Sedley Taylor Road, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, CB2

Distinguished & historic detached family home in favourable Cambridge road

Description

Steeped in remarkable academic and scientific heritage, 31 Sedley Taylor Road was originally built for Mr John Cockcroft, later Professor Sir John Cockcroft, who was awarded the Nobel Prize for his pioneering work in splitting the atom using an alpha particle accelerator. Beyond his scientific achievements, Sir John was also an influential figure in Cambridge’s architectural and academic development, serving as the founding Master of Churchill College and contributing to numerous significant building projects. The property continued its extraordinary legacy under the ownership of Professor Sir Neville Mott, another Nobel Laureate recognised for his work in low-temperature conductivity, while a third Nobel Prize winner, Lord Todd, is believed to have rented the house for a period. The home’s unique history has been referenced in a number of autobiographies and publications, further cementing its place within Cambridge’s intellectual and cultural fabric.

Dating from around 1928 and believed to be the first house built on the eastern side of Sedley Taylor Road, the property is constructed with cavity brick elevations beneath a traditional pantiled roof and presents a particularly wide and impressive façade. A southern wing, added a few years after the original construction, has been designed with great care and sensitivity to blend seamlessly with the style and quality of the main house. The accommodation is arranged over two floors and is both well-proportioned and thoughtfully laid out, retaining a number of attractive original features throughout. The triple-aspect drawing room is a particularly striking space and features an open fireplace, oak stripped flooring, a recessed ceiling detail and two sets of French doors opening directly onto the rear garden. The sitting room and dining room benefit from attractive parquet flooring, which extends into part of the reception hall, while large windows throughout the house flood the interiors with natural light, most enjoying a delightful easterly aspect over the garden. The kitchen and breakfast room is generously sized and fitted with a range of base and wall units, a single drainer stainless steel sink, a built-in electric oven and gas hob, and retains the original servants’ bell panel, adding a further touch of character. French doors provide direct access to the garden, enhancing the connection between indoor and outdoor space.

The bedroom accommodation is arranged across the first floor and comprises five well-proportioned rooms, offering flexibility for family living, guest accommodation or working from home. The principal bedroom provides a generous and comfortable retreat, while the additional bedrooms are all well-sized and benefit from good natural light. The layout is complimented by a family bathroom with bidet and a shower room.

Set back from the road, the house is approached via an in-and-out gravel driveway providing parking for several vehicles and framed by a semi-circular bed planted with a variety of colourful trees and shrubs.

The rear garden is a particularly appealing feature, arranged over split levels and bordered by mature trees and planting that provide both privacy and visual interest. The rear elevation of the house is adorned with climbing roses, and an adjoining terrace offers an ideal space for outdoor seating, surrounded by flowers and shrubs. Beyond this lies a wide expanse of lawn, leading to a pergola supported by brick pillars which creates a natural division in the garden. Past the pergola, a more informal area continues with further lawn and trees, contributing to a sense of depth and tranquillity. In total, the grounds extend to approximately 0.45 acres (0.182 hectares), offering a rare combination of space, character and setting within the city.

Location

Sedley Taylor Road is a favoured road located on the south side of the historic University city of Cambridge, just 4 miles from the centre.

For schooling, Sedley Taylor Road is well situated for both Long Road (0.4 miles away) and Hills Road (1.3 miles away) sixth form colleges. For primary schooling, it is catchment for Morley Memorial and for secondary, Coleridge Community college, with a wide array of further independent schooling for all ages available throughout the city including The Leys, St Faith’s, the Stephen Perse Foundation and The Perse school (only 0.8 miles away).

For the commuter, Sedley Taylor Road is 2.1 miles from Cambridge railway station which provides regular services into London Kings Cross and Liverpool Street and beyond. It is also just 0.8 miles from Addenbrookes’ Biomedical Campus and the Royal Papworth Hospital. Cambridge itself has good access to road links including the M11 (Junction 11) to the south towards Stansted Airport and London, and to the north the A14 which in turn gives access to the A1.

Cambridge offers a variety of cultural, recreational and shopping facilities throughout the city, including shopping centres the Grand Arcade (2.8 miles) and the Grafton Centre (3.5 miles). Located just 1.7 miles away is the Cambridge Leisure Park which offers popular restaurants, cinema, bowling alley and the Cambridge Junction, a live music venue. For green spaces, Grantchester Meadows is 3.2 miles away, and there is punting available along the river Cam.

All distances and times are approximate.

Square Footage: 2,524 sq ft


Acreage: 0.45 Acres

Additional Info

Mains Water, Electricity, Gas and Drainage.

There is a restrictive covenant on the property in favour of Trinity College - please ask the agent for more information.