Norton Road, Letchworth Garden City, SG6 1AE

The Property

Built in 1908, The Pink House is a prime example of an early Garden City property. It has Arts & Crafts influence at its heart, charm and a cottage-like feel throughout, and heaps of potential both inside and out.

At nearly 120 years old, it’s had a new lease of life over the last 18 months. The current owners purchased the property as a project in late 2023, becoming the first new residents in 50 years. However, an upcoming relocation abroad has put a spanner in their works to create a forever home here, and new owners now have an opportunity to take over at The Pink House for its next chapter.

Much has been done already in terms of updating the property, from energy-efficiency measures, to modern comforts, to cosmetic improvements. There’s increased insulation, underfloor heating, as well as a new hot water tank, and the red and green carpets have been replaced with timeless stone flooring. The bathroom transformation is complete, and what was very dated is now super stylish, with gold details and teal tiling.

While the home was extended prior to 2023, the layout hasn’t changed recently. There’s scope to reconfigure rooms, and the owners envisioned an open-plan kitchen/dining/living space at the back of the house. The current kitchen is in the centre. This has wooden cabinetry, ample surfacing and integrated appliances. There’s capacity to cook together, and there’s bar seating to sit calmly with a coffee in the morning.

The rooms at the rear are used right now as a playroom/lounge, an office and a utility room, but these also present the option for an annexe if required, with the advantage of being all on one floor for better accessibility. The utility could become a kitchen, the office a bedroom, and there’s a wet room hidden behind trendy wall panelling.

To the front of the house are two further reception rooms, offering separation when needed. These are set up as a lounge and a dining room, both featuring a brick fireplace. The glazing in the dining room draws in light and makes the room feel more connected to the rest of the accommodation, while the main living spaces all have double doors that lead outside, aiding flow around the property and allowing for getting straight into the gardens on sunny days.

The space at The Pink House works so well for a family, and also for hosting friends. The owners have held celebrations here with no problem. Why hire a hall for a party when there’s plenty of room at home for all the kids to play? And the dining room is ideal for laying out a birthday buffet or to seat everyone for Christmas dinner.

Upstairs, generous space continues, with three big double bedrooms, two with a wall of built-in wardrobes. Bedroom one benefits from outlooks of the field behind the house, and the owners have enjoyed watching out the window as the sun sets and the sky turns pink.

The Plot

The Pink House occupies a plot of 0.25 acres. The frontage has a multi-car driveway that curves around a lawn and leads to the detached double garage. The garage has a workshop/office on the first floor, and may have further annexe potential (stp).

Both front and rear gardens have an extensive array of planting established over many years. Roses flourish at the front, the acer at the entrance is amazing, and bluebells come back every spring. The owners have added new planting too, including fragrant jasmine to grow across the back of the garage.

The rear garden is substantial. The sprawling lawn is edged by shaped borders stocked with planting that blooms throughout the season, with the tamarix’s pink feathery fronds the owners’ favourite. There’s a large patio at the back of the house, and a seating area in the far corner shaded under the towering horse chestnut tree. The field behind is accessed via a gate in the yew hedge. This open greenspace is perfect for dog walks, and you’ll spot lots of butterflies when wandering out here, even birds of prey make an appearance.

The Position

The Pink House is in a coveted, convenient position within easy access of all the Garden City has to offer. Norton Road is only a mile north of the town centre and mainline station, so a commute into the capital from your front door could be as quick as a 25-minute stroll or an 8-minute cycle through Norton Common and a fast train into London St Pancras in as little as 29 minutes. By road, you can be on the M25 in less than half an hour.

There’s something for everyone in Letchworth. The town centre has a wide selection of retail, entertainment and eateries, and being a thriving and historically significant town, there are regular events and cultural activities. Days out include Standalone Farm, sports facilities include the leisure centre, swimming pools, gyms and the golf club, and fun can be found at escape rooms, the karting track and the laser tag experience. For outdoor options, there’s abundant greenspace as well as surrounding Hertfordshire countryside to explore.

For families, the closest school to The Pink House is Ofsted-rated ‘Good’ primary St Nicholas, just a short walk away. Nurseries and secondaries are nearby, and independents in the town include St Francis’ College and St Christopher School.