A Vastly Improved 5 Double Bedroom Farmhouse set amidst 15 Acres with Equestrian & Leisure facilities.

What We Think at The Zoe Napier Group

What a fabulous, well-designed, and well-appointed family home for all-around entertaining with the addition of exceptional equestrian facilities. The house is perfectly positioned for maximum privacy in the countryside with great SSW orientation to the rear terraces and pool. The property has the additional potential for annex accommodation under the planning application detailed.

What The Owner Says

This has been a great family home. The children all went to Felsted and most will appreciate how hard it is to find a good property within what is known as the golden triangle for Chelmsford, Dunmow, and the good schools such as Felsted, New Hall, and the grammar/high schools in Chelmsford City. The children are all about to fly the nest so it’s time for new adventures, possibly abroad.

History & Background

A substantial five double-bedroom former farmhouse that has been vastly improved to create a superb family home set amidst 15 mature acres with equestrian and leisure facilities. The house is set down a long tree-lined drive in a private position with part woodland creating natural screening. Located in what is locally known as the Golden Triangle for Felsted and other excellent schools in Chelmsford City, the property offers the perfect combination of being situated in the countryside yet easily accessible for major road links.

The house is orientated to offer the southerly aspects across its rear elevation which overlooks undulating grounds and more immediately the stunning outdoor pool complex which has an air source heated ceramic pool with mood lighting and spa fountains for ambient relation alongside a pool house gym/bar and a purpose-built gazebo ready for an outdoor kitchen. Within the grounds are numerous outbuildings, including stabling and car storage. Plans were passed in 2020 for an additional cart lodge with annex over. 20/01165/FUL.

Equestrian Facilities include up to five full-size stables and a pair of Shetland pony stables with an open-fronted hay store, feed rooms, and a superb 60 x 30m floodlit manege. The house has undergone immense renewable/green energy improvements, including 54 photovoltaic (solar) panels, air source heating for the pool, and ground source heating for the house.

Setting & Location

The property is situated in a highly sought-after rural location, in a country lane between Great Leighs and Felsted. The area is known locally as the Golden Triangle for its accessibility to Chelmsford City, Great Dunmow, and Braintree. The highly reputable private school at Felsted (3.8 miles from the property) lies within the triangle.

The house is well placed within its expansive acreage, nestled down a lime tree line entrance drive from automatic security entry gates. The land is undulating with a vast variety of young and mature trees including a woodland area forming the rear boundary. This backs onto the protected 22-acre Phyllis Currie Nature Reserve owned by Essex Wildlife Trust providing diverse habitats with accessible areas for country walks.

Located just over a mile from Chelmsford City Racecourse, a venue that hosts great events ranging from horse race days and evenings to combined festivals and concerts. Chelmsford City Centre is approximately 9 miles away and Boreham is 6.5 miles where a new National Rail station is currently under construction alongside New Hall School. Great Dunmow is 7.9 miles and Stansted Airport is just over 18 miles from the property.

Ground Floor Accommodation

The main front door is set into a vaulted entrance hall with a full-height gable window flooding light into the Oak galleried reception area which has upper glass panels and attractive engineered oak flooring. From the hall are three well-proportioned reception rooms, located across the rear elevation, each having a super view of the grounds and stunning pool complex. These rooms include a formal dining room/games room with an atrium over the box bay windows and doors onto the upper pool terraces, a separate sitting room that features a further bay window, and a wood-burning stove on a black slate hearth. Beyond is an additional room currently used as a play/gaming room and a fourth reception room serves as an office with a superb, heavily secured walk-in Gun Room.

The main hub of the house is the substantial AGA kitchen/breakfast room with a family/TV area and bi-fold doors onto the granite paved terraces. The room provides space for a large family dining table to seat 10/12 people comfortably and the kitchen area is extensively fitted in cream units beneath black quartz granite worktops. There is a four-oven oil-fired AGA and various other gadgets and appliances which include an American-size fridge/freezer (separate negotiation) and a dishwasher. A large island area provides good scope for a cook’s preparation//serving area.  Access then leads through to the various service rooms which provide a large boiler room for the modern heating and hot water systems, a lobby/cloaks area, a separate utility room, and a boot room. Furthermore, there is a ground floor shower room/w.c. off the entrance hall.

First Floor Accommodation

The part galleried landing offers a spacious feel with good storage cupboards and a walk-in linen room. Access leads to the five double bedrooms, each with fitted or built-in wardrobes and each enjoying differing views over the grounds. The main bedroom is extensively fitted with wardrobes with access to a large en-suite featuring both a bath and a separate shower. Two further fitted rooms enjoy stylish, luxury en-suite shower rooms and a main family shower room serves the remaining two bedrooms.

Formal Grounds & Gardens

The property occupies a total plot of 15 acres with a long treelined drive that leads down to the house and separately around to the outbuildings. Most of the garden areas lie to the rear, being well screened with part woodland boundaries and with undulating lawns. Extensive areas of quality granite terraces lead down to the stunning outdoor pool complex which has a specialist Belgium-produced ceramic swimming pool with a built-in automatic cover. The pool benefits from having air source heating with attractive underwater lighting and a spa-style water jet over the pool and fountain which bring ambient relaxation. The pool is well-lit at night and benefits from having a purpose-built pool house/gym with a bar (with dishwasher) and a changing/shower room w.c. Adjacent is another quality open structure with a roof and designed to accommodate a modern outdoor BBQ/kitchen for alfresco dining. Within the grounds are several young and old trees with numerous weeping willows around a natural pond, Holm Oaks, Oak, and Ash Trees, amongst a Sycamore and other deciduous varieties. There is also a Koi Pond with a waterfall and a banked area for those interested in the safe pursuit of Archery and alike.

Equestrian Facilities & Outbuildings

The courtyard of outbuildings includes a double-fronted cart lodge beside the house which has a gardener’s w.c. Adjacent is a heated dog kennel with a secure run beneath a slate roof.

On the main yard area are further barns and outbuildings. There are four stables and a fifth stable/feed room, as well as a pair of pony/goat stables. The 24 m barn provides enclosed vehicle/machinery storage with a triple bay cart lodge and workshop with a mezzanine above. Opposite is another open-fronted cart lodge/hay store. There are also log stores and a purpose-built covered wash-down area.

To the east side is an impressive size 60 x 30m fully floodlit manege with six sets of floodlights and on one side is a judges/trainers/viewing box. Besides the arena are the 54 solar panels and a polytunnel.

The remaining grounds are grass meadows and paddock areas, some interspersed with deciduous trees for natural shelter.

Agents Notes

• The property has two registered titles. EX628274 (House, garden & drive) and EX928165 (remaining acreage)
• The planning for the cart lodge with annex over 20/01165/FUL will expire in September 2023. Usually, such permissions can be renewed once, subject to local authority approval and resubmission to planning.
• 60m x 30m manege including 6 light poles. Installation of 58 photovoltaic panels. Ref. No: 18/01079/FUL  Status: Application Permitted. There are currently 54 solar panels installed. The property would further benefit from having a solar panel battery installed. Something our client was considering having installed, albeit with a waiting time of over a year (at the time).
• The main water pipe crosses neighbouring land (unmetered) with no official easement. Our client has installed a water pipe up to the road if the buyer wishes to make this a preferred direct water connection with a water meter.
• The property was officially renamed The Oaks in 2018. Application number with Chelmsford City Council 18/00625/HNC. Formerly Dumney Farm House where some correspondences (including registered titles) will show under the original name.
• The Energy Performance Certificate was carried out prior to various improvements such as the solar panelling and changes from oil to ground and air source heating.

Services

Mains Water (see agents notes)

Mains Electricity

Air Source Heating (swimming pool)

Ground Source Heating (house)

AGA – Oil Fired

Private Modern Drainage System

Security/CCTV Systems

54 Solar Panels

PLEASE CALL FOR FULL BROCHURE