Preston, Hitchin, Hertfordshire, SG4

History and Specification

This characterful property is in a quiet rural setting. It was originally two, one up one down workers’ cottages which date back to 1805 and have been adapted and extended into the current house. The vendors bought the property in 2002 and added two extensions, one to the west which created a study on the ground floor and a bedroom above with a new staircase linking the two. The other extension added to a previous post war addition with a new two storey extension which created a spacious kitchen/breakfast room on the ground floor and a bedroom and bathroom on the first floor. Great care was taken to use materials in keeping with the older building such as lime mortar, for breathability and an authentic finish.

History cont'd

As well as extending the property the vendors undertook a sympathetic yet comprehensive restoration programme including a new roof, re-wiring, a new kitchen with electric Aga, new bathrooms, new timber windows, and lifting all the floors on the ground floor and adding new insulation and underfloor heating. The finished house and interiors were featured in Period Homes magazine in January 2007 as one of the winners of its Readers’ Awards for 2006. The article, entitled “In Perfect Harmony,” extolled the way that period features had been blended with modern amenities where required. As examples, there are two fully fitted studies, both with far reaching rural views, which facilitate working from home. The balustrade on the galleried first floor landing has been designed to be removable to facilitate getting furniture upstairs.

Ground Floor

The front door opens into a small hall with doors either side to the principal reception rooms. The side hall has a window to the front and stairs to the first floor with an understairs cupboard. The rear hall has a door to the garden, space for a fridge, a shelved pantry and a two piece cloakroom.

Principal Reception Rooms

The dining room has a terracotta tiled floor with underfloor heating, dual aspect windows to the front and rear, a built-in cupboard, and an original staircase to the first floor. The inglenook fireplace has a bressummer beam and a feature bread oven, and houses a wood burning stove from Coalbrookdale. The sitting room also has an inglenook fireplace with a log burning stove. The built-in storage in the chimney recess houses the TV. There is a window to the front and a part glazed door to the terrace in the rear garden.

Home Offices

The study in the west wing extension has dual aspect windows to the front and rear, and a terracotta tiled floor with underfloor heating. The built-in furniture includes a desk and a range of fitted shelves spanning one wall. The other study is over the boot room and is accessed via external stairs. It has a vaulted ceiling with Velux skylights, and a comprehensive range of built-in cupboards, drawers, shelving and a desk.

Kitchen/Breakfast Room

The open plan kitchen/breakfast room measures over 25 ft. by 16 ft. with ceramic tiled flooring throughout. The kitchen has a window to the front and a solid concrete work surface incorporating a Belfast sink and an electric hob with an oven below. A chimney recess houses a two oven electric Aga and there is also a dishwasher. The spacious breakfast area is dual aspect with windows and French doors to the rear garden. There is a range of base units and space for a table and chairs.

Utility Room and Boot Room

The utility room is accessed via the rear hall and has built-in storage, a concrete work surface, and a boiler cupboard. A door to the rear gives access to a covered area which has a door to a walk-in store room and a door to the boot room which has a range of storage units, a butler sink, and space for coats and shoes.

First Floor

The principal bedroom has dual aspect windows, a walk-in wardrobe, and a feature fireplace. The other three bedrooms are also dual aspect and all have far reaching countryside views. There are two bathrooms, one on each landing. The first bathroom has a bath with a shower over, a WC and an Adelphi wash basin. The other bathroom was much praised in the Period Homes article for fittings which are ”pure Victoriana.” The roll top bath was bought from a salvage yard and reconditioned and the other items, including an ornate washstand, were sourced from auction sites. There is tongue and groove panelling to dado height and dual aspect windows.

Gardens and Grounds

There is a gravel parking area in front of the house with space to park at least four cars in addition to the detached double garage. The established rear garden faces due south and is enclosed by a combination of walls and fences, with hedges for screening. An extensive paved terrace spans the width of the property for outside dining and entertaining, and a canopy shelter provides shade over part of it. The rest of the garden is mainly lawned with herbaceous beds and borders, and a wildlife pond. There are numerous mature trees interspersed including silver birch, and an orchard area with apple trees.

Gardens cont'd

The vendors are currently converting a neighbouring barn to live in. The rear boundary of Sootfield Green will be marked by a beech hedge as part of this work and the plot will be approximately 0.8 acres. There will be gated access to, and a right of way over, a secondary access road at the rear allowing an alternative route for machinery into the garden. There is a kennel in the rear garden which has electricity and power and is on the main sewer system.

Locality

The Hertfordshire village of Preston is about 0.5 miles from the property and has a primary school, a cricket club and The Red Lion Pub which was the first community owned pub in the country and was voted North Herts CAMRA Pub of the Year in 2018. There are a range of country walks in all directions. For a wider range of amenities, the village is just 3 miles from Hitchin which has a range of bars, restaurants, and shops. There are three gyms and indoor and outdoor swimming pools, three local theatres and the market square hosts many events including street food evenings and specialist markets. Hitchin has a range of schools including Hitchin Girls’ and Boys’ Secondary Schools which are both rated outstanding by Ofsted. The A1(M) is just over 5 miles away and the M1 at Luton is 7 miles away.

About the House cont'd

The property has a plot of approximately 0.8 acres which includes a parking area for four cars and a private, south facing rear garden.