Wickham St Paul, Halstead, Essex (Sold STC) £750,000

This delightful Grade II listed Essex farmhouse enjoying a glorious location on the periphery of this highly regarded and well sought after North Essex village.

The property is entered via a covered oak framed storm porch and accessed via an impressively wide solid oak door. This leads to the charming reception hall which has brick flooring and exposed oak ceiling timbers. There is an impressive staircase rising to the first floor and an attractive door with stained glass panel which gives views to the grounds beyond. The property displays fine period features throughout and has solid oak handmade ledge and board doors to all the rooms.

The drawing room is situated on the North-Eastern side of the property and has a fine oak frame on display, large full height sash window, a particularly impressive inglenook fireplace with brick hearth and an inset wood burning stove. The dining room is situated to the rear of the property and is almost a mirror image of the drawing room and has an attractive red brick fireplace with oak lintel, red brick hearth and wood burning stove. This room has a triple aspect with a large sash window to the rear giving delightful views to the grounds.

The centrally situated kitchen/breakfast room forms the heart of the house and has heavily moulded oak beams to the ceilings, pamment flooring and a dual aspect giving views to the extensive grounds and fields beyond. The kitchen is fitted with handmade solid elm units with a white ceramic sink and a red Aga with companion unit set within a red brick chimney breast with an arched lintel. A four panelled door leads to a large larder storage cupboard and a ledge and board door with glazed aperture leads to an entertaining terrace making this perfect for large scale family parties. Beyond the kitchen is a snug area which has a dual aspect with views to the rear garden and attractive open oak studwork through to the family room. This is a delightful space with an impressive fireplace with oak lintel above and a red brick hearth with wood burning stove, there are views to the front grounds and fields beyond and there is an attractive oak frame on display.

The remainder of the ground floor comprises a well appointed cloakroom accessed from the reception hall and a large boiler/storage room.

The first floor is accessed via two separate staircases with the first leading to a delightful galleried landing which has a window allowing the occupants to benefit from the extensive views. There are two particularly well proportioned double bedrooms both of which have sash windows providing wonderful countryside views, oak framework to the walls and ornate cast iron Victorian fireplaces which are flanked by storage cupboards. These two bedrooms are served by a well appointed family bath/shower room with a Jacuzzi bath within a tiled plinth, shower cubicle and a matching white suite.

There is a second staircase which rises from the snug to a half landing with a window giving views to the rear aspect. There is a striking rise in the staircase and matching fall to the other side which gives access to two charming and generously proportioned bedrooms which have attractive period features to include exposed oak framework. Both these bedrooms are interlinked via a useful study space which has an attractive red brick chimney breast rising from the first floor and they are served by a fully tiled bath/shower room with matching white suite and exposed floorboards. This part of the house could readily be segregated for an au-pair or converted into an annexe if required.

The property is approached via a pair of five bar gates which lead to an extensive gravelled parking area and paved drive leading to a versatile workshop/garage/studio. Adjacent to the gravel drive are large expanses of lawn which are interspersed with a variety of densely stocked shrub borders that provide year round colour and interest. The extensive grounds at Stonehouse Farm are an absolute delight and benefit from a South and Westerly aspect enabling them to take advantage of the all day sun making them perfect for large scale family entertaining.

To the boundaries are extensively stocked belts of mixed native trees to include cherry, maple, oak and a variety of firs. Immediately to the rear of the property is a delightful paved terrace adjacent to which are expanses of manicured lawn and an attractive pergola, beneath which is a slate chipped path. Beyond this are further expanses of lawn interspersed with native trees to include willow, cherry and poplar. There is a delightful natural pond forming a focal point with mature borders with a variety of wetland plants to include iris.

The aforementioned outbuilding is particularly useful and has a charming summerhouse which directly abuts the pond adjacent to which is a large veranda and sunken seating area to take advantage of the sunset.

This outbuilding could readily be used for a variety of purposes including a studio/workshop as it is fully equipped with power and light and has an attractive herringbone brick floor and a separate kitchenette/utility area. The garden room is approached via oak steps and has a fully vaulted ceiling and attractive iron bracket work. There is a loft ladder which gives access to further extensive storage space. This outbuilding could readily be converted to further living space (subject to the necessary consents).

Stonehouse Farm is a beautiful example of an unspoilt Essex farmhouse which enjoys a fabulous rural position set within mature and extensive grounds. In all about 1.85 acres sts.

RECEPTION HALL

DRAWING ROOM 18' 4" x 14' 3" (5.60m x 4.35m)

DINING ROOM 16' 2" x 14' 3" (4.95m x 4.35m)

KITCHEN/BREAKFAST ROOM 21' 11" x 11' 3" (6.70m x 3.45m)

FAMILY ROOM 16' 4" x 15' 7" (5.00m x 4.75m)

SNUG 11' 3" x 10' 0" (3.45m x 3.05m)

CLOAKROOM 6' 6" x 3' 9" (2.00m x 1.15m)

FIRST FLOOR

BEDROOM 1 14' 11" x 13' 9" (4.55m x 4.20m)

BEDROOM 2 14' 11" x 13' 5" (4.55m x 4.10m)

BEDROOM 3 15' 5" x 12' 1" (4.70m x 3.70m)

BEDROOM 4 10' 2" x 9' 8" (3.10m x 2.95m)

BATHROOM 1 9' 4" x 7' 8" (2.85m x 2.35m)

BATHROOM 2 8' 8" x 4' 11" (2.65m x 1.50m)

OUTBUILDING

STUDIO/WORKSHOP 17' 0" x 15' 1" (5.20m x 4.60m)

GARDEN ROOM 14' 9" x 12' 9" (4.50m x 3.90m)

UTILITY/BOOT ROOM 17' 0" x 8' 6" (5.20m x 2.60m)

ATTIC/STORAGE

ROOM 1 10' 7" x 7' 4" (3.25m x 2.25m)

ROOM 2 9' 10" x 7' 4" (3.00m x 2.25m)