The Sergeants Mess, Colchester

This impressive property perfectly blends Victorian elegance with modern luxury, showcasing original decorative features, bespoke sash windows, and restored wood panelling. The bright, spacious living areas seamlessly lead into a stylish open-plan kitchen, while the opulent bedrooms boasts en-suites and stunning views.

The Property - This Grade II listed home, originally built with exceptional Victorian architectural merit, seamlessly bonds historical charm with modern luxury.

Upon entering, the sense of space and light as well as a beautiful ornate and original stairwell sets the tone for this meticulously restored home.

The Sergeants Mess retains much of its original Victorian features, including decorative fixtures, bespoke sash windows, and reinstated wood panelling, all of which have been faithfully replicated where necessary.

The living spaces are spacious and light-filled, with a seamless transition from the airy living room via double doors. The open-plan Nicholas Anthony kitchen features sleek grey cabinetry complete with a stylish island. The room is perfectly complimented by beautiful wooden style flooring with underfloor heating which runs throughout the ground floor. There is also direct access to a wide rear patio creating the perfect entertaining space.

Upstairs, two double bedrooms with en-suite bathing and dressing areas offer luxury and comfort, while a third spacious room provides flexibility as a bedroom or study. Every room in this home balances elegance, functionality, and luxury, with soft lighting, plush carpets, and carefully curated furnishings that make each space a serene retreat. With picturesque views connecting the interior to the surrounding historic environment, this home offers a perfect blend of heritage and modern-day living.

The Outside - This stunning home features a private offering a secluded outdoor space. The garden enjoys sunshine throughout the afternoon and is designed to be easily maintainable, ensuring a pleasant but manageable outdoor area for residents.

The exterior of The Sergeants Mess has been thoughtfully restored, featuring new plantings and classically styled balustrades that enhance the original entrances.

The property offers secure, dedicated parking spaces and a gated communal lawn at the front, blending privacy with a sense of community.

This careful balance of traditional and modern design ensures security in this heritage-rich environment.

The Area - The Sergeants Mess is perfectly situated in the heart of Colchester, providing residents with an ideal mix of convenience and tranquillity. A short walk away, the town offers a wide range of amenities, including department stores, high street shops, specialist boutiques, galleries, museums, gyms, theatres, pubs, bars, and a selection of highly-regarded restaurants, all set within Colchester’s historic streets.

For those who enjoy outdoor activities, Colchester boasts an abundance of green spaces. Directly opposite The Sergeants Mess is Abbey Fields, a peaceful and expansive area once home to the Colchester Garrison’s sports and training grounds. Today, it is a lively public space, offering opportunities for cricket, hockey, athletics, outdoor training, and leisurely walks along its tranquil paths.

With its proximity to Colchester’s rich Roman history and modern amenities, The Sergeants Mess offers an exceptional opportunity to enjoy luxury living in a vibrant city steeped in heritage, while maintaining easy access to everything you need for both relaxation and recreation.

Further Information - Tenure: Freehold
Council Tax: Colchester
Construction: Brick
Mains: Water, gas, sewerage, electricity
Seller Position: Need to secure an onward purchase
Management fee: approx £100 per annum

History - Colchester’s military history dates back to 43 AD, when the 20th Legion Valeria Victrix established the first permanent garrison following Emperor Claudius’s conquest of Britain. Originally constructed in 1875 and extended in 1904, 1 The Sergeants Mess is the grandest building within the historic Le Cateau Barracks complex. The site remained a key military garrison through both World Wars and for over 120 years. Today, 1 The Sergeants Mess offers a unique opportunity to own a home that embodies Colchester’s rich military heritage within Britain’s first Roman city.

Listing: Sergeant's mess. c1861. Red brick with yellow brick and limestone dressings, brick ridge and lateral stacks and slate cross-gable roof Single-depth T-shaped plan. EXTERIOR: 2 storeys; 2:3-window range. Projecting left-hand gable, yellow brick plinth, cill and lintel bands, brick eaves cornice and coped gables, ashlar flat heads to 6/6-pane sashes, which are paired on the ground floor of the projecting gable, beneath a tripartite upper window with Caenarvon arch containing simple plate tracery. A single-storey porch in the re-entrant has a raking roof and plane flat-headed doorway. Roof has a square lantern with pyramidal roof and finial. INTERIOR: not inspected. HISTORY: Part of the Le Cateau barracks, which were the first permanent barracks at Colchester camp. The Gothic detail exhibits an unusually ornamental approach to barracks design. Le Cateau is the last surviving example of the new layout of cavalry barracks developed at Aldershot in the 1850s for large scale training camps. (PSA Drawings Collection, NMR, Swindon: Colchester: CTR 130-158; Dietz P: Garrison Ten British Military Towns: London: 1986-: 3-22).
Listing NGR: TL