4 bedroom detached house for sale

An Idyllic Country Retreat with Land, Stables and Far-Reaching Views — Comfrey Cottage, Layer de la Haye, Essex

Tucked away along the quiet and leafy Fields Farm Road, Comfrey Cottage presents a rare opportunity to acquire a charming and well-appointed family home, discreetly nestled within approximately 1.25 acres of private grounds in the much-loved village of Layer de la Haye.

This delightful property, offered to the market for the first time in eighteen years and only the fourth time post war, is enveloped by mature gardens and open paddocks, with electrified, state of the art post and rail, and benefits from solar power energy for water, two driveways, two stables, and a tack room — making it ideally suited for equestrian pursuits or those simply seeking a more pastoral way of life.

Accomodation
The approach to the property is both understated and inviting, with its weathered brick elevations, multi-paned windows and neatly tended lawns setting the tone for the house within. Internally, the accommodation is both generous and thoughtfully arranged, offering flexible living space that balances period character with modern convenience.

Upon entering, the hallway leads to a charming L-shaped drawing room, enjoying dual-aspect views over the grounds and centred around an open fireplace, perfect for winter evenings. French doors lead out onto a private stone terrace, ideally placed for breakfast in the morning sun or al fresco dining in warmer months.

To the other side of the hall lies a bespoke kitchen/breakfast room, finished in a traditional country style with painted units, timber worktops, and dual-aspect views to front and rear. An adjoining formal dining room allows for larger gatherings, while a further reception room offers a versatile space for study, library or ground-floor bedroom, if required. Completing the ground floor is a practical utility room, rear porch and cloakroom/WC.

First Floor
Upstairs, the principal bedroom enjoys a wonderfully private outlook, fitted wardrobes, and a well-appointed ensuite bathroom complete with both bath, separate shower and underfloor heating. Three further double bedrooms are served by a contemporary shower room, all enjoying elevated views over the surrounding gardens and countryside.

Grounds and Outbuildings
The grounds at Comfrey Cottage are truly special, with the more formal gardens to the rear laid principally to lawn, punctuated by well-stocked beds, flowering shrubs and mature trees, offering both colour and seclusion throughout the year. A gate leads directly into the paddock, where two timber stables and a tack room provide excellent facilities for horses or ponies.
To the front and side, the property is approached by two separate driveways - one ideal for daily use, the other more suited for equestrian access or guest parking.

There is also an option to purchase a further approximately 5 acres through sperate negotiation - please speak to agentregarding this.

Location
Set in the unspoilt Essex village of Layer de la Haye, Comfrey Cottage enjoys the best of both worlds - a tranquil rural setting, yet within easy reach of Colchester, offering a wide array of shops, excellent schools (including the Colchester Grammar Schools, St Mary's and Holmwood House), and a mainline railway station with direct services to London Liverpool Street in under an hour.

The village itself offers a primary school, village store, two public houses and a highly regarded farm shop selling local produce. Nearby Abberton Reservoir and Nature Discovery Park offer beautiful walks and an abundance of wildlife, while the broader countryside is ideal for walkers, riders and cyclists, and within 1 mile, is Bannantyne's Health Club and Spa with a 25 metre pool.

HALL - 11'6'' x 6'7'' (3.5m x 2m)
CLOAKROOM - 6'10'' x 2'7'' (2.1m x 0.8m)
L-SHAPLED LOUNGE - 14'4'' x 8'9'' (4.4m x 2.7m) x 11'7" X 25'5" (3.5m X 7.7m)
DINING ROOM - 20'1'' x 9'10'' (6.1m x 3m)
STUDY - 7'7'' x 9'10'' (2.3m x 3m)
KITCHEN - 22' x 11'2'' (6.7m x 3.4m)
UTILITY ROOM - 11'4'' x 7' (3.5m x 2.1m)
LANDING - 11'6'' x 9'9'' (3.5m x 3m)
BATHROOM - 8'2'' x 9'8'' (2.5m x 2.9m)
BEDROOM - 1 - 10' x 19'2'' (3m x 5.8m)
ENSUITE - 9'11'' x 8'5'' (3m x 2.6m)
BEDROOM - 2 - 11'5'' x 12'3'' (3.5m x 3.7m)
BEDROOM - 3 - 13'8'' x 11'9'' (4.2m x 3.6m)
BEDROOM - 4 - 12'10" x 9'9" (3.9m x 2.9)
TACK ROOM - 11'4" x 11'8'' (3.4m x 3.5m)
STABLE 1 - 11'4'' x 11'5'' (3.46m x 3.49m)
STABLE 2 - 11'3" x 11'8" (3.4m x 3.5m)

AGENT NOTE-

Local Authority - Colchester City Council.
Broadband Availability -Superfast Broadband available with speeds of up to 20 Mbps (details obtained from Ofcom Mobile and Broadband Checker) - May 2025
Mobile Coverage - It is understood that the best available service in the area is provided by O2 with limited voice and no data indoor coverage. EE, THREE and VODAFONE all have no voice and data indoor coverage. O2, THREE, VODAFONE AND EE all have likely voice and data outdoor coverage (details obtained from Ofcom Mobile and Broadband Checker) May 2025
Utilities - Mains Electric / Mains Gas Heating / Mains Water /Mains Sewerage.
Construction Type - We understand the property to be of Traditional Construction of brick.
Flood Risk - Data Taken from Gov.UK Flood Map - checked May 2025 - The property is at a Very Low risk of flooding.
Planning Applications in the Immediate Locality - Checked May 2025 - We are not aware of any planning applications in the immediate locality.
MONEY LAUNDERING REGULATIONS - Please be advised that all purchasers will need to adhere to current laws of money laundering and therefore will need to provide Boydens Estate Agents photographic identification and proof of residency identification before any transaction is started to comply with the legislation.