Great Maplestead, Halstead, Essex, CO9

Beautifully presented and well-proportioned barn conversion, with a separate two bedroom annexe, set in a peaceful location with direct access to open countryside and River Colne.

Description

Hulls Mill Barn is one of five houses that form a small, quiet hamlet, centred around the mill, accessed from a country lane on the edge of the attractive villages of Great Maplestead and Sible Hedingham.

Hulls Mill Barn is a superb conversion of a Grade II listed building which enjoys a fantastic and peaceful location close to the River Colne, which is inhabited by ducks, moorhens and kingfishers, and is well protected by the garden’s own river frontage.

The barn provides four bedrooms, with a further two bedrooms located in an adjacent annexe accessed from a central courtyard. The barn has been designed for flexibility, with the option to be divided into separate quarters, or utilised as one building. The main house extends to approximately 3,356 sq ft with the annexe measuring approximately 450 sq ft.

The property is entered via a stunning vaulted open-plan hall with a polished concrete floor, with a beautiful oak frame on display. The kitchen is a stunning space, extensively fitted with bespoke handmade units with solid oak worktops. A solid oak door leads to a useful walk-in pantry which provides extensive storage. The focal point of the kitchen is a large central island unit which is subdivided and has a five-ring hob with a NEFF oven beneath. Adjacent to this is a sink unit and dishwasher and further storage and there is a range of appliances including an in-built fridge and freezer

The main reception area is segregated by a change in floor to solid oak boards and an attractive curved top partition. This open design space is ideal for family living and large-scale entertaining with a glazed elevation enjoying views of the lane and the meadow beyond. This room also contains some attractive redbrick work from the adjacent former piggery. A wood burner set on a stone plinth provides a focal point and a further solid oak door leads to an inner hall. The remainder of this area comprises a practical boot room which has built in units and worksurfaces. There is a separate cloakroom which also has plumbing for a washing machine and space for a dryer and further storage and shelving.

The inner hall is particularly attractive with exposed brickwork on display and oak flooring, and the second bedroom is accessed directly from here. There is a well-appointed en suite shower room. The principal suite has a door to the courtyard flanked by windows and a part-vaulted ceiling. A threshold leads to a walk-in dressing room providing ample storage and hanging space. A further door leads to a well-appointed fully tiled en suite shower room. The third bedroom has windows overlooking the courtyard and a fully tiled en suite bathroom.

Steps rise to a further oak door which leads to an absolutely stunning room, which is housed in the former stable block. This room has beautiful beams to the walls and ceiling and a triple aspect with a door leading to an attractive gravel courtyard. The room is distinctively divided into two areas - one with painted wooden floorboards which makes a perfect dining room being adjacent to the second kitchen. There is a comfortable seating area behind, from which stairs rise to the first floor.
The kitchen is housed in an attractive part of the building with a green oak frame and eye level windows. A separate oak door leads to a second utility/plant room which has a WC and vanity unit, plumbing for a washing machine and houses the hot water system and boiler.

The first floor of the stables is especially unique and has windows in either gable end and a beautiful vaulted ceiling with oak framework and tie beams crossing above the floorboards. It makes for a wonderful bedroom and has a screen separating a particularly impressive bathroom.

Annexe
Across the courtyard is a purpose-built detached annexe which has been constructed in a barn style with black weatherboarding under a pantile roof. The building offers a reception hall which has oak flooring and oak doors leading to a stunning semi-open-plan lounge/dining room, which has bi-fold doors to a terrace to the rear. There is a kitchen with a large breakfast bar and integral appliances to include an oven, a grill, hob with extractor hood above, integral dishwasher, fridge and freezer. There is also a useful downstairs utility room.

A first floor landing gives access to two spacious bedrooms, served by a well-appointed shower room. At the end of the annexe is a ground floor plant room/workshop with boiler which provides extensive storage space. Furthermore, on the other end of the annexe is an integral garage with an attractive oak front and there is extensive storage in the loft.

Outside
Hulls Mill Barn is nestled along a serene country lane, accessed through a five-bar gate that opens to a spacious parking area bordered by neatly kept hedges, with the annexe positioned ahead. A redbrick wall in Flemish bond and a hazel hedge, divided by a central gate, lead to a delightful courtyard that faces south and west, ensuring complete privacy - perfect for family gatherings. The courtyard features a large pergola with climbing vines, providing ample shade, and is surrounded by bark-chipped and raised brick borders. A purpose-built outdoor kitchen and barbecue area enhance the space, while a cobbled path lined with low-maintenance planters, including hydrangeas, guides visitors to the barn’s main entrance and the stable block/annexe.

Across the lane lies a vast lawn, accessed through a wrought-iron gate and bordered by mature mixed hedging. A picturesque bridge spans a stream, leading to the expansive lawn that stretches to the River Colne, offering stunning views of the river valley and the pastures beyond. The property also features a beautiful jetty, an ideal spot for entertaining with direct access to the river.

About 0.35 acres.

Services
Mains water and electricity. Private drainage (compliant system)

Local authority
Braintree District Council. Council tax bands: House = E, Annexe = A.

Location

Hulls Mill Barn is in a brilliant position, nestled in beautiful countryside yet just 8 miles from Braintree Station, which runs trains to London Liverpool Street Station. The centre of Cambridge is only 30 miles from the house. Famous for its university and college buildings, it is home to plenty of pubs, shops, parks, a weekly market and the River Cam.
The house is close to Molly’s Wood, a 10-acre community nature reserve that hosts an array of events throughout the year. There are ample walks, plenty of which can be accessed directly from the house along the river and through bluebell-filled woods.

There are also many good pubs and restaurants in the nearby villages - from a French bistro-style restaurant (The Secret Garden, in Sudbury) to deli and bar The Foragers’ Retreat in Pebmarsh - as well as local pub The Bell Inn in Castle Hedingham. Six miles away is the hillside town of Halstead which has numerous supermarkets, a family butcher, a bakery and a good selection of independent shops and coffee houses. Approximately 8.3 miles away is Waitrose in Sudbury, a market town that hosts two market days a week and a monthly farmers’ market. Hedingham Castle has an old Norman keep and some very popular jousting events and is within 5 miles of the house.

There are numerous good primary and secondary schools in the area including renowned local primary school St Giles. The house is also in the catchment area for the Colchester grammar schools – Colchester Grammar for Boys and Colchester Girls High – which always top the league tables. There are a number of private schools in the area including Gosfield, Felsted and Stoke College.

Square Footage: 3,356 sq ft


Acreage: 0.35 Acres

Directions

///warping.plants.alley