A handsome Grade II listed Queen Anne and Tudor town house.

Description

This handsome late 16th century detached property has a prominent and convenient location in Castle Street with private, part walled gardens overlooking the Anglo-American playing Fields to the rear with Bridge End Gardens and the local Cricket ground beyond. Formerly The Castle Inn, with evidence of the former skittle room still decorating the floor in part, it has been a residential dwelling for many years.

With a red brick (18th century) front elevation with moulded and modillioned timber eaves, the front doorway has a distinct flat hood with console brackets and the wrought-iron stay for the former inn sign remains in situ. Not unexpectedly, this timber framed property with Tudor origins is listed Grade II as being of historical and architectural interest and many interesting period features remain intact – the front principal rooms have early C18 panelling and sash windows, there are panelled doors, an early C18 staircase with moulded handrails and turned balusters for example. The rear wing is also understood to be late C16 and part is vaulted with the timber framing exposed and in addition the principal bedroom with distant views beyond the garden is also vaulted.

The layout internally flows well from the part glazed lobby, the drawing room (right with a woodburner and painted fire surround) and study/library (left with extensive shelving) both enjoy a front aspect and flank the entrance hall. The kitchen beyond overlooks and has access to the gardens, has an Inglenook fireplace with rear niches housing the gas fired four oven Aga, a range of fitted cupboards and drawers, a central island with deep drawers, space for a dishwasher and composite stone worktops. This room connects with the dining area which is in a raised part of the vaulted sitting room beyond with woodburner and tall bay window to one side. There is a cloakroom beyond the kitchen with plumbing for a washing machine and access beneath the stairs to the vast cellars running under a considerable part of the house offering further potential (with relevant consents).

To the rear of the sitting room is a stunning vaulted studio room, restored by the vendor and connecting to the cellar, with glazed doors to the rear enjoying immediate access to the terrace for sitting or dining within the garden.

On the first floor, there is boiler cupboard linen cupboard and four bedrooms, the principal bedroom being vaulted with exposed timbers and views to the rear. There are two bedrooms to the front – one of which also connects to the spacious and part-panelled family bathroom with oval bath and separate shower cubicle. The fourth bedroom has a split level and is also to the rear with adjacent shower room.

The landing also leads to the attics, again with considerable potential subject to the required planning permissions.

Please refer to our fully dimensioned floorplan for further information

Outside
There is a parking space to the left of the house with gated access to the mature rear gardens on varying levels with brick paths and terraces, trees and shrubs and vegetable area at the far end beside the brick wall rear boundary

Location

The medieval market town of Saffron Walden has extensive facilities including Waitrose and Tesco supermarkets, a range of independent shops, a vibrant market on Tuesdays and Saturdays, an independent cinema and Saffron Hall, an award-winning 740 seat concert hall.

Audley End station offers services to London Liverpool Street, Cambridge and Stansted Airport and is on the Cross Country line. For the road commuter the M11 (Junctions 8 & 9) are approx. 11 and 7 miles. The M11 connects with the M25 and central and east London via the A406 and the A13.

Local independent schools in Saffron Walden including Dame Bradbury’s (part of the Stephen Perse Foundation). For local state schooling there is the well regarded Saffron Walden County High School and a range of primary schools. Further schooling is available in Cambridge including renowned prep schools such as King’s & St John’s College Schools and St Faiths, secondary schools include The Perse and The Leys.

All distances and times are approximate.

Square Footage: 3,253 sq ft