.

Schooling in the area is particularly strong. Felsted offers both a primary school and pre school, together with the renowned Felsted School for boys and girls aged 4 to 18. Secondary education is available in Dunmow and Chelmsford, with further primary schools in Great Waltham and Ford End. Chelmsford is also home to two highly regarded grammar schools, and New Hall School in Boreham provides an additional independent option.

For commuters, there are railway stations at Braintree, Chelmsford and Stansted Airport, all offering services to London Liverpool Street. The A120 provides convenient access to the M11 at Junction 8 near Bishop’s Stortford, making the property well connected.

All distances approximate – source: Google maps.

Square Footage: 7,472 sq ft

Acreage:
49 Acres

Directions
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Additional Info
Agent's Notes
(i) Engineering works have been designed and implemented to ensure the house is protected from the risk of flooding. Further details and supporting documentation are available upon request. (ii) A public footpath and bridleway run to the south of the river, diverting away from the house, ensuring privacy is maintained. (iii) The property is being offered for sale in separate lots. The principal lot includes about 49 acres together with a detached two bedroom cottage, a converted barn (both currently tenanted), a modern agricultural barn and a further range of useful outbuildings. Additional information is available upon request.