Parsonage Downs, Great Dunmow, Essex, CM6

A fine Georgian residence, thought to date to 1815, set within an idyllic semi-rural setting with stunning countryside views, yet still within walking distance of the market town of Great Dunmow. The property provides 6/7 bedrooms, six generous receptions, one bedroom detached two storey annexe/barn, indoor swimming pool complex, hard surface tennis court, stunning formal grounds, extensive paddock and double garage via a second gated entrance. EPC exempt.

THE PROPERTY

The Parsonage is a splendid, Georgian residence set within meticulous, landscaped formal grounds. The property remains sympathetic to the features you would expect from the period including generous ceilings and deep sash-windows throughout, resulting in a wonderful blend of vintage charm and present-day styling. The ground floor has five formal reception rooms which are set sensibly around the centrally located farmhouse style kitchen with tiled flooring, generous breakfast bar, oil fired AGA and back up electric oven. The kitchen opens to a delightful breakfast room with glazed ceiling and views to the front and open countryside to the north aspect. It also adjoins to the formal dining room to the rear, with views of the rear garden and further access into the elegant, adjoining dual aspect drawing room with views to the East lawn and arched alcoves to either side of an impressive open fireplace. The sitting room is located to the front of the property, opposite the kitchen, benefitting from a wood burning stove and hidden sliding doors into a most impressive orangery. This wonderful addition opens via bifold doors onto the extensive South facing terrace and lawn and provides under floor heating via a smart app, back up air conditioning/warm air heating, a lantern roof with star light illumination and tiled flooring. There is also a double bedroom to this floor, currently used as a guest suite, located behind the breakfast room with an ensuite and separate ground floor cloakroom. It is important to note that this section and indeed the dining room could be reconfigured to create a more modern open plan kitchen/living/dining space if required – subject to the relevant consents.

A staircase leads down from the breakfast room to an extensive lower ground level, which is a similar footprint to the entire ground floor accommodation. It currently provides a further sitting room, study, shower room, vast storage and utility space with adjoining larder. There is also access into the adjoining double garage. Permission was previously granted to convert one of the rear windows in the sitting room to an entrance door, which would make the whole level self-contained, if an incoming family wanted to create a substantial lower floor apartment (stpp). Most of the infrastructure is already in situ.

To the first floor, is a family bathroom and five double bedrooms, the principal with a well-appointed ensuite bathroom. A further stairway rises to a dressing room or potential 7th bedroom. All of the bedrooms are good size doubles and benefit from views of the garden and or patio and countryside. There is further potential to create a small ensuite shower to bedroom two or indeed potential to give access to the existing family bathroom to create a Jack and Jill.

Supplemental accommodation is offered by the detached barn which provides a charming two storey one bedroom guest space with kitchen, living room and ground floor shower room. In addition, there is the detached 1,700 sq ft indoor leisure complex with feature vaulted ceiling above the heated pool and full bifolding doors that lead to the garden and patio along two sides. Within this building alongside the pool is the hot tub, shower with changing rooms and a separate summer kitchen located at the end of the lower terrace. The pool complex is in excellent condition, constructed just 25 years ago and runs off electricity.

The property is positioned within an idyllic setting; located towards the end of a private driveway (predominantly owned by The Parsonage), set behind a low brick wall with wrought-iron railings and electric security gates. The gravel driveway sweeps around a cobbled turning circle with an elegant water feature, providing ample parking for numerous vehicles. Deep well stocked beds and a front lawn also feature predominantly to a stunning frontage. Beyond the main entrance a second set of electric gates open to a separate driveway which is served by a double garage.

A south-facing terrace positioned off the Orangery offers the ideal spot to relax and enjoy the outlook over the gardens; whilst a further middle tier extends down to a lower-level terrace alongside the pool house and summer kitchen areas. Beautifully manicured flower beds have been well considered in their planting and offer colour and interest throughout the year, surrounding stunning lawns and a picturesque sunken pond, bordered by mature hedging and specimen trees which fill the gardens. A further gated orchard to the south now provides a beautiful, seated area and walkway running along the glorious open views across open countryside, towards St Mary’s church and beyond. This section of the garden also provides a hidden kitchen garden with raised beds. There is also a hard surface tennis court which is in fantastic condition and adjacent to the main entrance, a generous post and rail paddock offering equestrian potential, which backs onto the wonderful views across further open countryside. In all the grounds extend to about 5.8 acres.

This fine home offers the best of both worlds, positioned within walking distance of this popular market town, yet still retains a rare, discreet semi-rural setting at the end of a very private driveway, secluded within its own idyllic gardens and grounds to both sides, neighboring open countryside to one side whilst to the other, it has all the benefits of living within the thriving Dunmow community, which offers all the amenities one could want almost on the door step, or in this case under a mile.

LOCATION

The picturesque, market town of Great Dunmow is home to attractive period properties and offers independent shops, supermarkets, eateries and pubs, along with primary and secondary schools. Excellent travel links provide easy access to Stansted Airport and train services to London, whilst road-users are within reach of the A120 and M11 for links to the wider road network. Well-regarded schooling in the vicinity includes Felsted School, Bishops Stortford College and The Herts & Essex High School along with further schooling in nearby Saffron Walden.

SERVICES

Mains electric and water. Oil fired heating, private drainage. Bore hole for garden water.
Pop-up sprinkler system via a Smart App.