Graycroft

About the House cont'd

The property is in a peaceful rural location towards the end of a no through lane. It has a plot of just under 50 acres which includes garden, paddocks and woodland and has panoramic views to the rear over the surrounding countryside. This rural tranquillity is combined with the convenience of being only 15 minutes’ drive from amenities in Stevenage including commuter services to London in just 23 minutes.

History and Heritage

The house and attached barn were given Grade II listed status in May 1984 as a property of particular historical or architectural interest. The house dates back to the 16th century and is timber framed with basketwork panelled pargetting on the first floor, weatherboarding on the ground floor and a steep thatched roof. The other part of the roof is tiled.The house underwent a comprehensive refurbishment programme by previous owners in 1999, and the current vendors had a new thatched roof done in the last 12 months and have also upgraded the electrics in the house with a new fuse box and spotlights, and installed a new oil tank. They have also completely replaced the electricity to the equestrian facilities. There are now fire and intruder alarms for both the stables and house on separate circuits, and a motion sensor system in the stable yard.

Ground Floor

The front door opens into an entrance hall which has tiled flooring, coat hanging space, stairs to the first floor and access to the rear hall and dining room. There is also a part glazed door to the boot room which has a built-in double cupboard, a door to a two piece cloakroom and a door and window to the courtyard at the rear. The vendors mainly access the property via a second rear door which leads into a utility area.

Reception Rooms

The drawing room has a double height ceiling with exposed beams and A frames, two windows overlooking the front garden, and part glazed double doors to the rear courtyard. There is a brick chimney breast with a fireplace which houses a log burning stove. An opening with a step leads to the dual aspect dining room which has windows to the front and rear, exposed beams and timbers, and wood flooring.The breakfast/family room has space for a seating area as well as for a breakfast table and chairs. There is a feature fireplace housing a log burning stove, triple aspect windows, exposed wood flooring and exposed beams and timbers.

Kitchen and Utility Area

The kitchen has a tiled floor, a range of base units, original beams and a Belfast sink set under a window which overlooks the front garden. There is an oil fired Aga, and space for a cooker, a fridge/freezer and a dishwasher. A door leads to the space under the stairs which is shelved and is used as a pantry.Another door leads to a rear hall which has a door to the entrance hall and an opening to the utility area which has a wall mounted boiler and space and plumbing for a washing machine and a tumble dryer.

Main First Floor

The stairs from the entrance hall lead to a landing which has a shelved linen cupboard and access to an attic for storage, two interconnected double bedrooms and a bathroom which has a bath with a shower over, a pedestal washbasin and a WC. A rear landing, with three windows overlooking the courtyard, leads to the principal bedroom which has a high ceiling, exposed beams and timbers and low level windows to the front. The en suite has a bath with a shower over, a WC and a pedestal washbasin.

Other Bedrooms and Annexe Potential

A door from the drawing room leads to a ground floor bedroom which has glazed double doors to the front garden. Sliding doors lead to a rear lobby which has access to a three piece shower room, a door to the courtyard, and a spiral staircase which leads to a further double bedroom on the first floor. These rooms could be converted into a self-contained annexe if desired.

Gardens and Grounds

The house and yard are located at the highest point of the property and have far reaching rural views over the adjoining paddocks and undulating Hertfordshire countryside beyond. The land is a particular feature of the property, and extends to just under 50 acres with gardens, post and railed paddocks, and woodland areas. It is rare to find a property with this much land so close to London.The house is set well back from a no through lane and has five bar gates opening to a gravel drive which provides parking and access to the house and outbuildings. The garden at the front and side is mainly lawned with several mature trees interspersed and established hedge borders providing screening. At the rear, between the house and stableyard, there is an extensive paved courtyard with inset trees and shrubs and ample space for al fresco entertaining.

Outbuildings

Across the courtyard from teh main house there is an over 24 ft. by 11 ft 8 barn. This is currently used for storage but has scope, subject to any necessary permissions, to be converted into ancillary accommodation such as a gym or games room. The new oil tank is enclosed close board fencing and there is an open fronted wood store.The garage/store is located by the barn and is accessed via double doors.

Equestrian Facilities

A gated arch leads from the courtyard to the stable yard which is enclosed on three sides by stables with the fourth side open to a paved area with space to park horse boxes. The centre of the stable yard is lawned with a greenhouse and several raised vegetable beds. The brick built stables have twelve stables, all of which are large enough to be used as foaling boxes if required and which all have high ceilings for a feeling of space. Two of the stables have doors to a rug store and there is also a tack room. A gate leads to the rear yard which has a covered tractor barn, a garage/store, and a hay barn which measures over 60 ft. long and has space for additional stabling if required.

Equestrian Facilities cont'd

The yard also has access to a five horse Monarch horse walker and a 20m. diameter lunge pen which has an Andrew Bowen propell part wax surface. Gates on either side of the yard give access to stone paths which lead to the three day paddocks which all have water troughs and are surrounded by post and rail fencing, and to the 60 x 20m Olympic standard training arena which was added by the vendors and has a Martin Collins Clopf surface. The vendors also added a sand and rubber gallop track.

Equestrian Access

The property benefits from an additional entrance with a right of way over the neighbouring property on the left. All the pastures have water supplied, and the pasture land can also be accessed via gates from Whempstead Road. The property has direct access to off road hacking and is conveniently situated for access to other equestrian centres including Silver Leys Polo club which is about 11 miles or 24 minutes’ drive away, and Brook Farm Equine Centre and Keysoe Equestrian Centre which are 49 minutes’ and an hour’s drive respectively.

Locality

The property is 1.1 miles from Benington village which has a Cof E primary school which is rated good by Ofsted, two churches, two public houses, a doctors’ surgery, and a village hall which hosts a range of clubs including badminton, pilates, a gardening club, a film club and coffee mornings. Private schooling in the area includes Heath Mount School in Watton at Stone, Kingshott school in Hitchin ad Haileybury School in Hertford.For a wider range of amenities, it is within 15 minutes’ drive of Stevenage which has an historic old town with a selection of shops, cafes, restaurants, and public houses. The new town has a large pedestrianized shopping centre and retails parks, with many high street brands including Marks and Spencer, and Asda, Tesco, Aldi and Sainsbury supermarkets. By the train station, there is the Gordon Craig Theatre, and a Leisure Park which has a David Lloyd Health Club, restaurants, bars, a bowling alley and 16 screen Cineworld complex. For the commuter, Stevenage railway station has Thameslink services to Kings Cross and City stations, as well as connections to Cambridge and Peterborough.