Copt Hall Lane, Little Wigborough, Colchester

WHAT WE SAY AT CHEWTON ROSE

Driving down this quiet country lane, that ends at St Nicholas Church and foot access to the sea wall, you see only a scattering of homes. A handful of homes, a mixture of homes from various periods and of varying styles, all with their own particular charm.

New Hall is hidden from immediate view until you turn and go though the elegant brick pillared entrance. Only now do you truly appreciate what this home has to offer. Very private, a garden that is split into individual areas - large formal garden, fruit and vegetable garden including a small orchard, and the paddock for children to play or have a variety of small livestock, a variety of useful outbuildings and of course.... two well proportioned attractive and individual homes.

You will find few similar properties that are located in such a quiet and tranquil location, privacy, convenience to get to all main transport links, surrounded by open countryside and offer spacious living in two individual homes.

A home for the family and second home for grandparents?

Somewhere where son or daughter, as part of a young couple, can have their own home, space and independence, perhaps whilst saving up for their first own home?

Space to run a home business or hobby?

The possibilities of the income opportunity available from Airbnb, long or short term rental - plenty of keen country loving holiday makers looking to get away from their busy City lifestyle, even if only for a long weekend. Those sailing enthusiasts coming to nearby Mersea or Tollesbury.

On your doorstep are the marshes and countryside that host a large variety of wildfowl and birds throughout the year - from ducks, geese and swans to Kingfishers, Skylark, Great Crested Grebe, Sand Martin, Willow Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, Nightingale, Egret and Cormorant. A ever increasing variety of Birds of Prey from Kestrel, Honey buzzard, Goshawk, Long-eared owl, Osprey, White-tailed eagle, Tawny owl, Golden eagle · Little owl and the incredible Red Kite

We have a very motivated vendor who has spent many enjoyable years updating, improving and creating a completely different home to one they originally moved into. A family that have thoroughly enjoyed the lifestyle that New Hall offers but it's now just time for that change back to more urban living and enjoying the hustle and bustle of City life.

THE HOMES

A perfect home for anyone with two generations of a family looking to live together.

This elegant and attractive farmhouse is Grade II Listed and is believed to contain 14th century fabric behind its late 19th century red brick façade. Total accommodation of approximately 7476 sq ft


English Heritage state that the house is early 19th Century and therefore likely to be late Georgian. A brick in the façade of the house is engraved 1850, perhaps signs of early maintenance and evidence of a cross over into the early Victorian period.

It could be said that New Hall is an idealistic family home for anyone looking to enjoy peace and tranquility and, an opportunity to live the ‘good life’ paired with the convenience of being only a short drive into Colchester City Centre. Children can safely play and explore in the home’s three and half acres. Enough space for your own football pitch. Have some livestock – including chickens, ducks, goats or sheep and grow your own fruit and vegetables. A field that could be used by a small pony.

With no immediate neighbours, this home adjoins open countryside on the eastern side of Copt Hall Lane. From the Peldon Road to the end of Copt Hall Lane there are less than 15 homes.

Originally New Hall would have been the farmhouse for New Hall Farm, in the early 19th century a substantial farm of over 125 acres. In the 20th century the majority of the land and some outbuildings were sold off. Now as residential use remains the house, various outbuildings that include an incredible two bedroom and two bathroom barn conversion, and a plot of approximately three and half acres of land.

The land and farm buildings outside of the boundary of this property are now part of the arable farm which no longer has any residential house.


Updating and modernisation

When our vendors purchased their home some 17 years ago they were captivated by the location, character, land and potential for the existing outbuildings. The home was tired and needed some essential maintenance, modernisation and updating. They spent time and care in carefully planning alterations to the main house and outbuildings that would add value, pleasure and enjoyment to their family’s lifestyle. They have ensured that, wherever possible, the character and period features have been repaired, restored and maintained. The home is now back to its former glory. A perfect mix of timeless character with modern elegance. The décor and colour scheme are also in keeping with the homes heritage.

Internally they have extended and updated the kitchen/diner - now the space and size for family and social occasions and extended the inner lobby plus the addition of a fully glazed, light and spacious garden room to the northside of house that opens up onto the patio area, very enjoyable and useful during summer barbeques and al-fresco dining.



Outbuildings and annexe/ancillary accommodation

The added bonus to this home is the collection of useful outbuildings.
The key outbuilding is an absolutely incredible two bedroom, two bathroom detached barn conversion (1,200 sq ft) – perfect for families looking for annexe accommodation for grandparents or relatives but equally useful for guests or even holiday let (the area is known for its abundance of wildlife and is very popular with nature lovers and bird watchers alike).


Opposite to the main house is a stable block and store that on the ground floor has a stable and stores plus large wine cellar and, on the first floor a converted store that is now an office/studio with its own bathroom – perfect for those not commuting to the City every day or looking to run their own business and in need of a large home office. The office is light and airy so would be ideal for an art studio

To the rear of the main house is a very useful Nissen hut that has had various uses, from games room to its current use as a gym.

Other outbuildings include a second Nissen hut, timber barn, wood store and tractor shed that are currently used for storage but, with a little maintenance, be for various uses.



ACCOMMODATION

Main House

Ground floor
Typical of this period, from the front entrance of the house, to the left and right of the hallway, are fairly equal size reception rooms - sitting room and dining room. Both with dual aspect windows that ensure the rooms are light and airy. To the rear is the entrance to the inner hallway, stairs to the first floor, door to the kitchen/diner and door to that leads to the play room, utility, boot room and garden room. For daily access our vendors use the rear door to the property, in the original part of the house, to take advantage of the very useful boot room, downstairs cloakroom and utility.


Consideration has been taken to ensure that the kitchen/diner is light and spacious, something that every modern family desires. There is a good selection of high and low level units complimented with light Corian worktops. Integrated Meile separate fridge and freezer plus large wine cooler/fridge. There is space for a large dining table and casual seating. To complete the kitchen is a dual plate, three oven electric AGA with electric hob and oven module.


The play room leads into the incredibly spacious fully glazed garden room that is filled with light and usable all year round. A statement room that is an attractive modern addition that compliments the period structure of the main house. Perfect room to relax and read your latest novel or chill out with views onto the side patio.


First floor
From the inner hall stairs lead to the landing with three good size and almost square double bedrooms, a large single and single (currently used as a dressing room). To the rear of the landing is a modern family bathroom with shower and bath. The principle bedroom to the front of the property has its own en-suite shower.



Annexe/ancillary accommodation

To the right of the driveway and to the front right of the main house is an incredible and stunning barn conversion. Spacious sitting / dining room with large glazed window to the front, feature modern log burner. Fully fitted kitchen and, to the sides, two double bedrooms both with en-suite with shower and bath. This is a home in its own right!



Land and gardens

The house is set well back from the quiet country lane that is Copt Hall Lane. A gate opens to a long drive leading to an attractive circular driveway with featured central lawn. There is off street parking for 20 vehicles plus. To the front of the house is the formal lawn garden and to the north side is a generous paved patio area that leads to the garden room.

The variety of different outside areas has been created to suit the activities of all members of the immediate and an extended family. From the patio is an area with a children’s timber play house, possibly remaining and then into the the kitchen garden and orchard (with a wide variety of fruit trees). To the front of this area and adjacent the lane is the field that has a variety of uses, including potentially livestock of some type.



LOCATION

The property is situated in the small Hamlet of Little Wigborough, overlooking the salt marshes and the estuary of the river Blackwater, eight miles south of Colchester between Great Wigborough and Merea.

With most of the surrounding area being owned by the National Trust. To the bottom of Copt Hall Lane are footpaths that lead to the sea wall and Blackwater Estuary, which is a haven for wildlife, including migrating geese. The paths around Copt Hall Marshes provide some superb local dog walks, country walks and cycling

For everyday essentials there is a local village shop in Abberton and Layer de la Haye, 10 minute and 15 minute drive. The small village of Peldon can be found approximately 1.5 miles away, with its popular pub/restaurant "The Peldon Rose".

Nearby Abberton Reservoir, lying just over 3 miles away is one of Europe's top wetland sites, being of international importance as a safe haven for swans, wild ducks and various water birds, whether passing through, on migration or resident. Visitors to the site can enjoy walks on the Essex Wildlife Trust Nature Reserve, where from the higher ground there are wonderful far reaching views across the reservoir and surrounding villages.


West Mersea and Tiptree lying approximately 5 miles and 6.5 miles away respectively, provide a good range of shops, schools and amenities.

The historic City of Colchester, lying approximately 7.5 miles away, provides an extensive range of shops, restaurants, social facilities and highly regarded schools and its main line railway station provides a regular service into London Liverpool Street with an estimated average journey time of 1hr. Nearby Marks Tey also provides a further mainline railway station and access onto the A12.

For the golfing enthusiast Five Lakes Hotel, Spa, Golf and Country Club can be found approximately 3.5 miles away from the property and of a similar distance the superb heath and leisure club at Bannatynes, Clarice House Kingsford Park – with its excellent indoor pool and fitness center.

For the sailing enthusiast, there are two prestigious sailing clubs to be found in West Mersea and the Yacht Club and moorings at nearby Tollesbury.


SCHOOLS

There are a choice of highly respected local primary schools at the nearby villages of Birch, Layer De La Haye and Langenhoe. Priority admission from this home is for Birch.

Secondary schooling facilities in the city centre include Colchester Royal Grammar School and the Girls High School, Phillip Morant Comprehensive School, St Mary's School for Girls, Oxford House and Colchester Prep and High School all only a 20 minute journey. There is also a school bus from the nearby Peldon Rose .

Holmwood House prep and independent school at Stanway is only 20-25 minutes by car


HISTORY

Little Wigborough is mentioned in the Domesday Book under the name of Wigheberga, with the land belonging to Hamo Dapifer. The manor of Copt Hall, now owned by the National Trust, was held by the Earls Gloucester. In the early 17th century, Sir John Cotton sold the manor to the Governors of the Charterhouse and it was held by them until recent times.

Little Wigborough's other claim to fame relates to the German Zeppelin L33 which crashed across the lane at 1 am on Sunday 24th Sept 1916. This was one of the first airships to fall on English soil in the World War .The countryside was suddenly lit up by flames from the gas bag as the commander fired his ship. Nearby cottages at New Hall Farm narrowly escaped being hit or burnt. A framed account destruction of the Zeppelin hangs in the church together with a section of the airship.



TENURE - Freehold
COUNCIL TAX - F
LOCAL AUTHORITY - Colchester City Council

SERVICES
Mains electricity, water, oil fired central heating and private drainage