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Colchester Estate Agents
5 Bedroom detached house ● Birch Road, Layer De La Haye ● £1,300,000
A handsome grade II listed C16 farmhouse occupying parkland style grounds of just over 1.5 acres with accommodation amounting to 4404sqft.
The Cross House, positioned on the crossroads of Birch Road and Church road in Layer de la Haye is a landmark house and once part of the Layer Hall Estate and became the Layer Hall itself in the 1750’s. The property was then extended to accommodate its new status and was subsequently accumulated by the Birch Hall Estate in the 1850’s where it was known as the Cross House. It has had extensive alterations since then with the additions of the outhouse buildings and in the early 20th century the porch, boundary wall sitting room and verandah.
The property has been owned by the same family for over 70 years and been a wonderful family home which enjoys private gardens of an acre and a half in this sought after village. Within walking distance of the village amenities, with its school, pubs and scenic Abberton Reservoir – and just a short drive from Mersea Island and Colchester – the house is in an exceptionally convenient location.
Access via the porch side of the house from Birch Road leads through an ornate timber door that was once owned an used in Colchester Castle. Through the porch, the front door accesses the entrance vestibule with a study situated to the left. An impressive hallway leads to the kitchen to the left which also shares and doorway to the study. The kitchen which was the original bake house and the oldest part of the house, follows around to a utility room with a walk in larder and range of boot rooms with handy access to the driveway, garage and outbuildings. This entrance would be the most commonly used for everyday use as it is the side of the house used for vehicular access. These outbuildings currently used as a workshop and storage rooms have a decent footprint and therefore could be explored for development subject to planning permissions.
Back from the kitchen, the hallway leads to the downstairs w/c that provides a toilet, hand basin and a shower and culminates at a smaller sitting room, an addition from the 1920’s that gives access to an attractive verandah. The north gable of the house, accessed to the right of the hallway houses an impressive reception hall that accesses the formal dining room and drawing room. An ornate display recess in the reception room with bespoke cabinetry offers a unique area to utilize as a library, bar or to showcase works of art adding to the wealth of character in the property.
From the reception hall, stairs lead up to the first floor to a generous T shaped landing. The principle suite enjoys views over the rear garden through attractive bay windows and offers a separate dressing room and en-suite. The adjacent double bedroom is a split level room with two entrance doors that was once two bedrooms and could therefore be converted back if required. A dual aspect double bedroom is located above the dining room with two further double bedrooms at the end of the corridor. These four bedrooms share a family bathroom and a separate family shower room.
The grounds of the property are beautifully landscaped offering parkland style gardens with a host of specimen trees including Black maple, Japanese bird’s eye cherry and Black mulberry. The original sweeping driveway still exists from when this was a thriving farm with access via Birch Road, this could be re-instated and adjoined to the current entrance via Church Road. Within the grounds, there are is also an orchard with 9 varieties of apple trees, damson, peach and pear, a kitchen garden, rose garden and two greenhouses.
The main vehicular access is via Church road arriving at an extensive range of outbuildings including a two garages, a stable, workshop and three storage rooms. A curved walk way leads to the front door bordered by an attractive mellow red brick wall providing a high degree of privacy.
- Whatft s Nearby
- The popular village of Layer de La Haye has its own primary school, two public houses and a local village store which provides shopping for your everyday needs. There is also an excellent farm shop selling local produce and home reared meat. Abberton Reservoir and visitor centre is within walking distance, perfect for a family afternoon stroll to discover an abundance of wildlife, particularly the large variety of butterflies, birds and wildfowl. Very popular with birdwatchers and photographers. The surrounding countryside is also very popular with walkers, joggers and cyclists. There are many excellent hacking routes around the village.
- Within Easy Reach
- Layer de La Haye is just outside the Roman town of Colchester which offers a wide range of shopping, recreational and educational facilities as well as a mainline railway station with links to London Liverpool Street with a journey time of approximately 50 minutes. For health and leisure activities the house is 5 minutes to the heath spa and fitness centre at Bannatynes Kingsford Park, very popular with local families and, for more extensive facilities Fivelakes/Crowne Plaza Country Club and Golf Course is only a 10 minute drive.
- Services
- TENURE - FreeholdCOUNCIL TAX - GLOCAL AUTHORITY - ColchesterSERVICESMains gas, electricity, water and drainage
- Property reference CWR080213264
- Council Tax Band G
- Tenure Freehold
- Broadband Check availability
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Colchester Estate Agents
Property information contact details
Matthew Sutton
Residential Sales Manager
Without a doubt there are two large driving forces for people moving to the area. The excellent range of private and state schools. The grammar schools annually top the league tables across the country. The range of private schools offer a more tailored education and are exceptionally well sought after. The second, being value for money, although, as the town grows, house prices within the area look to rise steadily within the coming years.
- £365,059 Average price paid Source: Land registry
- 1,493 Registered applicants with branch Source: Chewton Rose
- 4,897 Properties sold in last twelve months Source: Land registry
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The information displayed about this property comprises a property advertisement. This property advertisement does not constitute property particulars. The information is provided and maintained by chewton rose. Please contact the chewton rose office directly to obtain full property particulars and any information which may be available under the terms of The Energy Performance of Buildings (Certificates and Inspections) (England and Wales) Regulations 2007 and The Home Information Pack Regulations 2007.
The information displayed about this property comprises a property advertisement. This property advertisement does not constitute property particulars. The information is provided and maintained by chewton rose. Please contact the chewton rose office directly to obtain full property particulars and any information which may be available under the terms of The Energy Performance of Buildings (Certificates and Inspections) (England and Wales) Regulations 2007 and The Home Information Pack Regulations 2007.
