Chelmsford Road, Margaret Roding, Dunmow, Essex, CM6

Elegant country house with extensive outbuildings and acreage, being sold with no onward chain.

Description

Steeped in history, Garnish Hall stands on the site of the original Margaret Roding manor, held by Henry Garnett under the de Vers Earls of Oxford between 1329 and 1332. The present house, Grade II listed, is reputedly late 16th century in origin but now largely 18th century in appearance, displaying a handsome pargetted façade and a central pillared entrance porch typical of the Georgian period. Behind its elegant frontage lies a family home of impressive scale and versatility, across approximately 9,700 sq ft of accommodation, including the main house, one-bedroom cottage and a range of converted outbuildings.

The main house is beautifully proportioned and filled with natural light, arranged around a welcoming entrance hall that opens to the principal reception rooms. To one side, the dining room and drawing room form a wonderful pair of entertaining spaces, both featuring large sash windows overlooking the garden. There is a sitting room and study while the boot room and utility provide practical spaces.

At the heart of the home, the kitchen/breakfast room combines traditional detailing with high-quality modern finishes, featuring exposed beams and bespoke cabinetry, flowing through to the bespoke orangery, a later addition adding to the house which opens directly onto the south-facing terrace.

The first floor provides a generous arrangement of eight bedrooms/dressing rooms, including a superb principal suite with its own dressing room and en suite bathroom, as well as several further en suite bedrooms and beautifully refurbished family bathrooms. The galleried landing provides period joinery and exposed timbers.

Beyond the main house lies a courtyard, home to a collection of ancillary buildings - a self-contained one-bedroom cottage provides ideal guest, staff or multigenerational accommodation with its own kitchen, living room, and bathroom. The converted garage block offers flexibility — incorporating a large home office, gym and games room with a galleried studio above. A further range of outbuildings includes a plant room, storage barns, and a triple garage with electric roller doors.

Outside
Garnish Hall is approached through a gated entrance that opens onto a long, tree-lined driveway, creating a grand and private approach leading to the front of the house. The drive continues past the side of the house where there is extensive parking.

Sweeping lawns are interspersed with mature trees, an orchard and areas of woodland, while a charming moat and pond with a decorative water feature add to the sense of tranquillity. To the south, a terrace with a pergola adjoins the orangery, forming a delightful space for outdoor dining and entertaining. There is a tennis court and garden/BBQ room.

All in around 6.5 acres.

Services
Mains water and electricity. Private drainage.

Local authority
Uttlesford District Council. Council tax bands: (house = H, annexe = A).

Location

Garnish Hall is beautifully situated in the small village of Margaret Roding, set well back from the A1060, along a long, tree-lined driveway. The property sits beside the charming Norman parish church of St Margaret of Antioch, surrounded by mature trees and open countryside.
Garnish Hall enjoys excellent road connections. The A1060 provides direct routes east to Chelmsford, around 8 miles away, offering mainline rail services to London Liverpool Street, and west to Great Dunmow, approximately 8 miles distant. Bishop’s Stortford lies roughly 12 miles to the west. The A120 can be accessed at Great Dunmow, providing links to the M11 motorway at Junction 8 (near the A120/A1025 interchange) in about 9 miles, giving connections north towards Cambridge and south towards the M25 and London.
The area is particularly well placed for both state and independent schooling. Felsted School, one of the leading independent schools in Essex, is approximately 11 miles away, while the highly regarded Chelmsford grammar schools, including King Edward VI Grammar School and Chelmsford County High School for Girls, are within easy reach. The wider Chelmsford area also offers excellent primary education, while nearby villages have their own well-rated schools, including Rodings Primary, less than two miles from the property.

Margaret Roding and the surrounding Rodings villages enjoy a network of public footpaths and bridleways, offering opportunities for walking, cycling and horse riding. Local paths connect through open farmland and quiet lanes towards Aythorpe Roding, Leaden Roding and High Roding, and also link into longer routes such as the Flitch Way, which runs from Braintree to Bishop’s Stortford along the old railway line.

Everyday amenities can be found in the nearby market town of Great Dunmow, which offers shops, supermarkets, cafés and restaurants, while the city of Chelmsford provides a full range of retail and leisure facilities.

Square Footage: 5,914 sq ft


Acreage: 6.5 Acres

Directions

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