16 Lister Avenue

History & Heritage

The original cottage style property was built in 1929 and several original features have been retained including fireplaces, parquet flooring and the old servants’ bells (no longer operational). The vendors built a two storey extension in 2006 which added the kitchen/dining room, utility room and boot room on the ground floor and the principal bedroom suite on the first floor. The vendors have also undertaken a programme of refurbishment including replacing all the windows with bespoke Aluminium framed double glazed windows which were carefully designed to replicate the appearance of the original 1929 Crittall windows.

Ground Floor

The entrance hall has the original herringbone patterned parquet flooring which continues into the adjoining smaller reception room. There is also parquet flooring in the sitting room but this is currently covered by carpet. The cloakroom off the hall has the original Armitage and Shanks WC and washbasin, and access to understairs storage. The staircase was custom built in 2015/16 and is of oak and wrought iron construction. The original pantry is now used for coat and shoe storage.

Principal Reception Rooms

The triple aspect sitting room has a bay window to the side and a window and doors to the decked terrace in the rear garden. The brick fireplace houses an Elise wood burning stove. Original bi-fold doors connect the sitting room to the smaller reception room which has a bay window with window seat to the front and a feature arched window to the side. There is a brick fireplace with an electric fire, and built-in glazed shelving in the chimney recess.

Home Office

The original kitchen of the property has been divided by a stud wall to create the family area off the kitchen/dining room and a home office which has a door and window to the rear decked terrace. The stud wall could be removed to create a larger family area if preferred.

Kitchen/Dining/Family Room

The kitchen/dining/family room has Karndean flooring throughout. A door from the hall leads into the family area which could alternatively be used as a play room or additional study area. It is open plan to the dining area which has plenty of natural light from two sets of French doors to the terrace in the garden as well as three Velux windows. The roof over the dining area and the Velux windows were replaced in 2023. The kitchen has dual aspect windows and a comprehensive range of full height, wall and base units, including glazed display cabinets, pan drawers, a dresser style unit with cupboards and shelving, and a central island which incorporates a breakfast bar and a preparation sink. Granite work surfaces incorporate a one and a half bowl sink with a recessed drainer. Appliances include a five burner gas hob with an AEG extractor over, a built-in dishwasher and an array of eye level appliances comprising a coffee machine, a double oven and a microwave. There is space and plumbing for an American style fridge/freezer.

Utility Room and Boot Room

The utility room has a range of wall and base units, a sink with double drainer, and space and plumbing for a second dishwasher, a washing machine and tumble dryer. There is a window and door to the side. The boot room has a window and door to the front, and built-in storage spanning one wall which houses the boiler and a pressurised water tank which ensures good pressure throughout the property.

Principal Bedroom Suite

The spacious principal bedroom has a window overlooking the rear garden and a part vaulted ceiling with two Velux windows to the side. The walk-in wardrobe has drawers and hanging space, and a built-in cupboard which houses the Megaflow tank and also has storage space for suitcases. The en suite bathroom has a panelled bath, a separate walk-in shower, a vanity washbasin, a WC and a towel radiator.

Other Bedrooms and Bathrooms

Bedroom two was originally the principal bedroom before the 2006 extension. It has dual aspect windows with views over the gardens, a built-in cupboard and a range of Neville Johnson cupboards and dressing table spanning one wall. The en suite was added in 2015 and has a shower cubicle with a Mira electric shower, a vanity washbasin and a concealed cistern WC. There are three further double bedrooms, two with built-in storage and one with doors to a balcony which has space for seating and views over the rear garden. These bedrooms share the family bathroom which has Villeroy and Boch tiling, a towel radiator, a bath, a separate shower and a washbasin and concealed cistern WC set into a range of vanity storage.

Gardens

The total plot extends to approximately 0.4 acres and includes a vegetable garden which has raised beds with sleeper surrounds, a herb garden, and a hardstanding base for a greenhouse.The entrance leads to an extensive gravel driveway which provides parking and access to the house and outbuilding which is currently used as a workshop. The landscaped gardens wrapround the property and have lawned areas, established herbaceous borders, a rockery, a woodland border and a wildflower meadow. There are gravel paths and paved areas, as well as a raised decked terrace which extends across most of the width of the property at the rear and has space for seating for outside dining and entertaining. Established trees and shrubs include roses, lavender, cotoneaster, pyracanthas, a Maple, a plum tree, a greengage and an apple tree, and there is a laurel hedge for screening.

Situation and Schooling

Hitchin has a wide range of amenities with regular markets, and independent cafes, restaurants, and boutiques in the town centre. Leisure facilities include a swimming pool and the Queen Mother Theatre. Hitchin has a great community spirit, with a variety of community groups and events operating throughout the year, and sports clubs, including football, rugby, cycling, tennis, badminton, fencing and running. Hitchin railway station is on the Great Northern Line and journeys to London and Cambridge both take around 30 minutes. Hitchin is about 9 miles from Luton Airport with a direct bus service linking the two. The A505, A600 and A602 roads intersect in Hitchin, which is about 3 miles from junction 8 of the A1(M) and about 10 miles from junction 10 of the M1. There are several primary schools in Hitchin and secondary schooling at Hitchin Girls School, Hitchin Boys School (both rated outstanding by Ofsted) and The Priory School (which is rated as good).