Perfectly peaceful period cottage near Chelmsford
If you’re looking for a beautiful home that provides a quiet, rural lifestyle, then this four-bedroom timber-framed cottage could be ideal.
This unlisted period home set in 5.5 acres of land, including formal gardens, a paddock and a spinney, is perfect for nature lovers and peace-seekers alike.
The current owners have lived in this family home in Gubbions Green, near Chelmsford, since 2010 but the house has actually been in their family since the early 1970’s. When asked what she loves most about it, the current owner doesn’t hesitate before saying: “The birds singing! I love the quietness here. I think you’re buying a lifestyle, not just a house, with this property. Living here has even changed how we take holidays. We now look for even more remote settings, so we ride motorbikes across deserts or visit national parks.”
The spacious property has four bedrooms, a family bathroom and three reception rooms. Exposed timber beams and solid oak flooring feature throughout the ground floor. An inglenook fireplace with a wood burner sits in a prominent place in the living room.
The home owner adds: “It’s the lounge that I most enjoy in the house as it has beautiful views and a tranquil atmosphere. I’m also fond of the kitchen, which features glass splashbacks that I had painted in Cadbury’s purple. The bespoke glass was made in Germany and the paint matched to a packet of Cadbury’s Fingers! I’ll be sad to leave it behind.”
Another striking feature of this property is the large outdoor space. The pretty, formal gardens that surround the house include a detached utility room and hot tub. There is also a bespoke greenhouse built out of cedar wood and bricks that were sourced for their colour, allowing them to blend seamlessly with the colour of the house.
Beyond that is a tractor shed and there is also a large car port, garaging, a paddock and stabling. A two-bay Harlow field shelter could also provide housing for a tractor or could easily be converted into additional stabling.
She continues: “My sister and I used to have horses on the paddock, but now we use the field to enjoy the wonderful wildlife and to exercise our dogs.
We really like the traditional sense of community that still exists in the countryside. That said, our nearest neighbours are separated from us by a spinney so there’s also a great sense of privacy and seclusion. We occasionally vacate the car port to play table tennis tournaments in there with our kids. We can put music on without worrying about upsetting our neighbours. We are also lucky enough to have a local butcher and farm shop, as well as eggs and other fresh produce readily available from our neighbours.”
Situated 7.5 miles north of Chelmsford, the house might feel remote in its small hamlet of Gubbions Green, but it is just a stone’s throw away from all the shops and entertainment you could need. The adjoining village, Great Leighs, also has a primary school, a post office and two pubs.
In conclusion, the home owner says: “If it weren’t for my husband’s job, we really wouldn’t be selling this beautiful home. We love it. While I suspect we’ll miss most things about it, one of our favourite aspects of living here is being able to enjoy the sun all day long on the outside seating areas that we’ve intentionally placed both at the front and at the back of the house. We have morning tea at the back of the house, and a beer at the front as the sun goes down.”
Read more about Gubbions Green