The Shrubbery occupies a lovely rural hamlet on the outskirts of Woodham Walter village, a pretty village lying northeast of the village of Danbury and west of the historic town of Maldon. The village has two public houses (The Bell and The Cats), a Church of England primary school, two golf clubs (The Warren and Bunsay Downs)

The house has a charming front façade that faces south, overlooking its own private courtyard and including access to its annexe and adjacent Essex barn. The front door lies beneath an inviting veranda and opens into a welcoming entrance hall which runs the full depth of the house and includes a fine staircase. A study at the front of the house contains a full-height window and a full-height door, which provide a good deal of natural light. One of windows is flanked either side by fitted book shelving and the room includes a fireplace with wood burner. At the rear lies a beautiful drawing room featuring curved walls, a full-height window and a full-height door framing lovely views of the property's grounds. The focal point is a cast iron fireplace with marble mantel and pillars. The bespoke kitchen includes an AGA and has been fitted with a contrasting range of Shaker-style units topped with granite, and includes a walk-in pantry. The dining area features a built-in oak dresser with hidden oven and two full-height windows overlooking the front drive, providing lots of natural light. At the end of the room is a bespoke fitted dresser-style unit including a wine rack and book shelving. Adjacent to the kitchen is large back hall with plentiful storage space. The sitting room has a door on to the rear courtyard and enjoys lovely views over the gardens.

A large utility room with clay-tiled floor features a vaulted ceiling and large window. This room is used in conjunction with the main house and annexe combined. Adjacent is a cloakroom. A fitted home office with custom built furniture is orientated to overlook the property's gardens and features some exposed studwork to one wall and restored floor boards.

On the first floor there are four/ five bedrooms. The principal bedroom has deep dual-aspect windows overlooking the courtyard and a spacious en suite bath and shower room featuring a cast iron roll-top bath. There are two/three further bedrooms on this floor serviced by a family bathroom. At the west wing of the house, steps rise to a beautiful turret-style bedroom featuring a semi-circular wall, matching the reception room below.

Annexe
The annexe is attached to the main house with direct access from within, also with external entrances. A delightful snug forms the centrepiece of the annexe and includes a fireplace with wood burner, restored floor boards and a doorway with side lights into a loggia with a brick floor and deep windows framing lovely views of the gardens. The kitchen is fitted with a range of Shaker-style units with a period colour scheme topped with granite with a contrasting exposed wood floor, high ceilings and some exposed studwork. Adjoining is a walk-in temperature controlled wine cellar. The bedroom enjoys lovely views and features a vaulted ceiling. In addition, the annexe has two useful attic spaces.

Outside
The house is screened from the road by mature trees and hedging and has a horseshoe driveway with a substantial gravel area in front of the house and annexe. The annexe courtyard is further secured by double timber gates. Screening the eastern boundary of the courtyard is a detached Essex barn with weatherboard elevations under a pantile roof.

Gardens and grounds
Behind the house is a part-walled, recently landscaped former kitchen garden with herbaceous borders, a vegetable garden and a brick and timber south-facing greenhouse. To the east is a grassed field of about 4.28 acres with frontage to the lane enclosed by mature hedgerows and including lovely mature oak trees and a storage barn. This joins the property's 6.6 acre parkland to the north beyond the walled garden, which has many mature specimen trees and adjoins farmland providing far-reaching countryside views. To the west the garden includes a variety of deciduous trees providing all-year colour and interest and it is planted with masses of spring bulbs and private pathways with seating areas. A flagstone terrace wraps around the house widening to the west and adjoining the turreted side of the house providing an area to enjoy the afternoon sun for al fresco dining.

In all about 13.22 acres.

Agent's Note
The house is 250m from a site proposed (but not agreed) for gravel extraction. The visual impact of the potential site is protected from the house to the south by young woodland and other properties. The garden and views from The Shrubbery are to the north across the Chelmer valley and are unaffected by the potential site. In relation to traffic, the entrance to the potential site is directly away from The Shrubbery on to Maldon Road (A414), some 2 miles from the property.

Services
Oil-fired central heating, mains water, electricity. Private drainage. The drainage may not be compliant with current regulations and therefore it will be the responsibility of the purchaser to upgrade the system (details upon request).

View payable Stamp Duty for this property