Description
A Grade II listed 16th century extended house with a separate three bedroom house, a swimming pool, extensive outbuildings including stables, a manège, and approximately 11.81 acres of gardens and paddocks with far reaching countryside views. The oldest part of the property is dated in the Grade listing report as 16th century or older and was originally an open hall house. This building was renovated and a brick casing at the front was added in the 19th century and what the report describes as a "convincing traditional timber framed NW rear wing" was added in the 20th century, "incorporating an older stair tower". The property has painted brick elevations under steep old red tile roofs and retains period features including fireplaces, latch and brace doors, and exposed wall and ceiling beams. The vendor has redecorated internally with Farrow and Ball paints.
The property consists of an extended 16th century former farmhouse which has 2,536 sq. ft. of versatile accommodation, and a separate 1,284 sq. ft. self-contained property which could provide additional accommodation or, as now, be rented out to create an income.
Property Overview Continued The property was formerly a farm and still has former farm buildings which provide extensive storage and garaging, and has an outdoor swimming pool, and equestrian facilities including stables, a tack room and a manège. There is 11.81 acres of land with about 4 acres of garden and over 7 acres of paddocks which wraparound around the buildings and are surrounded by open countryside.
Main House A tiled porch shelters the part glazed entrance door which opens into a small hall with access to the two principal reception rooms
Principal Reception Rooms Both the principal reception rooms have exposed ceiling beams and brick inglenook fireplaces with steel flues and log burning stoves. The fireplace in the snug also has an original bread oven. Both rooms are dual aspect with the snug overlooking the front and side of the property. The sitting/dining room measures over 26 ft. by over 25 ft. and has room for a seating area by the fire as well as a dining area with space for a table to seat ten. There are stairs to the first floor, with an understairs storage cupboard, windows to the front, a feature bay window with views over the garden and countryside beyond, and a door to a terrace in the rear garden.
Study A door in the sitting room leads to the study which has exposed beams and brickwork, and is also dual aspect. It has space for a desk and separate meeting table. Fibre cables are laid into the property giving a good wi-fi connection to facilitate working from home.
Kitchen/Breakfast Room The kitchen/breakfast room has triple aspect windows, including one to the rear with far reaching views, laminate flooring, and a stable door to a rear porch which is open to the terrace in the rear garden and has access to the boiler room which houses the boiler which was serviced in February 2025. The kitchen has a range of fitted farmhouse style wooden wall and base units, including glazed display cabinets and pan drawers, with Rosa Porino granite work surfaces incorporating a ceramic Belfast sink. The central island has additional storage and a breakfast bar to seat two, and there is also space for a dresser unit. There is a two oven oil fired Aga which also heats the hot water for the property, and space for a dishwasher and a fridge/freezer.
Bedrooms The landing has space for a dressing table or a study area. There are three double bedrooms and two single bedrooms on the first floor which all have high vaulted ceilings, and most have exposed beams and timbers. The principal bedroom has a range of fitted wardrobes spanning one wall, and bedroom two has a feature brick fireplace and is linked to bedroom four by a Jack and Jill walk-in wardrobe. One of the single bedrooms has a built-in cupboard with an immersion heater and shelves for linen storage.
Bathrooms At one end of the landing there is a bathroom which has a cast iron ball and claw footed bath with a shower attachment, a high cistern WC and a heritage wash basin. At the other end of the landing there is a recently refitted contemporary shower room which is fully tiled including a slate tiled floor, and has a vanity washbasin, a WC and a walk-in shower which has a tower shower with a rainfall shower overhead and additional body jets, as well as a hand held shower. There is an electric towel radiator.
Pool House The pool house is a self-contained property which the vendor currently rents out as a holiday let but which could alternatively be used for extended family, staff, or guests. It is situated a short distance from the main house and is accessed via the terrace around the outdoor swimming pool. The pool house is enclosed by a low wall and fencing and there is a gate to a private paved courtyard style garden with space for seating.
The part glazed entrance door opens into the triple aspect kitchen/breakfast room which is fitted with a comprehensive range of full height, wall and base units including glazed display cabinets, with complementary work surfaces, a ceramic Belfast sink, and metro tiled splashbacks. There is also an island which incorporates a breakfast bar with space to seat three. Appliances include a Rangemaster electric range cooker with an extractor over and there is space for an American style fridge/freezer.
Pool House Cont'd There is a built-in cupboard, stairs to the first floor, and doors to a ground floor shower room and the sitting room which has dual aspect windows and a feature fireplace.
The first floor landing has a Velux window and access to the three bedrooms which all have vaulted ceilings with Velux windows. The principal bedroom has an en suite bathroom which has a ball and claw footed bath, a separate shower cubicle, a pedestal washbasin and a WC. There is a further double bedroom and a single bedroom and these share a three piece Jack and Jill en suite shower room.
Gardens and Grounds An electric security gate gives access to a gravel drive which splits into two after entry with one branch leading to a gravel parking area in front of the main house, and the other branch leading behind the barn to an extensive further parking area with access to the manège.
The rear garden has a block paved entertaining terrace spanning the rear of the house with low brick retaining walls and steps down to the lawned garden which slopes gently away and has far reaching views over the paddocks and surrounding countryside. There is a feature well which acts as a focal point in the view but which was built to conceal the cesspit. Towards the bottom of the garden there is a pond which has a duck house, and a fountain and air pads for oxygenation, and houses Carp and Rudd.
There are numerous mature trees throughout the plot including Ash, Silver Birch, Oak, Sycamore, Conifers and Spruce, Hazel, Maple, an American Red Oak, a Japanese Acer, and a Japanese Wisteria Tree with white flowers.
Swimming Pool The outdoor swimming pool is in a fenced off area between the house and pool house. The 28 ft. by 14 ft. pool is heated by an air source heat pump, has a retractable cover, and is surrounded by lawns and a paved patio for loungers and seating. A decked area to one side of the pool houses an African style Tiki hut with space for a dining table and chairs for al fresco entertaining.
Equestrian Facilities A short walk across the garden from the house leads to the stable yard which is enclosed by post and rail fencing and has a hay barn and a stable block with four stables and a tack room. The property also has a manège which is also enclosed by post and rail fencing, and over 7 acres of paddock land, including a small paddock adjoining the garden which is currently used for alpacas and contains an open fronted field shelter.
Outbuildings The property has over 5,200 sq. ft. of outbuildings. In addition to the stable block, the property also has a nearly 66 ft. two storey barn with an adjoining workshop and oil barn which houses the oil storage tank for the heating system. The workshop has a Velux window, power connected, space for freezers, an opening to the barn and stairs up to the barn's first floor.
Both floors of the barn are currently used for storage and for garaging with three separate sets of double doors giving access for vehicles to the cavernous interior. There is scope, subject to obtaining any necessary planning permissions, to convert the barn into additional accommodation such as a gym or games room if required.
Behind the barn, workshop, and oil barn there is a partly open fronted lean to store which is used for garden machinery and log storage.
Situation and Schooling The property is in the hamlet of Bendish which has about 30 dwellings in the midst of rural countryside. For amenities the property is less than 20 minutes' drive from the market town of Hitchin which has a range of facilities including restaurants, pubs, supermarkets, shops and markets four days a week.
For schooling there is a primary school a mile away in St Paul's Walden which is rated good by Ofsted and the property is in catchment for schools in Hitchin which include the boys and girls' schools which are both rated as Outstanding by Ofsted.
