Fascinating and historic Grade II* Listed former hall house with delightful, mature gardens

Description

This is a fascinating and historic timber framed house of varying periods which has been painstakingly restored over many years by the vendor. With some incredible features including jettied storey, linenfold panelling, wall paintings, Inglenook fireplace, exposed timbers including an Ogee arch, mullion windows, ledged and braced doors the property started life as a Hall House. Formerly the Rectory, it was owned (and leased) by Merton College Oxford and we understand that a map of 1602 in the college’s possession shows extensive ranges of farm buildings round a courtyard of which the existing house remains.

The Emplins has a wonderful feel and has been a much loved family home for over 40 years. The hub of the house being the great hall an L-shaped reception room from which the rest of the ground floor accommodation radiates with an impressive Ingelnook fireplace and a stunning linenfold door.

The adjoining front entrance lobby/study area leads to dining room a lovely spacious room suitable for a variety of uses with an early Ogee arch and former mullioned windows. The side hall (on the far side of the great hall, where a third staircase used to be) provides storage and access to both the comfortable oak room/sitting room with numerous exposed timbers, a fireplace and linen drying/boiler room and also the kitchen/breakfast room fitted with a range of wooden cupboards with views of the garden and part glazed side (or back) door. Two stair lobbies and a bathroom complete the ground floor accommodation.

On the first floor there are up to six bedrooms, but two are not independently accessed. One, with its amazing, historic wall paintings and (relocated) linenfold panelling provides a potential studio or dressing room as it leads to the side landing, part vaulted main bedroom and bathroom. Two of the bedrooms are in the central section of the house and a further two with shower room are on the far side of the family bathroom but also accessed from a second staircase. This area of the house was previously the Guildhall and the round topped mullion windows have been sympathetically fitted with sliding glazed panels.

The glorious mature gardens have been created by the vendor over many, many years and incorporate a wonderful array of hedging, trees and shrubs and a variety of deep, well stocked herbaceous beds carved from the lawns. To the rear of the house is a herb garden with a wonderful wisteria-clad archway leading to the vegetable garden and garage/stores.

Location

Gamlingay is a village situated approximately 12 miles west of Cambridge and 8 miles south of St. Neots.

Gamlingay has a small but active High Street which includes a number independent shops, a Co-op supermarket, a post office and a pharmacy. There are also several pubs and restaurants, a village hall, a recreation ground, and a library.

For road commuters, Gamlingay is situated just off the A428 road, which connects to the A1 and M11 motorways.

The nearest train stations are located in the towns of Sandy (approximately 5 miles) and St. Neots (approximately 8 miles) with direct trains to London King's Cross station and a travel time from approximately 45 minutes.

There are a local school: Gamlingay First School which feeds into Comberton Village College. There is also a pre-school in the village. For those seeking higher education, there are several universities and colleges located within commuting distance, including the University of Cambridge and Anglia Ruskin University.

All distances and times are approximate.

Square Footage: 3,113 sq ft