Weston, Hitchin, Hertfordshire, SG4

Overview cont'd

The windows were replaced about 15 years ago with oak framed double glazed units. There is also a water softener which is housed in the garage. The property sits on a plot of about 0.6 acres with established gardens to the front and side in a peaceful rural location just 1.6 miles walk or 4 minutes’ drive from Weston village which has a convenience store and a bar restaurant.

Ground Floor

The property can be accessed via three entrance doors at the front, rear and side. The main entrance hall is accessed via the door at the rear and has stairs to the first floor and access to a two piece cloakroom. At the front of the house, a tiled canopy shelters an oak door which is used for day to day access to the property and opens into a small hall with access to the dining room and the kitchen/breakfast. The third entrance is at the side and leads into a hall with access to the gym.

Reception Rooms

The three receptions rooms all have exposed ceiling and wall beams and timbers. The sitting room and the adjoining dining room are both carpeted and are connected by a wide opening with timber bracing beams giving a free flow and open feel between the rooms for entertaining. The sitting room has dual aspect windows and a wide brick inglenook fireplace which houses an LPG stove. A door from the dining room leads to the snug which has dual aspect windows, exposed wood flooring, and a feature fireplace with a timber bressummer beam and an LPG stove, and a fitted oak cupboard in the chimney recess on one side.

Garden Room

The bespoke garden room has a handcrafted oak timber frame on low walls, triple aspect windows and two sets of bi-fold doors to paved terraces in the garden for al fresco dining and entertaining. The vaulted ceiling has exposed beams and timbers and a central lantern skylight for additional natural light. There is space for a dining table and chairs as well as a soft seating area for family meals and relaxation.

Kitchen/Breakfast Room

Tiled flooring with underfloor heating continues through an opening from the garden room to the kitchen/breakfast room which has a comprehensive range of full height, wall and base units by John Ladbury which include pan drawers and a breakfast cupboard which is concealed by a pull down shutter door and has shelved storage and power points for appliances such as a toaster and kettle so the work surfaces remain uncluttered. The curving peninsular island has an inset sink with a Quooker boiling water tap, and a raised wooden breakfast bar with space to seat three. Appliances include two fridge/freezers, a Siemens warming drawer and three ovens including a combi oven/microwave and grill. There is also a Miele coffee machine, and a Miele induction hob and BBQ under a wide extractor fan.

Utility Room

A timber framed opening leads to the adjoining utility room which has a range of matching units including a double larder cupboard, and a built-in cupboard which houses the manifolds for the underfloor heating and the programmers for the whole house central heating and water. There are wall and base units for additional storage, an integrated dishwasher, a stainless steel sink and drainer with a flex hose tap and a separate filtered water tap, and space and plumbing for a washing machine and tumble dryer.

Gym

The gym has exposed ceiling beams, wood effect flooring and a window to the side. It has space for several gym machines. There is a staircase to the first floor with a range of built-in oak storage cupboards beneath.

Study

The study is on the first floor and was previously a sixth bedroom which the vendors converted into a study for working from home. It has wall shelves, and an L-shaped range of fitted oak base units with a combination of cupboards and drawers, and a desk.

Annexe Potential

The gym can be accessed from the snug but also has a door to the side hall which could provide a private entrance for an annexe for extended family or guests if required with the gym converted into a sitting room and the stairs leading to a landing with access to a double bedroom, shower room and the study on the first floor.

First Floor

The main stairs lead up to a split level landing which has a window to the rear, and a range of built-in wardrobes. There is access to the loft space which has a light but is not boarded.

Principal Bedroom Suite

The principal bedroom has dual aspect windows, and fitted furniture including a dressing table, drawers, and a range of wardrobes spanning one wall. The luxurious en suite has a freestanding claw footed roll top bath with a shower attachment, a separate corner shower cubicle, heritage pedestal washbasin and WC, and an airing cupboard.

Other Bedrooms and Bathrooms

There are two further double bedrooms off the main landing as well as a single bedroom. One of the bedrooms is dual aspect and has a feature fireplace and a built-in cupboard. The other two bedrooms overlook the front garden and one has a built-in double wardrobe. These bedrooms share a family bathroom which has laminate wood effect flooring, a window to the rear, an inset bath with a shower attachment, a heritage pedestal washbasin, a WC and a Victorian style radiator. A low level door leads from the main landing to the remaining double bedroom which could form part of an annexe if required. It has a wide built-in wardrobe, a high part vaulted ceiling, a window to the side, and exposed beams and timbers.

Other Bedrooms cont'd

A door from the bedroom leads to the landing above the gym which has doors to the study which could be converted to a dressing room if desired, and a contemporary shower room which has a walk-in shower cubicle with a rainwater showerhead, a wide vanity washbasin with drawer storage and a wall hung cabinet above, and a concealed cistern WC. There is wood effect tiled flooring and part tiled walls with inset shelving.

Driveway and Garage

The property is accessed via a shared drive which leads to the former farm house and four other properties which were converted from the original farm buildings. Tile Kiln Farm and three of the other buildings are grouped around a communal area which is laid mainly to gravel with assorted shrubs. This is at the side of the property and is accessed via a wrought iron gate in a low wall with wrought iron fencing which marks the property boundary. A private drive off the shared drive provides parking and leads to the detached double garage and a gravel parking area with space to park additional cars. The garage has two electric up and over doors and houses the Grant boiler and the water softener. A fenced area behind the garage houses the 2500 litre oil tank which is 3 years old and has a 10 year guarantee.

Gardens and Grounds

The garden is a particular highlight and wraps around the house. It is bordered by a clipped mature hedge which screens it from view from the road and communal drive. The front of the property has shaped, split level block paved terraces across the front and overlooking lawned gardens with established herbaceous borders with a variety of plants including hydrangeas, crocosmia, lilies and alstromeria. Climbing plants include clematis and white and blue wisteria. The block paving continues round the house to create a semicircular terrace outside the garden room which has ample space for tables and chairs for relaxing or al fresco entertaining. The terrace continues round to the rear of the house where there is further seating space a covered well. There are inset outside lights in the terrace.

Garden cont'd

The side garden is mainly lawned with a Koi Carp pond with a feature rockery behind with a waterfall feature and assorted planting including Acer trees. Beyond the pond there is a lavender and rose bed, and another flower bed near the hedge bordering the drive is planted with wild flowers including primulas, peonies, and spring flowers and conceals the septic tank which is serviced annually. There is also a wild garden on the side boundary, and a variety of mature trees including apple, pear, plum, cherry and flowering cherry.

Outbuilding

The front garden has access to a detached 231 sq. ft. outbuilding which comprises a WC, a store which has double doors to the garden and can be used for garden machinery storage, and a further L-shaped room which has a range of built-in storage and a sink and could be used as a hobby room or workshop. There is scope, subject to any necessary permissions, to convert this into ancillary accommodation if required.

Location

Weston is a village in North Hertfordshire and benefits from excellent road and rail links. Thameslink from Stevenage Station, 5.5 miles away, runs several trains an hour to Kings Cross and St Pancras, with a journey time of under 30 minutes. Baldock is the nearest town and has direct and frequent rail links to Cambridge. The market town of Hitchin is 6.7 miles away. Weston has a nursery school and a village primary school. There are transport links to the highly rated ‘Knights Templar’ secondary school in Baldock, and the village is also in catchment for Hitchin Girls and Boys Schools. The local village store, post office, hairdresser and The Cricketers public house/restaurant are all within walking distance of the property. The rugby, cricket and tennis clubs and a micro-brewery in the village all contribute to the thriving local community.