Downham Road, Billericay

Look out for Muntjac Deer roaming in the woodland and open countryside right behind this utterly charming 3 Bedroom Semi-detached House, which was built in 1922 by William Leslie of 'Downham House' as a gift to the District Nurses serving the villages of Downham and adjoining Ramsden Heath.

Unoverlooked from the rear, the historic 'Cock Wood' edges the rear border of the 50ft x 40ft Rear Garden and to the front, there is an equally delightful outlook, as across the road is the ancient Grade II Listed Allens Farm House.

High ceilings and Fireplaces add to the period charm of this pretty home which following a careful 'in-keeping' extension in the late 1970's, now offers good size accommodation briefly comprising an Entrance Porch leading into the Hall, the 15ft x 12ft 'Front Room' boasting an AGA multi-fuel Stove within the feature Fireplace, a 16ft separate second reception Room (the new wing added in the late 70's), cosy fitted Kitchen with a large 'Utility' recess open plan to the kitchen and housing the Washing Machine, a modern ground floor WC Room, the three first floor bedrooms (the principle two with original Cast Iron Fireplaces) and a large modern Bathroom.

Downham itself is a small, picturesque village of approx. 200 households, which adjoins the larger village of Ramsden Heath, and is approximately 2 miles West of Billericay and 7 miles south of Chelmsford City.
Nearby is Hanningfield Reservoir, an 870-acre haven for wildlife with the southwest edge of it just half a mile from the village centre.

There is a Village Hall, an Italian Restaurant that does takeaways and an entrance to a rural public footpath literally 'next door but one'.

The adjoining village of Ramsden Heath has an active community and plenty of amenities including two good pubs - the Nags Head (traditional village pub much used by the locals) and the Fox and Hounds (92% rating on trip advisor), a very popular family-owned butchers, Coffee shop, beauticians, Hairdressers, recently built air-conditioned village hall and even a Tennis Club.

The local Downham Primary School has a 'Good' OFSTED rating, with school buses taking the older children to the 'OUTSTANDING' rated Mayflower High School in the adjacent town of Billericay. Billericay itself is an affluent commuter town with a fast and frequent train service (35 minutes) to London Liverpool Street.


The Accommodation


Combining style with security, the black on the outside, white on the inside, composite front door, with its feature 'lead light' glazed panel, leads through to the:

PORCH 5ft x 3ft 9' (1.5m x 1.1m)

Retaining the original brick floor and with a side facing window - the fitted white blind perfect for privacy whilst allowing still allowing natural sunlight.

A pristine white upvc secondary external Door leads through to:


LOBBY 5ft x 3ft 10' (1.5m x 1.2m

Here, the eyes are drawn downwards to the attractive wood flooring which extends into the front room and kitchen.

Like the porch, this area is also nice and bright courtesy of a side facing window, also with a crisp white Venetian blind.

Looking up, the ceiling has a smooth plastered finish, as found throughout the home, bar the third bedroom.

(Of note, a small loft is accessed via the Porch, that runs the length of the porch and lobby combined)


DINING/FAMILY ROOM 15ft x 12ft 1' (4.6m x 3.65m)

Set the scene with a roaring fire in the professionally installed, feature AGA™ wood burning Stove, sitting within the feature fireplace.

The wide, front facing Georgian style bow window, elegant coving to the white ceiling, cream walls, and the gorgeous wood flooring, all come together for a room of much warmth and character.

Here one also notices the high ceiling, some 8ft, which gives an even greater impression of light and space and we like the sleek, vertical radiator in cream, providing plenty of winters warmth.

Off the lounge, a doorway leads through to:


HALL

(We assume there may have originally been a door from the Lobby, straight into the Hall)

Originally a larger hall which over the years has been cleverly altered to allow for the handy ground floor WC room.


WC ROOM

Fitted with a stylish and modern cloakroom suite comprising a White Gloss Vanity unit with a contemporary rectangular basin on top, and a close coupled WC.

A rear facing window provides plenty of natural daylight and upon the wall, is the Intergas 'Rapid 32' condensing Gas Combination Boiler, which was installed in 2018 and chosen for its high efficiency, robust design, and long service life.

The floor is finished in attractive travertine, which compliments the sugar white walls.


DINING ROOM 16ft x 10ft (4.85m x 3.1m)

Presently used as the owners Lounge, with the front room used as a dining room and home office – but the choice is yours for which way round you have it, as both ways work just as well!

The room itself has both front and rear facing windows and the cream carpet is soft underfoot.


KITCHEN 10ft 1' x 10ft (3.1m x 3.1m)

Fitted with a range of 'Limed Oak' units to 3 walls, topped with recently replaced stone look worktops and incorporating a shiny ceramic sink with a 'swan neck' mixer tap and a built in AEG Gas Hob with a stainless-steel Chimney style Extractor Hood above and a matching AEG multi-function Oven below.

The rich wood flooring, rear facing Georgian style window and its matching part glazed door and the sugar white walls, give a fresh homely feel with inset downlighting and a swish white vertical radiator adding a couple of modern twists.

UTILITY RECESS 5ft 6' x 2ft 4' (1.7m x 0.7m)

A matching piece of worktop has been put across the far wall, with space below for the washing machine and a fitted cupboard above.

This area has its own rear facing Georgian style window and double doors open to reveal the understairs cupboard, which has been shelved out, providing a rather good storage facility.


Stairs in the Hall rise to:

1st FLOOR LANDING

As you climb the stairs, the eyes are immediately drawn upwards towards the soaring high ceiling. Yes, upstairs, the ceilings are even higher than downstairs at 9ft.

Turning around and looking back at the stairwell, the rear window above it gives a rather splendid sylvan outlook, over the woodland behind, plus, a further front facing window lets in lots of light, as well as enjoying a delightful age-old outlook across the road and the historic Allens farmhouse opposite.


MASTER BEDROOM 15ft x 12ft 1' (4.6m x 3.7m)

A handsomely proportioned bedroom with the focal point, the original cast-iron Fireplace.

The big, wide, Georgian style window leads the gaze across the road to the same enduring view of Allens Farmhouse and the 9ft ceiling gives an even greater impression of light and space.


BEDROOM TWO 10ft 1' x 10ft (3.1m x 3.1m)

Sitting directly over the kitchen, so identical in size and also featuring its original cast-iron Fireplace.

This double bedroom enjoys the rear woodland view with the eyes turning 45 degrees to the right, open countryside.


BEDROOM THREE 10ft 1' x 9ft 8' (3.1m x 3m)

Another double bedroom, this one with a simple, crisp, white venetian blind fitted to the window.


BATHROOM 9ft 8' x 6ft 9' (3m x 2m)

Well-appointed with a stylish modern suite comprising a woodgrain finish Vanity unit with a large semi-recessed basin, close coupled WC and a 'ShowerBath' with an extra wide showering area.

The left wall provides a bank of storage. First the original airing cupboard, which following the installation of a combination boiler in 2018, meant the old hot water cylinder was made redundant and was removed in favour of shelving.

Next to this is further full height built-in shelving, with the left set hidden behind a mirrored door.

Elegant Travertine tiling and a chrome towel radiator provide the finishing touch and the rear facing window floods in plenty of light.


EXTERIOR - FRONT

Various plants and bushes , including an Bramley Apple Tree that gives a bountiful supply each year, provides a degree of screening from the road, with the smart, grey. block paved Drive providing parking for several cars.

Gated access on one side leads round to the rear Garden.

A large stone Masons plaque sits on the front wall between the two properties, laid by General Sir James Willcocks, (Governor of Bermuda and a key military figure in WW1) when the houses were gifted to the nurses.


EXTERIOR - REAR GARDEN 50ft x 40ft (15m x 12.2m)

Commencing with a Patio which steps down to the lawn, itself bordered with various decorative bushes, shrubs and plants.

There's a 11ft x 5ft 6' Shed and an outside tap.

Council Tax
Chelmsford Council

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.