Herds Hill, Downham Road, Stock, Ingatestone, Essex

This is a home with history, character, land and potential, and properties of this nature on the outskirts of Stock rarely come to the market.

Sitting centrally within approximately one acre of grounds, this is a genuinely rare opportunity to create your own forever home with more than a touch of the good life.

From humble beginnings, this characterful property has, over the years, gradually and lovingly evolved into a three/four-bedroom family home, retaining wonderful features throughout.

With immense potential, whether by way of an extension, reconfiguration or wider redevelopment, all subject to the necessary consents, the opportunities here are significant and the rewards could be very handsome indeed.

As it stands, the property provides four bedrooms, a family bathroom, a separate WC, an external laundry room, an en-suite shower room and a split-level hallway with steps leading down into the kitchen. The open-plan lounge diner looks out onto the side gardens and, in true cottage fashion, the accommodation is arranged across different levels, adding to the charm and character that makes this home so unique. Please note, the main bedroom with en-suite is conveniently positioned on the ground floor.

The property sits behind a gated entrance, centrally within its approximately one-acre plot, with gardens on all sides, the majority of which is laid to lawn with well-stocked boundaries. Three outbuildings include an open structure providing covered parking, an enclosed storage shed, and a double garage with workshop area.

Further points of note include oil radiator heating, a glorious westerly rear aspect and the intriguing possibility, ( subject to consents) of utilising part of the plot for business premises or storage. A truly exceptional package.

HALLWAY

Accessed via both a front door and a characterful rear stable door, this generous split-level hallway is very much the heart of the home.

Part-carpeted and part-tiled, with exposed beams and doors opening to the various rooms, it oozes the kind of character that simply cannot be manufactured.

Steps lead down to the kitchen, and a large double cupboard by the front door neatly houses the boiler, hot water tank and fuse box.

KITCHEN 3.66m x 2.8m (12' x 9'2)

A wonderfully characterful kitchen with windows on three sides and a small internal window looking through to the lounge — a lovely quirky touch.

Wood vinyl flooring sits in keeping with the beamwork to the walls and ceiling, whilst a good range of framed kitchen cabinets with granite tops, provide generous storage alongside space for a dishwasher, fridge, Siemens electric hob, Siemens double oven and a built-in enamel sink unit with mixer taps.

A door opens to an adjoining pantry/store with a rear window and shelving — a very welcome addition.

BATHROOM

Tiled walls complement the three-piece suite, which comprises a push-button WC, a wall-mounted wash basin with mixer taps and a large panel-enclosed bath with mixer taps and separate hand shower over.

A side window, extractor fan and heated towel rail complete this well-proportioned room.

SEPARATE WC

With a tiled floor, side window and low-level WC, this is very much ideally positioned as the practical ‘gardener's' WC.

This WC also adjoins the main bathroom, meaning the two could potentially be combined to create a more impressive and spacious bathroom space, subject to taste and preference.

BEDROOM ONE — GROUND FLOOR 3.75m x 2.87m (12'3 x 9'4)

Exposed beams bring wonderful character to this ground floor bedroom, which benefits from front-facing windows, built-in wardrobes incorporating a dressing table and drawer units, and a door through to the en-suite shower.

EN-SUITE SHOWER ROOM

A generous and well-proportioned en-suite with a three-piece suite comprising a vanity unit with inset basin, a low-level WC and a shower cubicle with electric shower.

LOUNGE/DINING ROOM 6.57m x 4.28m (21'6 x 14')

A gorgeous and characterful room that absolutely epitomises cottage, in the very best possible way.

Split across two levels between a dining area and a sitting area, this room enjoys a front-facing window, a side window and patio doors opening onto the garden.

An impressive brick-built fireplace with wood burner takes centre stage, whilst matching beam divider creates a natural separation between the two zones.

SPLIT-LEVEL LANDING

Just four steps divide the two upper levels, but they deliver that lovely cottage feel that sets this home apart.

An airing cupboard with shelving is also found on the upper level.

BEDROOM TWO 3.64m x 2.79m (11'11 x 9'1)

A double bedroom with two rear-facing windows, exposed beams bring character and two built-in storage cupboards provide excellent space.

BEDROOM THREE 3.47m x 2.59m (11'4 x 8'6)

Positioned on the south side of the property with both front and side windows, this is a lovely light-filled bedroom with exposed beams and useful storage.

BEDROOM FOUR 3.71m x 2.44m (12'2 x 8')

A front-facing bedroom with built-in storage to one wall, exposed beams and a sloping ceiling providing some restricted head height while adding to the cottage charm rather than detracting from it.

OUTSIDE

FRONT & DRIVEWAY

A sweeping driveway with a five-bar gate provides a classic entrance into the property.

A naturally formed driveway leads up to the double garage and off to the detached outbuilding 5.55m x 4.39m (18'2 x 14'4) and covered parking.

Adjacent to the garage is a dog kennel and a path leading through to the enclosed area housing the oil tank.

DOUBLE GARAGE 6.30m x 5.06m > 3.16m (20'8 x 16'7 > 10'4)

Two up-and-over doors provide access into this spacious garage, which has power and light connected and eaves storage above.

To one side, a corner has been walled off to create a dedicated laundry room, with the remaining space within the garage evolving into a very useful workshop area.

LAUNDRY ROOM 2.6m x 1.9m (8'6 x 6'3)

Accessed via a side door from the patio, this practical laundry room has worktops and space for appliances to either side, a very welcome addition for a property of this size.

GARDENS

The gardens extend around all sides of the property and are principally lawn with well-stocked and established boundaries creating a wonderful setting.

Running along the rear boundary is a small stream, adding a charming natural feature to the plot.

The double garage creates a central divide between the two areas of lawn, which interestingly means that if animals were to be kept on the site, they could be kept separate from the rear of the house, a very practical consideration for those with smallholding ambitions.