West Street, Lilley, Hertfordshire, LU2

A Georgian four double bedroom detached house, with a self-contained one bedroom annexe, set on a mature plot approaching 2 acres, in the Hertfordshire village of Lilley. Built in 1810, Lilley House has just under 3,850 sq. ft. of versatile accommodation including the one bedroom annexe. In addition to the four formal reception rooms, an open plan kitchen/breakfast/family room and four double bedrooms, the property also has a cellar, two garage, two stables, a tack room and a barn.

The gardens are laid to patio and lawn, and there is a separate paddock area enclosed by post and rail fencing. The village of Lilley is only 4 miles from Hitchin town centre from where commuter trains, to Kings Cross, take just 29 minutes.

Ground Floor

The front door opens into a porch which has quarry tiled flooring, and a glazed door into the entrance hall which has a staircase to the first floor. The cloakroom has a WC, a wash basin with a mixer tap, and a window to the side.

Principal Reception Rooms

The sitting and dining rooms are both at the front of the property and both have dual aspect windows including arched bay windows, to the side in the sitting room and to the front in the dining room. The sitting room has a feature fireplace with built-in cupboards and display shelving in the chimney recesses on either side, and the dining room has an open fireplace with a cut stone surround and hearth. Glazed double doors lead to the kitchen/breakfast room.

Orangery and Family Room

The orangery has a lantern roof, windows to the side, two sets of glazed double doors to the front and a further set of glazed double doors to the rear. The family room has exposed beams and glazed double doors to a patio in the rear garden for al fresco dining and entertaining. The second cloakroom has a WC, a wash basin with a mixer tap, an obscure glazed window to the side, and a built-in storage cupboard.

Kitchen/Breakfast Room

The kitchen has slate flooring, a range of fitted wall and base units, and a central island, with solid timber work surfaces incorporating a ceramic sink with a mixer tap over. The oil fired Aga is built into a fireplace and has a mantel over. Integrated appliances include an oven with an electric hob with an extractor over, and a dishwasher, and there is space and plumbing for an American style fridge/freezer. A sash window with a built-in window seat overlooks the rear garden. Stairs from the kitchen lead down to the cellar. The breakfast area has a sash window overlooking the rear garden, and space for a table to seat at least six as well as soft seating.

Utility Room

An inner hallway, with a door and a window to the rear, leads to the utility room, which has a range of fitted base units with work surfaces incorporating a Belfast sink, and space and plumbing for a washing machine, a tumble dryer and a fridge.

First Floor

The half galleried landing has a sash window to the front. The dual aspect principal bedroom has sash windows to the front and side, and a range of built-in wardrobes. The en suite has an enclosed corner shower cubicle, a WC, a wash basin and a sash window to the side. There are three further double bedrooms which all have built-in wardrobes or cupboards. These bedrooms share a family bathroom which has a free standing roll top bath with a side filling mixer tap and shower attachment over, a separate double shower cubicle, a WC, and a wash basin with a mixer tap. There is also an integrated double storage cupboard housing the hot water tank and a window to the rear.

Annexe

The detached annexe was converted from a former stable with a hay loft. A part glazed stable door leads into an open plan kitchen/reception room which has a double height ceiling and windows to the side and front. The kitchen has a range of wall and base units with complementary worksurfaces and tiled splashbacks. There is an inset stainless steel sink and drainer with a mixer tap, and an electric hob with an extractor over and a built-in oven below. There is space for a fridge/freezer and a washing machine. The ground floor wet room has an open shower cubicle, a WC and a wash basin with a mixer tap. Steps lead up to the former hay loft which has been converted into a mezzanine bedroom.

Grounds and Gardens

To the side, a five bar gate leads to a gravel driveway which provides off street parking, and the property has two single garages. The front garden is mainly laid to lawn and is enclosed by mature hedge borders. A pedestrian gate and paved pathway, with steps up, lead to the front door. At the rear, a courtyard garden is enclosed by mature hedges and is mainly paved to create a seating area for outdoor entertaining. There are mature flower and shrub beds and borders, and space and plumbing for a hot tub. The remaining rear gardens are mainly laid to lawn with mature trees and shrub beds and borders.

Paddock and Stables

The paddock area is enclosed by a post and rail fence. There are two stables and a tack room which have power, light and water connected.

Situation and Schooling

The property is situated at the entrance to the old village with fields to the rear and to the front neither of which can be built upon. A bus stop a moment’s walk away gives direct and quick access to Hitchin and Hitchin schools. Miles of walking, running, cycling and hacking are available from the doorstep. Lilley is a small, vibrant and social village with an active village hall, church and local pub. Events regularly take place including Christmas carols, New Years’ Eve parties, summer gatherings and BBQs and the Lilley Cinema Club. It takes approximately 8 minutes to drive to Hitchin which has a range of schools including Ofsted Outstanding rated schools. Hitchin is a historic market town with numerous bars, restaurants, and coffee shops in addition to Waitrose, M&S Food, the White Company and Waterstones. Train routes to London from Hitchin or Parkway are regular and reliable with travel to London taking approximately 30 minutes.