Winchester Road, Alresford

THE PROPERTY Hills Lea is a charming detached property, beautifully renovated and extended over the years by the current owners, who have transformed this property into a four/five bedroomed home over two floors, with bathrooms on each floor, making a truly versatile property for all generations of families.

Hills Lea is found set back from the road by a deep area of grass leading to the walled entrance to the property, and benefits from a large area of parking and covered car port. A covered entrance opens into a welcoming hallway with wooden floors which lead to all reception rooms and has stairs to the first floor.

There are two reception rooms to the front of the property, which each have essences of the original single storey property with high ceilings and picture rails. One is currently used as a snug/playroom, and features a large bay window to the front and a cozy woodburning stove inset into a brick hearth. The other reception room is another good-sized room and has been used as both a study and/or Bedroom Five.

There is a large shower room on the ground floor, adding to the versatility of the property, and is fitted with a double shower, wc, basin inset into useful cupboards beneath, and has a large cupboard houses the gas fired boiler, pressurised water tank and water softener.

The rear of the house is the hub of this home, having been beautifully extended to create a wonderful open plan living/kitchen/dining room, with large woodburning stove built into a brick built chimney, and has a wall of windows and doors to the garden, flooding the room with light. The kitchen area itself has underfloor heating on a parquet floor, and is fitted with a wealth of fitted cabinetry in a soft blue under wooden work tops, with a charming inset brick alcove with space for a large range cooker.

The first floor landing leads to all main bedrooms, and has a large hatch into the loft, which has power, light and is mainly boarded, with a fold down wooden ladder. The Principal Bedroom overlooks the rear garden and features wooden panelling on the walls and ceiling. It is an L-shaped room with a wardrobe hanging area to one side, and there is access into useful eaves storage. The ensuite shower room with a large double walk-in shower cubicle with rainfall shower., wc and basin set into a vanity unit with useful drawer storage.

Bedroom Two is a good-sized double bedroom, with a fitted wardrobe cupboard, and features elevated views across rooftops to the water meadows and fields beyond. Bedroom three is a lovely sized double room with inset shelving, wardrobes and windows to the front and rear gardens. Bedroom four is a large single room, with a large velux window. The family bathroom features a charming freestanding roll top bath, wc, and basin inset into a unit with storage drawers.

Gardens: The plot of Hills Lea comprises 0.19 acres, and the garden is a particular joy. Being predominantly south facing, it features deep paved terrace under a green oak and glass covered veranda, covered with wisteria. There is a step up to a long expanse of lawn with flowering borders, trees and raised vegetable patches, from where there is a fenced and gated area into an enclosure with a charming shepherds hut, ideal for children's sleepovers and fitted with bunk beds, a large wooden shed and a chicken coup. To one side of the garden has side access into the study/gym, which has power, light and plumbing, and is open into the garage area. However, it also features a fun open sided barn, currently used as a games area and outside bar, also with electrics.

The front of the property is set back from the road by a large area of lawn, (technically owned by highways but has been managed by the homeowners over many years), leading to a walled entrance to the property, where there is a large expanse of parking and under cover car port.

USEFUL INFORMATION:

Original property is understood to date from the 1940s, bought by current owners in 2007 and subsequently undergone a programme of extensions. The first build programme was undertaken in 2008/2009 to create a two-storey extension to the rear and first floor. The second extension was to the side and rear and added a further bedroom to the first floor (now Bedroom Two) undertaken in 2016.

Heating: Gas central heating (gas boiler and pressurised water tank were installed in 2012, and last serviced in September 2024). Underfloor heating in kitchen area. Log burning stoves in both the playroom and sitting area within kitchen/dining/living room. Electrics: new electrical certificate issued in 2024.

Parking: ample parking to the front of the property, and covered car port to side.

Tenure; Freehold. Council Tax Band D, EPC Band C Plot size: 0.19 acres
SERVICES: Mains water, electricity and gas. Private drainage (septic tank, complying to current regulations).
Construction: Original property was red brick under a tiled roof, with modern extensions in 2009 and 2016.
Broadband: (Source: Ofcom) Ultrafast broadband is available in this area, with 1000mbps download and 1000mbps upload.
Flood risk: (Source: Govt Environment Agency) Very Low risk from ground and surface water, rivers, seas and reservoirs.

LOCATION: Hills Lea is set within the beautiful Georgian market town of Alresford, renowned for its colour-washed shop fronts featuring an array of independent shops. The town is historically known for its origins for watercress, for which it holds the renowned Watercress Festival each day, and The Watercress Line steam railway is a much loved feature within Alresford, running steam trains most days of the week between Alresford and Alton. There is a a well-regarded GP surgery and dental practices within the town, and a weekly produce market each Thursday. There are log fired pubs both within the town itself and in most villages which surround it, including the Tichborne Arms in Tichborne and The Flowerpots Inn (known locally as 'The Pots') in Cheriton.

The Alresford Agricultural Show is traditionally held on the first Saturday in September and is a fun day out for all the family. A lesser-known fact is that a funfair arrives in Broad Street in Alresford on a Thursday in October. Its origins are believed to go back centuries and it arrives for one day only, running for the afternoon and finishing by midnight. By the next day, there is barely a sign that it has even been there!

SCHOOLS: Hills Lea enviably in catchment for both Sun Hill Infant and Junior Schools and Perins Academy (senior school). 6th form education can be found at both Peter Symonds 6th Form College and Alton College. Nearby independent schools include Winchester College, St Swithuns, King Edward VI, and preparatory schools such as The Pilgrims School, Twyford School and Princes Mead.

COMMUTING: A regular train service to London Waterloo runs from both Winchester and Alton railway stations. Bus Service: There is a regular bus service from Alresford to both Winchester and Alton.

USEFUL WEBSITES:


(local senior school)
(Peter Symonds 6th form college)
(Alton College 6th form college)
(local GP surgery)
(local dentist)
(another dentist)