Sandpits Lane, Higham, Colchester, CO7

A beautiful residential equestrian farm featuring a Grade II listed farmhouse set within picturesque private rolling grass fields and woodland.

Description

Residential
Dewlands Farm is a stunning residential and equestrian farm situated in rolling countryside on the north flank of the renowned Stour Valley made famous by John Constable’s landscape paintings. The farmhouse sits down a 400m drive and enjoys views over the surrounding farmland and woodland. The house is approached along quiet country lanes but is easily accessible being only 2 miles from the A12 (Jct 31).

Dewlands Farm House is Grade II listed and is believed to date from the early 16th Century with the impressive front elevations dating from the early 18th Century (Late Georgian/Regency periods). The house, as is typical for the area, presents attractive rendered elevations with steep pitched plain tile roofs with small pane sash windows.

The farm house is approached through electric wooden gates with a pea shingle drive leading to a circular parking area encircling an imposing Scots Pine in front of the principal front elevation. Upon entering the house, the front door leads to the entrance hall with the principal staircase leading to the first floor. The Georgian portion of the house also features a nicely proportioned drawing room and beautifully appointed study with hand crafted book shelves.

The hall leads through to a sitting room which has an inglenook fireplace and wood burner and in turn links with the beautifully furnished kitchen with bespoke ‘Orwell Kitchens’ designed units featuring a 5-oven oil fired Aga and Lacanche Range with hood over The island and fitted units are topped by a granite worktop, which is replicated throughout the kitchen. Leading from the kitchen is a south facing conservatory used as everyday entertaining space and there also plenty of utility space and a boot room.

A beautifully equipped cellar is accessed from the sitting room and has newly fitted wine bins and full environmental control
Stairs from the hall lead to a landing from which all the bedrooms can be accessed. There are five double bedrooms, two of which have been fitted-out to be dressing rooms with
custom-made wardrobe units. There are three bathrooms, each recently re-fitted to a very high standard and style with high quality bathroom fittings.

Equestrian
To the south of the farmhouse are the exceptional equestrian facilities. The stables were built in 2018 to the highest standard of brick and timber clad elevations under slate roofs around a U-shaped yard and comprise:

• 9 Looseboxes, two of which are foaling boxes
• Tack room, feed store and rug/drying room
• Hay and straw store
• Heated wash down area
• Fully plumbed wash room
• Well-appointed 2 bedroom Stable Flat with open plan living room

Adjacent to the yard is a number of fenced turn out and mare and foal paddocks, all with water, a 5-bay Monarch horsewalker, a 60m x 40m arena with Martin Collins Activ Track
surface and muck middens.


Farm Buildings
A particular feature of Dewlands farm is the range of exquisitely refurbished traditional farm buildings. Lying to the west of the farm house they comprise three traditional barns and two ranges of cart sheds and have been converted to provide not only farm storage and garaging but also a home office and entertaining space.

Located towards the centre of the farm is a modern grain store (51” x 41”) and a range of concrete storage bins. Adjacent to these is a pair of timber isolation looseboxes with covered storage and accompanying turn-out paddock which is fenced with a water supply.

Land & Vines
The land at Dewlands Farm is a most attractive mixture of rolling grassland interspersed by mature broadleaf woodland and tree belts. In addition, two south facing fields have had vines recently established.

The grassland is divided into sheltered and well-maintained paddocks with good quality fencing and water troughs to every paddock. The woodland is stocked with a broad variety of indigenous broadleaf species such as Silver Birch, Sweet Chestnut, Oak, Ash, Wild Cherry, Willow and Alder along with some Scots Pine. The smaller tree belts are generally Rowan, Oak and Sweet Chestnut.

At the northern end of the farm 12 acres have been planted with vines. In total there are 18,450 vines: 10,000 Chardonnay and 8,450 Pinot Noir. Clone & rootstocks as follows:

Location

Local amenities are provided at the nearby village of East Bergholt (2 miles) with a local convenience store and two pubs. A broader range of facilities are available from Hadleigh (4½ miles) and Manningtree (6½ miles). The farm is located in a readily accessible part of East Anglia. The A12 (Jct 31) is c.2 miles to the east and provides dual carriage way connections to London and the national motorway network via the M25. There is a regular mainline train service to London from Manningtree that takes around an hour. Stansted Airport is within 42 miles, Southend Airport about 49 miles and London City Airport lies within 69 miles.




Acreage: 225.2 Acres