3 bedroom detached house for sale

A rare opportunity to own the oldest cottage in the village."Nestled in the tranquil village of Great Henny, Walnut Tree Cottage is a storied Grade II listed gem dating from around 1500. This timber-framed, plastered cottage with a charming and newly installed thatched roof with eyebrow dormer evokes centuries of rural English life. Having been in the same ownership for 25 years.


Its interior reveals original timber beams and a 16th-century inserted floor, alongside a later inglenook fireplace. Of special note there is a fine glazed infill on the gable that blends seamlessly with the historic form, offering both character and continuity." There is also lapsed planning for the erection of a detached single storey Oak framed annex. Planning ref; 15/00236/FUL

• Heritage Status: Walnut Tree Cottage is a Grade II listed building, first designated on 16 December 1982 due to its special architectural and historic interest.

• Era & Construction: Dating to around 1500, this charming cottage is timber-framed and plastered, featuring a half-hipped thatched roof—a hallmark of Tudor-era rural English architecture.

• Distinctive Facade: The front includes a wide eyebrow dormer, 20th-century leaded-light casement windows, and an off-centre “pegtile” gabled porch adding rustic charm.

• Roof & Structure: You’ll find a simple collar-and-rafter roof with interrupted tie beams, and evidence of a small open hall-house with a 16th-century inserted floor. The interior roof timbers are soot-blackened—a poignant nod to its age and historical usage.

• Fireplace & Chimney: A later-added chimney with an inglenook fireplace exists, and there are traces of a former timber stack in the roof space - speaking to its evolving architectural layers through time.

Walnut Tree Cottage lies within Great Henny, a small civil parish in Essex near the Suffolk border. The area is known for its peaceful rural character and historic buildings, providing a fitting backdrop for such a venerable structure.

Accommodation

Ground floor

Entrance vestibule, spacious sitting room with Oak flooring under foot which continues throughout the majority of the ground floor, inglenook fireplace, South facing mullion window. Open plan to the sitting room is a stylish dual aspect snug, again with Oak flooring. This room is perfect for entertaining. The dual aspect dining room features a superb floor to ceiling glazed mullion which really does impress. A well appointed kitchen/dining room comes with a comprehensively fitted kitchen with marble tops and skylight window. A sun filled triple aspect dining area has a door leading to a South facing courtyard. Completing the ground floor in a sizeable inner hall/cloakroom with three fitted cupboards. There is also a wet room with w/c.

First floor

There are two staircases. Taking the stairs from the dining room a landing gives way to two bedrooms, w/c and the bathroom. Bedroom one enjoys the upper part of the glazed mullion which is equally impressive to the dining room. The second bedroom is currently being used as a first floor lounge. The secondary staircase gives way to a double bedroom.

Outside

The cottage enjoys magnificent grounds approaching 1.94 acres which includes an established woodland.

The current owners have also had a brand new detached double garage recently constructed with electric door.

Location

Walnut Tree Cottage lies within Great Henny, a small civil parish in Essex near the Suffolk border. The area is known for its peaceful rural character and historic buildings, providing a fitting backdrop for such a venerable structure.

Great Henny is known for its exceptional beauty with gently undulating countryside either side of the River Stour with a well renowned pub knows at the Henny Swan. Sudbury which offers a wide range of everyday amenities including shops, schools, sporting facilities, supermarkets plus a branch line station which connects onto the mainline at Marks Tey for London Liverpool Street. Neighbouring Bures also offers a branch line station and good facilities, whilst there are mainline stations at both Marks Tey and Colchester (fastest trains from 48 mins). Highly regarded schools in the area include the top grammar schools in Colchester. There are wonderful country walks from the property plus rowing on the River Stour.