Flax Cottage is not a house that requires explanation. Rare, individual and quietly unforgettable, it is a home you walk into and instinctively understand.

Dating back to the 1600s, it stands on Ham Common with an unforced sense of assurance - double fronted and beautifully symmetrical, softened by climbing roses and set behind sturdy railings. It presents with composure, its condition belying its age. Pretty, certainly. But that is only the prelude. Inside is where the house reveals itself.

The ground floor has an ease that is immediately felt rather than explained. Spaces flow naturally around a generous central hearth - aged brick, wood burner, and wide old floorboards worn to a rich, honeyed patina. Original beams trace the ceilings above, grounding the house in its history while never weighing it down. The atmosphere is mellow and instinctively comfortable; nothing jars, nothing competes.

From here, the house opens into something quite special: a light-filled garden room of real architectural integrity. Not a conservatory, but a beautifully engineered space that feels almost external - all structure, glass and flagstone

The kitchen continues the theme of restraint. Spacious, bright, it favours clean lines and matt black cabinetry that absorbs the light rather than clamouring for attention. It is calm and unobtrusive - a room that simply allows you to be.

Upstairs, the mood shifts again. A gently curving staircase leads to a wide landing, where a beautifully judged window frames the garden below. Bedrooms are serene and pared back, allowing the architecture to speak. Those overlooking the Common feel wholesome and restorative, with sash windows opening onto ducks on the pond and the green expanse beyond.
The principal suite is exceptional. Perfectly proportioned and deeply tranquil, it combines aged floorboards, exposed original brickwork and a sense of quiet enclosure.

Then there is the garden.

At just shy of 1/2 an acre, it is extraordinary in scale - country proportions, yet firmly part of village life. A deep York-stone terrace sets the tone, large enough for long lunches, summer parties and significant celebrations. Beyond, the garden unfolds with rhythm and intent: sweeping lawn, sculpted borders, mature trees, soft contours and constant visual interest. A pond sits quietly within the landscape, and at the far end, a beautifully executed, fully self-contained studio provides remarkable flexibility. With its own independent entrance via the side alleyway, it offers complete autonomy for guests, work or extended stays.