- Exceptional Barn Conversion completely renovated and extended 7 years ago
- Situated in an elevated position on high ground commanding panoramic views over the Crouch Valley
- Quiet location adjacent to open countryside with horses grazing in the paddock behind
- Hugely impressive internal specification and layout coupled with manicured grounds
- Stunning Galleried Midstrey over the double height main Living Space with three defined living areas
- Separate Reception Room (presently used as a TV Room) with French doors enjoying the view.
- Stylish and contemporary Kitchen/Breakfast Room with Granite worktops and a host of appliances
- Separate Utility with 'Stable' style external door opening to side lawn offering extension scope
- Four Bedrooms: 2 upstairs with an Ensuite each, 2 downstairs in a private wing served by 2 bathrooms
- Large Galleried Midstrey with french doors opening to an elevated Balcony
Location, design, quality & style
An exceptional Barn Conversion enjoying an elevated position on high ground, its vantage point commanding panoramic views over the Crouch Valley, with horses grazing in the paddock behind.
In addition to its quiet location adjacent to open countryside, this seven year old mid Essex Barn boasts a hugely impressive internal specification and arrangement, the centrepieces a stunning walkway over the large double height, vaulted Living Room and a Galleried Midstrey opening out to a Balcony, orientated, and designed to capture those far reaching views
Brimming with character and with attention to detail abounding, the accommodation briefly comprises an Entrance Hall open plan to the 30ft x 28ft max main Living Space, a 16ft separate Reception Room, stunning contemporary Kitchen/Breakfast Room, Utility Room, Two Ground floor Bedrooms, Two Ground floor Bathrooms, Two 1st Floor Bedrooms (both with Ensuite Shower Rooms) and the Galleried Midstrey - itself another sitting area.
Features are a-plenty with some including timbers built into the framework dating back to the 16th Century, beautiful wood flooring running through the majority of the ground floor, soaring vaulted ceilings in many of the rooms, dramatic double height glazing to the front Gable and an Oak and Glass Staircase.
Externally there is a sea of slate chipped Parking behind the five bar Gate, a Double Bay Cart Lodge, several sheds and a greenhouse, landscaped grounds and even a rainwater harvesting tank below the rear lawn.
Hillberry Barn is situated in a country lane on the outskirts of East Hanningfield and has been for hundreds of years - there has been a barn recorded on this site since 1527!
Mentioned in the Domesday book of 1086, the historic village of East Hanningfield has a local shop/post office, a fairly new village hall, two excellent restaurants (Vita Bella & The Folly Bistro), All Saints Church, and its own village school, East Hanningfield Church of England Primary School - which boasts a Good OFSTED Report.
Chelmsford City with its award winning centre, which includes 'Bond Street' - home to riverside Restaurants, Shops (including John Lewis) and a cinema, is an easy drive and if education is a high priority, you may be interested to know Essex benefits from the 11+ examinations route to Grammar Schools and so buyers are also drawn to the area for the convenience of access to the 'Outstanding' OFSTED rated Chelmsford County High School for Girls and King Edward VI School for Boys.
Just a 7 minute (0.4 mile) Summers walk away is RHS Hyde Hall, which showboats 360 acres of some of the finest Gardens in the East of England and nearby you will also find Hanningfield Reservoir with its discovery centre, waterside park, café, fishing lake and scenic walks, including the popular Wind in the Willows trail.
Despite the property's rural location, Rail services are readily available at South Woodham, Wickford, and Chelmsford, with South Woodham Ferrers is the closest at just 2.8 miles away (a 5 minute drive), and from there you can be standing in London Liverpool Street Station in 52 minutes. The A130/A12 interchange is just over 3 miles away too.
The Accommodation
HALL 8ft 2' x 7ft 9' (2.5m x 2.4m)
Beautiful wood flooring runs throughout the majority of the ground floor (excluding the Ground Floor Bedroom Wing and the two Bathrooms).
One of the pretty ledged interior doors opens to reveal a fully shelved WALK-IN LARDER 4ft 10' x 3ft 8' (1.5m x 1.1m)
PRINCIPLE LIVING AREA 29ft '9' x 27ft 10' narrowing to 14ft 9' (9.1m x 8.5m > 4.5m)
This Heart-of-the-Home and the original part of this historic barn.
The vendors have cleverly incorporated some of the earliest 16th century timbers within the walls (for decoration, not structural support), which enhances its period look even more.
The differing ceiling heights, from 7ft+, stretching up to the nearly 22ft of the soaring double height vaulted ceiling, adds to its charisma and sets of double doors at each side provide direct outside access (the front set to a curved wall enclosed Front Terrace and the rear set out to the main Patio.
SEPARATE RECEPTION ROOM 15ft 5' x 10ft 7' (4.7m x 3.2m)
This separate and therefore very versatile reception room features a 12ft+ vaulted ceiling and twin speakers discreetly built into the wall for surround sound for the television below.
Being rear facing, this room also enjoys a fabulous view of the Valley through its set of French doors.
KITCHEN/BREAKFAST ROOM 22ft 6' x 13ft 7'' (6.9m x 4.1m)
A chef's haven, fitted with an attractive range of contemporary Wood effect 'Handleless' units topped with gorgeous Granite worktops, a twin ceramic Butler sink and a host of built-in and integrated appliances for the keen cook.
The appliances comprise a sleek black 'Gorenje' Induction Hob, a rather swish CDA angled Extractor Hood, Bosch Multifunction Oven/Grill, matching Bosch Microwave with a Warming Drawer' below, integrated full height Larder Fridge with matching Freezer adjacent, a smart and intelligently designed Fisher Paykel 'DishDrawer' 2 Drawer Dishwasher, and a built-in Wine Cooler.
The huge Central Island itself also incorporates a pop-up triple electrical socket, integrated double bins, lots of deep Drawers and a 4-Stool Breakfast bar.
This room is well lit courtesy of a side facing window and two sets of double doors, one opening out to patio, the other to the rear and thus enjoying the far-reaching views.
Structural beamwork embellishes the 14ft high vaulted ceiling and a rather quaint latched Hayloft style door adds further vintage appeal.
UTILITY ROOM 10ft 4' x 6ft 3' (3.15m x 1.9m)
This good size Utility Room is fitted with the same attractive range of units as the Kitchen, this time with elegant Slate effect worktops.
There is a large single bowl and twin spaces below the worktop for a washing machine and tumble dryer.
Incorporated within a tall matching kitchen unit is a Worcester Bosch MT10 Gas Combi boiler and the twin electrical consumer units.
A stable style external 'back door' leads out to the side area, perfect for those with dogs or muddy children!
GROUND FLOOR BATHROOM 10ft 3' x 5ft 9' (3.1m x 1.75m)
Travertine limestone tiling adorns the walls and floor of this large luxury shower room which features a large walk-in Shower area with both a fixed 'Rain' shower head and a separate handset too, both operated by a Mira remote control.
The focal point is a striking marble washbasin sitting atop a freestanding White Gloss Vanity unit. The outside of the bowl holds the rustic lines of a rock, while the inside is smooth and polished, thus combining natural aesthetics with a smooth sleek contemporary look, a perfect match for the tiling of this soft stone Bathroom,
A close coupled WC, tall towel radiator and underfloor heating completes the specification.
It might be worth noting that on the original plans this was destined to be a STUDY, and with the property also having twin Ensuite upstairs and the other shower room serving the two bedrooms, if desired this could easily be rearranged as such.
INNER LOBBY 6ft x 3ft 10' (1.8m x 1.2m)
A latched door from the main living room leads through to this private inner Hall accessing the two ground floor bedrooms and their shared refitted shower room.
Soft underfoot, the deep pile carpet extends through here and into the two bedrooms.
BEDROOM ONE 12ft 8' x 10ft 8' (3.9m x 3.25m)
A ground floor bedroom with French Doors leading out to the garden and vaulted ceiling.
Again, the eyes are drawn upwards to the vaulted ceiling approaching 12ft in height, the all-white decor and exposed beams giving an even greater impression of space.
Running along the left wall, a set of sliding wardrobes provides superb clothing storage, and the French doors enjoy the super outlook and access straight onto the rear terrace.
BEDROOM TWO 12ft 3' x 8ft 8' (3.7m x 2.6m)
This bedroom enjoys a quiet position with a side facing window.
Nearly 6ft long, a fitted wardrobe with sliding doors provides useful storage.
SHOWER ROOM 8ft x 5ft 10' (2.4m x 1.8m)
This stylish bathroom serves both the ground floor bedrooms.
Like the Travertine Bathroom earlier, this one also features an eye catching hand carved Marble Washbasin on a White Gloss Vanity unit.
There's also a close coupled WC and a 6ft x 2ft 5' (1.8m x 0.7m) Walk-in Glass Shower with a fixed Rain Showerhead.
An American Oak staircase from the main living room ascends to the:
1st FLOOR GALLERIED LANDING/MISTREY 17ft 5' x 11ft min (5.3m x 3.35m)
A hugely impressive area with glass balustrades instead of spindles, giving uninterrupted vision.
A glass gable wall with inset French doors gives fabulous panoramic views of the Crouch Valley, the horses in the paddock in the foreground adding to its rural appeal.
The double doors lead out to a 10ft 4' x 3ft 9' (3.15m x 1.1m) BALCONY, again with glass balustrading to maximise the light and views. It really is the perfect place to sit and enjoy a wee dram before retiring at night, those splendid views equally as appealing during the day or night.
Swinging round 180°, and looking beyond the glass balustrade, a huge double height glass Gable bathes this part of the living room and landing in light and accentuates the soaring vaulted ceiling, itself nearly 22ft high.
Mounted atop the walls dividing each of the bedrooms from the Midstrey are a trio of internal glass windows, providing high-level borrowed light to and from the bedrooms.
Gorgeous solid wood flooring perfectly compliments the staircase, banisters and exposed beamwork.
BEDROOM THREE 14ft 10' narrowing to 9ft 1' x 13ft 4' (4.5m > 2.8m x 4.1m)
Wondering through the latched door, the eyes will be drawn to the far wall and upwards, the light coloured exposed framework here interspersed with the white walls.
Two windows bring in lots of light and here at one notices the first of the upstairs radiators: A classically designed vintage style white column radiator which adds to the character.
ENSUITE SHOWER ROOM
Another well appointed contemporary Shower room featuring a large 5ft x 2ft 4' (1.5m x 0.71m) Walk-in Shower with a remote controlled 'Rain' Shower.
A stylish tempered glass circular basin adds designer style to the White Gloss wall-hung Vanity unit it sits on, and a close coupled WC completes the suite.
Finishing touches include wood effect flooring, inset downlighting, an extractor fan and a tall white towel radiator.
BEDROOM FOUR 15ft narrowing to 9ft 2' x 12ft 2' (4.6m > 2.8m x 3.7m)
The twin of the other first floor bedroom, also enjoying a vaulted ceiling of nearly 14ft and a plethora of exposed beams including some which date back to the 16th century.
Again, this sunny room is also dual aspect, having windows to both the front and side. As with the other bedroom, the deep window reveals have been fitted with chunky timber window sills, the front one providing an ideal window seat
ENSUITE SHOWER ROOM 7ft 5' x 5ft 3' (2.3m x 1.6m)
Another designer style shower room.
The double shower here measures 3ft 9' x 2ft 4' (1.14m x 0.71m) and matching the other bedroom, the same glass bowl sits atop a white gloss wall mounted vanity unit.
EXTERIIOR - FRONT
The property is partially screened from the road by a hedge with a five bar Gate with an adjacent matching pedestrian gate, sweeping open to the large slate chipped Front Drive, which extends along the left boundary to provide landscaping around a trio of outbuildings: The Double Bay Cart Lodge, 10ft Greenhouse, 10ft Workshop and an 8ft Shed.
The balance is laid to lawn which extends around the side and another brick enclosed Patio provides another spot to catch the sun as it goes round.
DOUBLE BAY CART LODGE 19ft x 19ft (5.8m x 5.8m)
This visually appealing timber framed building has been constructed very much in keeping with the main Barn, coming with the same black shiplap cladding, slate tiled roof, power, and lighting.
EXTERIOR - GARDEN
Enjoy and make the most of summer afternoons and evenings on the large patio. Perfect for entertaining, there's plenty of room for the biggest table and chairs, inviting alfresco dining and evening BBQ's during the warm summer months
The neatly striped lawn extends around to the side of the Barn, and we noted one can enjoy the superb far-reaching views from everywhere you stand within it
We liked the clever landscaping around the below ground, Klargester BioDisc 6 Person Sewage Treatment Plant. The green lid the only visible part.
Council Tax
Chelmsford Council, Band F
Notice
Please note we have not tested any apparatus, fixtures, fittings, or services. Interested parties must undertake their own investigation into the working order of these items. All measurements are approximate and photographs provided for guidance only.
Chelmsford has a long and interesting history starting in the pre-historic period (widespread 8,000 BC flint tools evidence), although it was the Roman period when the first proper roots were laid down in AD61, as it was a fortified staging post on the London (30 miles) to Colchester (22 miles) Road - the modern A12, situated at the meeting of the rivers Can and Chelmer where they were crossed by the old Roman Road.
It developed further as a medieval market town when in 1199 King John granted a Royal Charter for Chelmsford to hold a market (still here 800+ years later), eventually becoming the County Town and centre of local administration in 1218 and a City in 2012.
Industry has always flourished here as in the early days, materials were bought in by water from the sea at Heybridge along the ‘Navigation', the Canalisation of the rivers Chelmer and Blackwater in 1797 - now a largely unspoilt part of rural Essex with a footpath along its full length and beautifully maintained. Summer sees many a narrowboat, river craft or canoe cruising along it, with Papermill Lock a lovely place to visit halfway along the Canal.
The main part of Chelmsford is the merging of 21 parishes (Moulsham, Springfield and the surrounding villages like Danbury and Writtle, etc) to form one continuous developed area.
