Bradfield Road, Wix, Manningtree, Essex, CO11

An immaculate Grade II Elizabethan country home occupying well-tended grounds of just under 3 acres with accommodation amounting 7229 sqft.

Wix Priory, a small convent of Benedictine nuns, was founded in the early 12th century in the vicinity. The present farmhouse (known as Wix Abbey) was built as a small Elizabethan Hall House by the Vesey family between 1561 and 1575, the land having previously been granted to Cardinal’s College Oxford after the Suppression.

The Title of Lord of the Manor of Wix Abbey predates the house, having been held by Cardinal Wolsey (1525) and then King Henry VIII; it was subsequently acquired by William and Robert Vesey in 1561 and stayed with successive owners until the early 19th century. It was purchased back by the owners of Wix Abbey in 2001 at an auction of manorial titles under the auspices of the Manorial Society of Great Britain.

Accommodation

Ground floor

From the entrance vestibule; a solid entrance door opens to a grand reception hall with 10’ high ceiling and elegant staircase leading to the first floor accommodation with further secondary staircase and stairs down to the cellar.
Cloakroom facilities provide a toilet and wash hand basin. The main drawing room has an impressive open fireplace with carved stone surround, wooden flooring and window seat with a secret door bookcase leading down to a large studio with exposed brickwork, with part vaulted ceilings with four sky lights, attractive wooden flooring and a triple aspect including French doors leading out to the garden. A further sitting room has an open fireplace with stone surround, built-in cupboards and shelving, wooden flooring and a walk-in storage room. The kitchen/breakfast room is an impressive room with attractive quarry tiled flooring, fitted with bespoke kitchen units with dresser style painted units, a range of marble work surfaces with cupboards and drawers beneath with double bowl sink and drainer with plumbing for a dishwasher. Set into the chimney breast is a green four oven oil fired Aga an additional two ring electric hob and an electric oven. Double doors lead through to the dining room with window seat and tiled flooring. A side hallway provides access to a
boot room, utility room housing the oil fired boiler and a further cloakroom.

First floor

Stairs lead up to the large first floor landing with ample storage with cupboards and shelving. There are window seats overlooking the grounds and stairs leading up to the attic room. The principal bedroom has a newly fitted en-suite bathroom and ample wardrobe space.

A further double bedroom has views over the front garden and also has a new en-suite bathroom, a box window seat and built in wardrobes. The fifth bedroom is found over the entrance vestibule with views over the central pond whilst at the other end of the house are two further double bedrooms both with built-in wardrobes and a main shared family bathroom.

Outside

A gated driveway leads down through lawns with orchard to the garaging providing ample parking. An archway leads through the wall, the remainder of the front garden predominantly laid to lawn with a central 110’ long feature pond with beech trees. A low wall screens a shingle area in front of the house with pedestrian access to the side.
The property stands in magnificent mature gardens which have been beautifully laid out to the rear with a number of mature yew hedges, creating a series of compartments throughout the grounds. An extensive flagged terrace runs across the rear of the property overlooking a gravelled parterre with central fountain with further yew hedged side garden with gently raised beds and sunken fish pond with water feature and brick paving. These both lead out onto extensive lawns with a variety of established trees and lead round behind the church where there is a hard tennis court with a pavilion 14’ x 8’, further pond and silver birch trees.

Directions

From Colchester proceed easterly along the A120 until reaching the roundabout by the Horsley Cross water
tower. Proceed straight over and take the 2nd turning on the right hand side into Wix. Proceed to the cross
roads turning right onto the Bradfield road, continuing past a right hand turn signposted Wrabness, turning
right just after at the sign to the church and proceed down the lane where the entrance to Wix Abbey is
found on the right hand side.

Location

Wix Abbey is situated on the outskirts of the village of Wix on the road to Bradfield. The village itself has good local facilities including a local shop, garage, public house, various other small businesses as well as a primary school. Manningtree is the nearest town providing facilities including shops, pubs, restaurants and schools together with access to the River Stour for the boating enthusiast whilst there is a mainline railway station with regular trains running direct to London’s Liverpool Street from just over 1 hour.

The area is well situated with straightforward access onto the A120 taking you down to the Port of Harwich and attractive walks in the nearby Wrabness woods. The A120 links back to Colchester and beyond onto the A12, linking the A14 and M25.

Colchester’s town centre is surrounded by its Roman walls and is steeped in history, including its Norman
castle. The town centre provides much of what is expected of a major town with many national retailers and specialists shops, bars and restaurants catering for most tastes. The town centre also has its own multi-screen cinema, the Mercury Theatre and the Firstsite Art Gallery.

Excellent schooling includes the leading Grammar Schools. Further educational facilities are found in the
town centre, with not only a Sixth Form College, but the Colchester Institute, whilst on the eastern outskirts of the town is the University of Essex.

For the commuter Colchester’s North Station provides mainline services terminating at London’s Liverpool
Street with most journey times scheduled for just under an hour. For the road user there is also easy access leading down to the A12 to the M25 and beyond.