Great Hormead, Hertfordshire

Standing within approximately half an acre of mature, formal gardens, together with a further 1.5-acre paddock, this delightful four-bedroom property forms an important part of Great Hormead's historic street scene and is an ideal home for those seeking rural charm with easy accessibility to surrounding market towns and villages.

Believed to date back to circa 1500, with later additions, this beautiful Grade II Listed home is thought to be one of the oldest properties in the village. Featuring a timber-framed structure set upon a brick plinth beneath a pitched red-tiled roof, the house retains many original features that reflect its historic origins and long heritage. Carefully updated over time, it offers a comfortable and practical family home that successfully balances period character with modern day living.

Location

'Judds' offers country living at its best, being centrally located within the pretty  village of Great Hormead within walking distance of the primary school and village hall. Just a couple of miles away, The 'Blind Fiddler' public house in Anstey has a very good reputation for food along with the 'Black Horse' in Brent Pelham.

The market town of Buntingford, less than 3 miles away, offers a traditional High Street, pubs and restaurants plus a regarded secondary school. Because it is so close to Buntingford, you can easily enjoy the rural tranquility of Hormead while having convenient access to the town's shops and services.

The larger town of Bishop s Stortford, around 10 miles away, offers a more comprehensive range of amenities and excellent schools for all ages.

For commuters, the mainline railway station here has good rail links into London Liverpool Street, Cambridge and Stansted International Airport.

The Property

While many period homes have lost their features over years, much remains intact here. Throughout the house, the exposed  timbers have mellowed over centuries to warm honey and biscuit tones, lending a much lighter tone throughout and with the majority of rooms benefitting from dual aspects, natural light filters throughout the house creating a light and bright home rarely associated with a property of this age.

Both reception rooms retain their striking inglenook fireplaces and the living room is further distinguished by its exposed brick floor, a feature that complements the age and character of the house beautifully.

The dining hall is a versatile, open plan space that flows seamlessly into the reception area, whilst the kitchen is fitted in a traditional country style and features an AGA in British Racing Green alongside integrated appliances. A guest cloakroom/WC completes this floor.

The first floor is approached by two separate staircases, with the rooms interconnecting upstairs, a reminder of how the building has evolved and making the house so memorable. The four bedrooms are served by a shower room and a luxury bathroom.

Exterior

The property is approached through gated a five bar gate, leading on to a substantial gravel driveway providing ample parking. The drive leads to a thatched barn, currently used as a garage and workshop, together with an adjoining room presently serving as storage. Offering excellent versatility, this space could readily be adapted to suit a variety of uses. A further five bar gate gives vehicular access to the paddock.

The formal gardens are beautifully maintained, with expansive lawns complemented by an abundance of mature trees, including a number of fruit tress, shrubs and established perennial flowers that provide colour and interest throughout the seasons.

The garden also benefits from a detached kennel, equipped with a heat lamp, a secure space for pets whether for day-to-day or just occasional use.

Beyond the gardens, gated access leads to approximately 1.5 acres of paddock land. In all, the grounds extend to around 2 acres, providing this charming, historic village home with a genuine connection to the surrounding countryside.

Accommodation

Front door opening to a reception area with stairs rising to first floor. Understairs storage. Door to the drawing room. Open plan to:

Dining Hall - 5.03m x 4.37m (16'6" x 14'4")

Dual aspect windows to front and side. Two traditional style column radiators. Wall lights. Door to:

Guest Cloakroom/WC

High flush w.c. Pedestal wash hand basin. Heated towel rail. Tiled floor.

Drawing Room - 5.68m x 4.51m (18'7" x 14'9")

Triple aspect windows and wide double doors opening to the garden terrace. Inglenook fireplace with timber bressummer and cast iron canopy. (open fire currently not in use)

Living Room - 5.02m x 4.18m (16'5" x 13'8")

Dual aspect windows to front and rear. Inglenook fireplace with timber bressummer, housing wood burning stove. Exposed brick floor. Radiator. Door to second staircase rising to first floor.

Kitchen/Breakfast Room - 5.01m x 4.26m (16'5" x 13'11")

Plus recessed entrance with radiator and window to front aspect. Warm and inviting country style kitchen fitted with a range of walls and base cabinets, complemented by wood block work surfaces and matching up-risers. Butler sink and mixer tap with window above overlooking the garden.. Electric 'Aga' fully programable with 'Aims' controller. Integrated appliances to include: 'Siemens' washing machine, dishwasher , fridge/freezer and 'Miele' tumble dryer. Cupboard housing 'Grant' oil fired boiler. Kick plate heating. Tiled floor. Windows to front and rear plus door to garden and an additional door opening to the driveway.

First Floor

The main staircase leads to a landing providing access to three bedrooms, including the principal bedroom, and a shower room. Bedroom four and the main bathroom can currently be accessed either through the principal bedroom or via the secondary staircase from the living room. Subject to consents, the principal bedroom is large enough to accommodate the creation of a hallway connecting both sides of the first floor, allowing direct access to bedroom four and the bathroom without passing through the principal bedroom from this landing.

Bedroom - 4.67m x 2.57m (15'3" x 8'5")

Overall measurement at just above floor height. Two windows to rear. Brick chimney breast. Radiator.

Shower Room - 2.84m x 2.77m (9'3" x 9'1")

Independent shower cubicle with curved glazed screen. High flush w.c. Pedestal wash hand basin. Column radiator with chrome overhang rail for towels. Tiled floor. Window to front.

Bedroom - 4.33m x 4.16m (14'2" x 13'7")

Narrowing to 2.6m (8'6") Dual aspect front and side windows. Column radiator. Range of built-in wardrobe and storage cupboards to one wall.

Principal Bedroom - 5.09m x 4.16m (16'8" x 13'7")

Plus deep recess 2.2m x 1.24m (7'2" x 4'0") Front and rear aspect windows, the rear having lovely views over the garden and paddock land beyond. Column radiator. Doors to either side opening to both landings.

Bedroom - 4.12m x 3.05m (13'6" x 10'0")

Dual aspect windows to front and side. Built-in storage cupboard. Radiator.

Luxury Bathroom

A beautifully appointed luxury bathroom featuring a striking freestanding traditional ball-and-claw bath, complemented by a classic pedestal wash hand basin and a high level flush WC. The room is enhanced by a stylish column radiator with a chrome towel rail overhang. Tiled floor. Window to rear.

Services

Mains services connected: Electricity, water and sewerage. Oil fired central heating to radiators. The 'AGA' has (AIMS) The AGA Intelligent Management System with wireless remote control handset. AIMS "learns" how long your AGA takes to heat up or cool down, so it calculates exactly when to switch on to reach full temperature at your pre-set times.

Broadband and mobile phone service availability can be checked at

Listed Status

Entry Name: Judds : Listing Date: 22 February 1967 : Grade: II : Source: Historic England : Source ID: 1101829 : English Heritage Legacy ID: 160326

House. W crosswing c.1500, hall range and rear wing late C16 or early C17, renovated 1724 (date panel on plaster front). Timber frame on brick sill, panelled fan pargetting and steep old red tile roof. A 2-storeys T-plan, 3-cells, internal chimney, lobby entry plan house facing N with entrance moved to E, and 1 1/2 storeys rear wing with half-hipped roof. C18 gable chimney inserted in rear wing. 6 steps to C20 door on W end with flat hood on posts. N front has jettied gabled crosswing on W with curved braces to jetty. Small window beside chimney at junction with wing at site of former door with diamond date plaque over. 2 windows to left with a door between. 2- and 3-light flush casement windows. 6-panel door with flat hood on shaped brackets. 2 bays of crosswing formerly entered separately by twin doors from cross-passage on site of later chimney. Mortices for partition in beam and heavy flat joists in wing. Chimney originally heated hall only. Later fireplace for service end in W wing. Rear wing of unusual construction. Curved tension braces in S gable. 2 bays, with bar-stop to chamfer of cross-beam with ogee jowls on posts. Head of each post linked to floor beam by heavy inclined strut to avoid need for a tie-beam. In front range floor over hall carried on a crossbeam, but an axial beam in E bay, suggesting possible stages in flooring. Notable lack of heated rooms originally in a house of this size. C19 main staircase in E part of main range may have replaced an earlier one there. Andrew Judd recorded as owner in 1544. (RCHM Typescript: Jackson (1983)16).