Broadfield, Buntingford, Hertfordshire

This wonderful country estate is located in an idyllic setting off a private road in a small hamlet. The main house has an impressive entrance hall providing access to ground and first floor rooms. Accommodation is arranged over two floors with the ground floor having three enormous reception rooms, a huge kitchen/breakfast room and a family room/study. There is also a beautiful sunroom with views across parkland and formal gardens, and a gym. The first floor offers five bedrooms with three bathrooms, with three of the bedrooms having sitting areas. The principal bedroom benefits from a dressing room and a roof terrace.

The front aspect looks onto a charming courtyard which includes Hawksmoor coach house, a Victorian building listed as being of Grade 11* importance. This comprises three original stables to the left wing and a tack room. The right wing is open plan with a vaulted ceiling and could be converted for equestrian use. The first floor has a two bedroomed apartment which is in need of some refurbishment, but which could have multiple benefits. Also located to the front is a triple garage with considerable parking.

The property enjoys spectacular views across circa 15.5 acres of formal gardens, equestrian, agricultural and parkland. The formal grounds include extensive yorkstone terracing, a walled garden, a 17th century rose parterre, and a boating lake. Established planting includes a wealth of mature trees and a rare tulip tree.

Available by separate negotiation, Jasmine Cottage is a completely refurbished thatched property located to the south east, which offers three double bedrooms, two bathrooms and a fully fitted kitchen/breakfast room. It has a private garden with decked terracing and benefits from its own entrance with a right of way through a neighbouring property. We also understand it generates a considerable rental income.

The estate benefits from superb road and rail links to London, via Stevenage (24 minutes to St Pancras) or via Bishop’s Stortford (35 minutes to London Liverpool Street).

The property enjoys spectacular views across circa 15.5 acres of formal gardens, equestrian, agricultural and parkland. The formal grounds include extensive yorkstone terracing ,a walled garden, a 17th century rose parterre, and a boating lake. Established planting includes a wealth of mature trees and a rare tulip tree.

The current house at Broadfield Hall was built in 1939 by William Harston in an art deco style. It still retains many art deco historical details including a grand cantilevered staircase with vaulted ceiling, beautiful fireplaces throughout and original 1930s mahogany dressing room cupboards. For much of the 20th Century, the house was lived in by Prince George of Denmark and his wife Anne Bowes-Lyon, the former Queen Mother’s niece. The Queen Mother and the current King were frequent visitors to the estate.
The site at Broadfield Hall was the heart of the medieval settlement of Broadfield, originally a moated estate. In the early 1600s the estate was inherited by the Pulter family. Arthur Pulter spent vast expense improving the estate and commenced works on a new house with his wife Lady Hester Pulter.
In 1996, nearly 350 years after her death, the manuscripts of Lady Hester Pulter were discovered, and it came to light that whilst living at Broadfield she had been a poet of note. She is now considered an eminent contributor to British literature. Her works include mention of the house and estate, then called Bradfield. The Pulter family’s silverware is still held by Cottered church.
The now Grade II* Listed stable block/coach house facade was designed by Nicholas Hawksmoor, at the time a junior draftsman for Sir Christopher Wren. Jointly they subsequently went on to work on St Paul’s Cathedral and Hampton Court Palace as well as his own six famous churches in London