INTRODUCTION

Orchard House was built as an agricultural barn in 1776 before being improved with a number of additions over the following years.

Since 2020 our client has implemented another series of improvements to create an exceptional family home. These include a reconfiguration and renovation of the living space, the creation of an attached annex, turning an agricultural barn into a games barn, the construction of a cart lodge and office and adding a tennis court.

THE HOUSE

The principal house is substantial, at 5754 square feet and is brilliantly laid-out.

Five double bedrooms are arranged around a hallway and a vaulted landing at one end of the property. These are served by four bath/shower rooms and a WC, three of which being en-suite. The master bedroom and two further bedrooms also have good-sized fitted wardrobes.

The reception rooms include a sitting room with a log burner, a family room with exposed red-brick walls and an impressive lounge with a wine display cabinet and a granite-topped bar with a fitted fridge.

The kitchen/breakfast room was cleverly thought-out, with views down the central courtyard, a vaulted ceiling with Velux windows, a red-brick chimney with double-sided log burner that creates a partial divide between it and the lounge, and an island. Fittings include an induction hob, an American style fridge/freezer and an oil-fired Aga.

Other accommodation in the main home includes a study, a second WC and a fitted utility room.

THE ANNEX

A delightful one-bedroom annex is located on the property’s eastern elevation. This features a bedroom with an en-suite shower room, a sitting room with two sets of French doors and a log burner, a WC, a utility room and a fully-fitted kitchen (including a Neff double oven and warming drawer, a dishwasher, a double sink, an extractor and a fridge/freezer).

THE GAMES BARN

In 2022 an attached timber-framed barn which had previously been used for storage, was restored and renovated into a 1400 square foot games barn, which could also function as a second annex if required. Renovations included a new thatched roof, new ceramic flooring throughout, the addition of a kitchen (fitted with a fridge/freezer, an electric oven with extractor, a sink and a dishwasher) and a new shower room.

THE GROUNDS AND OUTBUILDINGS

The house, the annex and the games barn are arranged around a central courtyard and lawn, which is entirely private. This faces west for evening sun and has eight sets of French doors leading from various buildings, making it ideal for entertaining. To the rear of the kitchen there is also an east-facing breakfast patio. A sprinkler system keeps the areas of lawn adjacent to the buildings green during dry months.

The property is approached via a tree-lined shared drive, before a set of electric gates gives access to private grounds which total 4.1 acres (sts). These are almost entirely laid to lawn, with dozens of trees providing a back drop, and more formal areas of garden closer to the buildings. There are two summer houses, a greenhouse and a number of raised beds.

Our client also built a hard-surface tennis court on the western boundary which is fully fenced and has its own spectator’s patio.

A substantial cart lodge with five vehicle bays and an integral garage sits on the southern boundary; this has a 60-foot room above which is ideal for use as a gym, or an office.

LOCATION

Ardleigh is a popular village positioned between Manningtree and Colchester in North east Essex. The village centre is around a mile from Orchard House although the best services for day-to-day use are at Manningtree which is less than ten minutes away by car.

Manningtree mainline station provides a direct service into London Liverpool Street with a journey time of 60-minutes.

DIRECTIONS

Postcode: CO7 7LX

What3Words location: ///token.craftsman.deliver

POINTS TO NOTE

The property is connected to a mains electric supply. It has a mains water supply which is bolstered by a private bore hole supply. It is heated by a private oil-fired central heating system using two boilers, one of which is new. It has a private sewerage system using two tanks.

Access is via a shared drive where Orchard House has no maintenance obligations.

The house is registered in council tax band E with Tendring District Council (payments of £305.00 PCM). The property has not been EPC rated due to being Grade II Listed. Broadband speed 900 Mbps.

Google Earths shows the property with poly tunnels beyond its boundaries; these are barely visible from the house.

The nearest part of the proposed channel for UKPN’s new pylon route runs around 300 meters to the south of the property, however we expect any wires or towers will not be visible from the house.

GENERAL ADVICE

Before booking a viewing of any Brooks Leney property, we suggest buyers view its full online details including the street-view representation, the site map, the satellite view and the floor plan. If you have any questions, please contact Brooks Leney. A PDF version of the floorplan is available on request. These sales details were produced in good faith and are believed to be correct.

Floorplans

6 bedroom detached house for sale