The Coach House

About the House cont'd

The Coach House has over 5,600 sq. ft. of versatile accommodation some of which could be used as a self-contained annexe if required for extended family or staff. The house combines impressive formal rooms for entertaining with smaller more private spaces for family life, and the formal dining room and the family room both have doors to an extensive paved terrace overlooking the rear garden which has ample space for outside dining and entertaining.

History and Heritage

The property dates back to the mid-1700s and was originally the coach house and stables for Baron Dacres family mansion, The Hoo. It is now the only remaining part of the old mansion. It was converted for residential use in the early 1990s but retains period features including the original arched double doorways for coaches, fireplaces, sash windows and ornate coving and dado rails.

Ground Floor

The wide front door opens into an impressive reception hall which has an Imperial staircase leading to a galleried landing on the first floor. The hall has a black and white tiled floor, a dado rail and ornate ceiling coving.

Principal Reception Room

The drawing room is on the first floor and has a vaulted ceiling with exposed beams and timbers. It is a light airy room with triple aspect windows which have far reaching views to the front, as well as three windows, including a feature arched window, overlooking the stairs. The fireplace has an ornate surround, a marble hearth and an open grate.

Other Reception Rooms

The family room and the dining room are both at the rear of the property with views over the rear garden and French doors to a paved terrace for outside dining and entertaining. The dining room has a vaulted ceiling and both rooms have exposed beams and timbers, and dado rails. The family room also has a feature open fireplace. There is also a dual aspect sitting room and a study which has a dado rail, ornate ceiling coving and fitted bookshelves. Both these rooms overlook pasture land and the valley beyond to the front.

Kitchen/Breakfast Room and Utility Room

The kitchen/breakfast room has dual aspect picture windows overlooking the front and side and a vaulted ceiling with exposed A frames. It is fitted with a comprehensive range of Shaker style units, including glazed display cabinets, with polished granite work surfaces. There is a red two oven Aga and other integrated appliances include two larder fridge/freezers, a dishwasher, a double electric oven and a hob set in a brick recess. There is space for a breakfast table in the centre of the room. The adjoining utility room has additional storage, space for a fridge/freezer, and a door to the side.

Annexe Potential

It is possible to use some of the ground floor rooms as a self-contained annexe if required. A door at the side opens into a small hall with doors to the sitting room, a kitchen and a shower room. The sitting room has a door to a bedroom which has fitted wardrobes spanning one wall and a window to the front.

Bedrooms and Bathrooms

In addition to the bedroom off the sitting room there are two further double bedrooms on the ground floor, both with built-in storage and windows to the rear. These bedrooms share a family bathroom which has a bath, a separate shower cubicle, a WC and twin washbasins. The principal bedroom on the first floor has a vaulted ceiling with exposed timbers, range of built-in storage and two windows overlooking the rear garden. The en suite has been recently refitted and has a bath, a separate shower cubicle, a WC and washbasin. The guest bedroom also overlooks the rear garden and is adjacent to a three piece shower room.

Loft Area

The rest of the first floor is a loft area with almost 600 sq. ft. of storage and light from windows to the landing.

Gardens and Grounds

The property has approximately 2.7 acres of gardens and grounds including a gravel driveway at the front which provides parking for several cars. Tall gates at the side lead to the garage.The enclosed formal gardens have well maintained lawns with mature trees interspersed and established seasonal flowerbeds. The rear terrace has a central feature fountain.The lawns lead down to a fenced all weather tennis court which is surrounded by further grassed areas bordered by tall evergreen hedges. There is also a Wendy House which has its own power supply.

Location

Codicote village has a supermarket and farm shop, two pub restaurants The Globe and The Goat as well as The Codicote Spice Restaurant. There is a sports and community centre with football, cricket and tennis clubs and The Codicote Church of England Primary School with secondary education catered for at the Hitchin Schools. The property is equidistant from the villages of Whitwell and Kimpton. Whitwell has a GPs’ surgery, a tea shop, and a public house, The Bull Inn, which also serves food. Kimpton has a village shop and post office, a GPs’ surgery, a recreation ground, and a pub/restaurant, The Boot.