Fiddlers Croft, Little Hadham, Hertfordshire

This Grade II*-listed four-bedroom home lies within the Hertfordshire countryside. Dating from the late 1500s, the house is brimming with period features, including brick-mullioned windows and 17th-century decorative friezes. The house is surrounded by two and a half acres of gardens and woodland, and the bustling market town of Bishop’s Stortford is a short drive away. From here, there are regular rail services to central London in approximately 40 minutes.

Setting the Scene

Built in the late 16th century, Fiddlers Croft was home to violin maker Nicholas Pamphilon in the 1700s. A double frieze of violins above an external door is a marker of his legacy.

A wealth of period details are found inside, including elaborate plasterwork motifs of roses and thistles commemorating the Union of the Crowns in 1603, and lion motifs thought to relate to the Capel family, who had their seat at nearby Hadham Hall up to 1668.

The Grand Tour

A round-arched timber door opens onto a welcoming entrance hall with parquet flooring underfoot. It leads to two reception rooms, both with pretty window seats sitting below brick-mullioned windows.

A bright kitchen is a more recent addition to the house. Bespoke cabinetry is washed in a soft green hue, and Crittall-style glazing opens onto a paved garden terrace. A butler sink has brass fittings, and appliances include a Smeg range cooker and a Smeg fridge/freezer.

Four bedrooms lie on the first floor, as well as an additional room with eaves storage. The main bedroom has an original brick fireplace and an en suite bathroom with casement windows. In the second bedroom, an original chimney breast is adorned with friezes of roses and thistles. There is a shared shower room with a Lefroy Brooks shower, its terracotta tiling complementing brick-mullioned windows.

The Great Outdoors

Two-and-a-half acres of beautifully landscaped gardens surround the house, including borders filled with a wonderful variety of plants and shrubbery.

Hedges, trees and woodland create a sense of privacy and remove, while a greenhouse provides opportunities for home-grown fruit and vegetables.

There is a garage connected to the house and a separate timber-framed car port.

Out and About

Little Hadham is a peaceful village with a village hall, a local primary school and a 16th century tavern, the Nags Head. The neighbouring village of Much Hadham is home to a village hall, a primary school, a convenience store, a doctor's surgery and a popular pub, The Bull.

The larger market town of Bishop’s Stortford is a five-minute drive from the house. It has a broad range of shops and supermarkets and offers many dining options, such as Cyclo Pho & Vietnamese Café, and Paisa, a popular wine bar that also serves a range of delectable antipasti platters. Le Peche Mignon is an excellent spot for breakfast or for stocking up on deli goods.

There are plenty of opportunities for exploring nature in the local area. The National Trust-maintained Hatfield Forest is a 20-minute drive from the house, while Audley End House and Gardens, a large Victorian estate with exquisite gardens, is also close by. The latter also hosts excellent live music events during the summer.

There are several well-regarded primary and secondary schools close by, including Bishop’s Stortford College, Hockerill Anglo-European College and Saffron Walden County High.

Despite its rural setting, the house is well-positioned for easy access to London. Regular services run from Bishop’s Stortford to Tottenham Hale in 26 minutes, and London Liverpool Street in 40 minutes.

For international travel, Stansted Airport is a 14-minute drive away. There is easy access by car to the national motorway system via the A120, the M11 and the M25.

Council Tax Band: G