Location

Halstead: 2 miles; Stisted: 3 miles; A120: 4 miles; Braintree: 6 miles, Kelvedon: 7 miles (Liverpool Street from 48 minutes); A12: 11 miles. Stansted Airport: 21 miles. All distances approximate.

The village of Greensted Green has a café, farm shop/post office and there is a good selection of shops at Halstead. There are several schools in the area including a nursery school in Greensted Green, a village primary school at Stisted, two private schools in the nearby village of Gosfield and Felsted public school to the southwest of Braintree. Whilst remaining in a secluded setting surrounded by unspoilt countryside, the house is well positioned for access to train services from Braintree, Kelvedon or Witham and there is access onto the A120 which is dual carriageway from Braintree to the M11 and Stansted Airport. For the golf enthusiast there are golf courses at Earls Colne, Stisted and Gosfield.

Description

Perces is available for the first time since 1972. The house is located on the edge of the village of Greenstead Green, with open countryside to the front and undulating views across its private parkland and lake. The gardens, parkland and meadows are planted with many specimen trees, spring bulbs and mature borders, providing all-year colour and interest.

This historic, unlisted country house dates from the 16th century and was significantly extended in 1859 . The house offers approximately 4,321 sq ft of accommodation and has a central reception hall extending the full depth of the house with a fine staircase rising to six first floor bedrooms accessed off a main and secondary landing. The four principal bedrooms are orientated to overlook the property's grounds, with far-reaching views. The ground floor has three well-proportioned reception rooms, a traditional farmhouse-style kitchen/breakfast room, a study, a cellar and several service rooms.

Discreetly positioned away from the main house is a three bedroom cottage with its own garden, available by separate negotiation.

Double doors open into a vestibule and into a fine hall, which includes a wide-tread staircase, wooden floor and a door at the rear onto a terrace. There is also a door with stairs down to the cellar. There is a sizeable study with far-reaching views over the lake, and which contains a fine open fireplace.

The conservatory is entered via double doors from the study and is elevated with views over the immediate gardens. At the south-west corner of the house, a light-filled drawing room boasts high ceilings, deep shuttered windows, an open fireplace and a deep bay separated by twin columns with French doors onto a terrace. The main building has a noteworthy dining room with long views to the front and over the courtyard. The appeal of the room is enhanced by its high ceilings, open fireplace and wooden floor. Adjoining and with connecting doorway is the kitchen/breakfast room, extensively fitted and with tall cupboards. An AGA sits within an alcove, with a carved wood surround. Beyond is a back hall with courtyard access, second stairs, a reception room, a utility room and a larder.

The four main bedrooms have high ceilings and deep windows. The principal bedroom has an attractive bathroom with exceptional views and hand-painted curved ceiling over the bath. At the front of the house the views are spectacular and far-reaching. At the rear of the house, with a secondary staircase are two further bedrooms and a bathroom making for an ideal guest suite.

Outside
Perces has a 250 m access drive, shared with a neighbouring property, bounded on one side by mature trees and hedgerows, and the other with parkland fencing, enclosing a lake meadow. The drive spurs right into a broad drive in front of the house, leading to a substantial courtyard bordered by the outbuildings and cottage.

The immediate gardens wrap around three sides of the house, with raised flagstone terraces including secluded areas for al fresco dining. Laid mostly to lawn and studded with a selection of fine specimen trees, the gardens and grounds are a principal feature of the property. A pathway to the south of the house accesses the pool and tennis court and behind a Victorian-style summerhouse there is an area of fruit cages and a vegetable garden. In addition there are two south-facing greenhouses. The lawns include a croquet lawn and blend into meadows, with mown pathways during the summer months. The southerly meadow extends to about 1.3 acres and includes ground level photovoltaic panels with a Feed-In Tariff. To the front of the house is about 8 acres of parkland incorporating a selection of specimen trees and including a private trout lake with an island.

Outbuildings: A substantial attached red-brick former stable block and coach house contains two large storage barns with divisions internally, one with steps to a hayloft. Incorporated within the barns are two tool sheds. Three additional sheds border the courtyard.

Stable Cottage: This is an attached red-brick, three bedroom cottage which has its own parking area and a sizeable private garden, available by separate negotiation.

In all just under 13 acres.

Services
Mains water and electricity. Oil-fired central heating. AGA supplying hot water to the kitchen and main bathroom. Private drainage. Please note under current legislation the private drainage system will need replacing with a compliant treatment plant and it will be the responsibility of the incoming purchaser to install this.

Agent's note
The drive is shared with neighbouring property and is a public footpath.

Directions

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