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£1,700,000

High Wych Road, Sawbridgeworth

Land size
1.3 acres
Bedrooms
6
Bathrooms
3

Key Features

  • Striking period features throughout
  • Large double garage with electric door
  • Underfloor heating
  • Ideal for multi-generation living
  • Prestigous location with a short walk to the town and train station
  • 1.3 acres of historic grounds
  • Planning approved for further enhancements

Description

Set in the heart of Sawbridgeworth House is more than a residence; it is a living chapter of English history. Once home to Thomas Rivers, the pioneering horticulturist whose work reshaped fruit cultivation and brought him into correspondence with Charles Darwin, this distinguished Georgian house is steeped in over 300 years of botanical legacy.

Set within 1.3 acres of beautifully established heritage gardens, the main house offers four elegant bedrooms alongside a self-contained two-bedroom annex. presenting rare flexibility for multi-generational living or future investment. From refined reception rooms every space is designed to inspire and impress.

For those seeking a home with depth, character, and exceptional potential, Bonks Hill House represents a truly rare opportunity.

A refined Georgian home enriched with a contemporary artistic edge
The main house has four bright, beautifully proportioned bedrooms
Generous reception rooms with open fireplaces
Sleek, high-specification kitchen-diner overlooking the gardens with underfloor heating
A considered blend of period floors and fireplaces with elegant modern finishes

Adjoining annex with private living, kitchen & 2 bedrooms
Scope for multi-generational living or guest retreat

Sprawling 1.3-acre estate-style garden once part of the famed Rivers Nursery
Mature trees, historic plantings & open lawns

Large Double Garage with electric door

Shingle driveway with ample parking

Large Outbuilding/storage/office.

*All measurements are approximate and for guidance only. They should not be relied upon as statements of fact and buyers are advised to check measurements themselves.
House & garage: 4140 sq ft
Cellar: 90 sq ft
Barn: 1476 sq ft
4140 + 90 + 1476 = 5706 sq ft

🕰 Historical Legacy:
Home to the Rivers family, founders of Rivers Nursery (est. 1725)
Thomas Rivers pioneered new rose & fruit varieties—like the Early Rivers plum
His son, Thomas Francis Rivers, introduced the Conference pear
The family maintained a 400-acre nursery empire and published horticultural works still in use today
Direct ties to Charles Darwin through botanical collaboration
WWII: Requisitioned by the army; the house has stood through pivotal moments in British history
Now part of the Rivers Heritage Orchard movement

📍 Local Area:
Located in the picturesque Sawbridgeworth, steeped in agricultural and cultural heritage
Minutes to Sawbridgeworth train station with London Liverpool Street access
Excellent local schools, charming pubs, and independent shops
Walking distance to Rivers Heritage Orchard & community events
Quick access to Stansted Airport, M11, Bishop’s Stortford & Harlow

Map Location

Property details

Tenure
Freehold
Council Tax Band
H
Date Posted
2026-05-02

Market Value Analysis

Compared with 1,131 Homes with Land listings in East Anglia (1+ acres).

This Property£1,307,692 / acre
Homes with Land Average (1+ acres) £342,437 / acre
View full market data

Energy Performance Certificate

Energy Efficiency Rating

Very energy efficient - lower running costs
CurrentPotential
(92+)A
(81-91)B
(69-80)C
(55-68)D
(39-54)E
(21-38)F
(1-20)G
58 D
71 C

Based on UK Energy Performance Certificate standards (EU Directive 2002/91/EC)

Running costs are one side. Planning activity, flood history and ground risks for this location are in the full report.

Utilities & Restrictions

Utilities

Electricity
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Water
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Heating
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Broadband
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Sewerage
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Rights & Restrictions

Public Rights of Way
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Private Rights of Way
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Listed Property
Yes
Restrictions
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Listed status, conservation areas and planning constraints for this location are in the full report.

Property Features

Accessibility
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Parking
Garage, Driveway, Off-Street Parking
Garden
Patio, Private Garden

Beyond the particulars: planning activity, flood history, heritage and ground risks, checked for this exact spot.

Connectivity

Broadband

Fastest speed available at this postcode

1.8 Gbps

Gigabit full fibre

Suitable for

  • 4K streaming on every screen
  • Full-time home working
  • Online gaming & big downloads

Mobile signal

CallsDataEE Good GoodO2 Good GoodThree Good GoodVodafone Good Good

Outdoor predictions; indoor signal depends on building materials.

Ofcom Connected Nations postcode-level predictions. Speeds and signal are modelled, not measured, and vary between addresses and providers.

Signal is the easy part. Planning activity, flood history and protected designations here are in the full report.

Nearest Schools

Primary

  • Fawbert and Barnard Infants' School902 metresOfsted: Outstanding
    Ages
    3 to 7
    Pupils
    211
    Type
    Community school
  • Mandeville Primary School0.6 milesOfsted: Good
    Ages
    3 to 11
    Pupils
    318
    Type
    Community school
  • Reedings Junior School0.7 milesNo Ofsted rating
    Ages
    7 to 11
    Pupils
    243
    Type
    Community school
  • High Wych Church of England Primary School0.9 milesNo Ofsted rating
    Ages
    3 to 11
    Pupils
    224
    Type
    Voluntary controlled school
    Faith
    Church of England
  • Harlowbury Primary School1.6 milesOfsted report card · Jun 2026
    Ages
    4 to 11
    Pupils
    184
    Type
    Academy converter

Secondary

  • Leventhorpe0.9 milesOfsted: Good
    Ages
    11 to 18
    Pupils
    1,463
    Type
    Academy converter
  • Mark Hall Academy2.1 milesOfsted: Requires improvement *
    Ages
    11 to 16
    Pupils
    867
    Type
    Academy sponsor led
  • Burnt Mill Academy2.6 milesOfsted: Good
    Ages
    11 to 16
    Pupils
    959
    Type
    Academy converter
  • The Bishop's Stortford High School2.9 milesNo Ofsted rating
    Ages
    11 to 18
    Pupils
    1,279
    Type
    Foundation school
    Gender
    Boys
  • Bmat Stem Academy3.3 milesOfsted: Good
    Ages
    14 to 19
    Pupils
    240
    Type
    University technical college

* Latest graded judgement covers quality of education only; no overall grade was issued under the 2024-25 inspection framework.

Distances are straight-line from the advertised location. Source: the national school registers (DfE, Welsh Government, Scottish Government) and Ofsted.

Schools are just the start: sold prices nearby, planning activity and any flood history are in the full report.

Amenities

Supermarket

Morrisons Daily Sawbridgeworth Bell Street, Sawbridgeworth660 metres
Co-op Sawbridgeworth, Sawbridgeworth699 metres
Tesco Harlow Superstore, Harlow1.7 miles

GP surgery

Central Surgery598 metres

Pharmacy

Bell Pharmacy634 metres

Hospital

Capio Rivers Hospital828 metres

Green space

Public Park Or Garden92 metres

Straight-line distances from the advertised location. Sources: NHS records, Geolytix supermarket locations, OS Open Greenspace and the national trails registers.

The area stacks up? Now check the location itself: planning nearby, protected designations and past flooding.

Getting Around

Nearest station

Sawbridgeworth Rail Station0.9 miles

Nearest bus stop

High Wych Road175 metres

Typical drive times

Harlow9 min · 4.5 miles
Hoddesdon16 min · 11 miles
Sawbridgeworth3 min · 0.8 miles
Chelmsford (city)31 min · 18 miles
Bishop's Stortford12 min · 4.9 miles

Straight-line distances from the advertised location; drive times are typical free-flow times over OpenStreetMap road data, so allow more at peak. Public transport locations from DfT NaPTAN.

Easy to reach matters. So do planning activity, flood history and ground risks: all in the full report.

Flood Risk

From Environment Agency flood map open data, checked around the advertised map pin and allowing for the listed acreage where known. This summary comes from LandSale, the advertising platform, not from the listing agent, and is not part of the agent's particulars. Risk can vary across a single holding, so verify anything critical through your own searches before committing.

Rivers and the sea

Flood Zone 1Lower risk

Surface water

Outside the mapped risk bandsVery low risk

The detail behind these bandings

The full report pinpoints where this location sits on the flood maps, and runs the deeper checks that usually only surface after an offer.

  • Exact flood zones & annual chances (included in the full report)
  • Any recorded past flooding (included in the full report)
  • Planning activity nearby (included in the full report)
  • Heritage & conservation (included in the full report)
  • Protected nature designations (included in the full report)
  • Ground risks (included in the full report)
  • Sold prices nearby (included in the full report)

£14.99 · one-off purchase

By LandSale, the platform. Not provided by the listing agent. Ready in about a minute.

Important notice: Information, maps and tags on this page are supplied by the advertising agent or generated automatically. LandSale has not verified them. Relying on these details is at your own risk, always carry out independent checks before committing to a purchase.

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27 Mile End Road, Mile End, Colchester, CO4 5BU

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