8 bed equestrian for sale

Church Road, Tolleshunt Major, Maldon, Essex CM9

Listed house, ancillary converted barn, equestrian and leisure facilities in about 8.10 acres.

Description
Situated within a lovely stretch of countryside, a manageable estate with an ancillary barn offering income potential or multi-generation living. Excellent leisure and equestrian facilities with direct access onto miles of bridleways.

The main house extends to an impressive 3,650 sq ft., with a blend of Georgian elegance and rustic period charm. Behind its symmetrical facade lies a versatile interior, where high-ceilinged reception rooms transition into older wings showcasing historic exposed timber framing. The reception hall features wooden flooring and a wood-burning stove, and provides access to the upper floor. The ground floor includes a dining room - a particularly noteworthy room featuring a deep bay window with integrated seating. Further rooms include a double-aspect sitting room with a log burner, a morning room with east-facing French doors, and a versatile games room complete with a bespoke drinks room. The heart of the home is the kitchen/breakfast room, anchored by a traditional aga. A practical service wing includes a pantry and access to a charming covered veranda. Notably, there is significant potential to extend this wing to mirror the southern elevation, creating a substantial open-plan kitchen (subject to the necessary consents).

Across the first floor are seven to eight flexible bedrooms. The principal suite enjoys private en suite facilities, while the remaining rooms - one currently utilised as a study - are served by a family shower room and a period-style bathroom featuring a roll-top bath.

Set within beautiful, part-walled grounds, the estate offers a blend of leisure, lifestyle, and equestrian facilities, all framed by the serene backdrop of neighbouring farmland.

Leisure & Wellness
The outdoor heated swimming pool serves as a focal point for summer entertaining, featuring a tiled Roman end. The pool terrace provides ample space for al fresco dining and lounging, complemented by a summerhouse equipped with a sauna, hot tub and changing facilities. There is a floodlit tennis court, recently resurfaced by specialists etc, including integrated basketball facilities and professional-grade fencing.

Equestrian Facilities
The equestrian set-up includes an all-weather manege and two separate stable blocks. These offer four full-sized stables, a dedicated tack room and storage. The paddocks, located to the south and bordered by elegant estate fencing, are well-serviced with independent water supplies.

Outbuildings and Garaging
A comprehensive range of outbuildings provides exceptional versatility. This includes a traditional cart lodge and a substantial barn currently housing a gym, alongside various garages and a workshop. Further structures include a dedicated plant/machinery store and the pool’s pump room.

Gardens and Grounds
The grounds feature two fenced ponds: A striking front pond with a floodlit mature tree and a secondary lily pond framed by silver birches. The expansive lawns include a bespoke play area with tree houses, an orchard and a productive kitchen garden with a greenhouse.

Ancillary barn
Extending to approximately 1,868 sq ft, this striking barn conversion offers a blend of heritage charm and versatile modern usage. Having secured planning for ancillary accommodation in 2006, and subsequent permission for holiday let use in 2010, the property presents a rare opportunity for those seeking a stylish guest cottage or a proven secondary income stream. The entrance sets an immediate tone of grandeur, with a soaring hallway showcasing a rich tapestry of exposed timber framing and rustic brickwork. This leads seamlessly into the magnificent 'Great Room' - a breathtaking, vaulted space anchored by a commanding limestone open fireplace. The room features split-level wooden flooring; the raised upper tier is traditionally believed to have served as a stage for local theatrical performances, a testament to the room’s exceptional proportions and acoustic volume. The ground floor further comprises a well-proportioned kitchen/breakfast room and two generous double bedrooms, one featuring an en suite. A separate family bathroom adds a touch of period elegance with its traditional roll-top bath.

Occupying the first floor is a third double bedroom with its own en suite. From here, a unique low-level opening leads through to a spacious snug, providing a tucked-away retreat - ideal for a playroom or media den.

Services
Mains water and electricity. Oil-fired heating. Private drainage (see Agent's Notes).

Local authority
Maldon District Council. Council tax: (house = H, barn = currently zero).

Location
Kelvedon: 8.5 miles (railway station with service to London); sailing at Tollesbury: 5 miles; Beaulieu Park railway station: 15 miles; Chelmsford city: 19 miles (rail service to London). All distances approximate.

The property is located off Church Road, which is a tranquil country lane from Maldon Road, lying equidistant between Goldhanger and Tolleshunt Major, approximately 5 miles from the historic maritime town of Maldon. The nearest mainline railway stations for London Liverpool Street are from Kelvedon or Witham (8.5 miles and 9.6 miles respectively). The cities of Colchester and Chelmsford are 13.3 miles and 19 miles respectively.

The surrounding countryside is quintessentially English: Gentle agricultural landscapes, proximity to the Blackwater estuary, and nearby nature reserves like Old Hall Marshes (rspb) and Tollesbury Wick Marshes (Essex Wildlife Trust), which offer exceptional birdwatching, walking and wildlife experiences amid salt marshes, creeks and grazing lands. Circular trails, such as those around Little Totham and Tolleshunt Major, provide scenic routes through this tranquil terrain.

For families, the nearby village of Tolleshunt d'Arcy (sharing the cluster of Tolleshunt villages) provides St Nicholas C of E Primary School, serving Tolleshunt Major and surrounding areas. Broader amenities are easily accessible in nearby Tiptree, with supermarkets, shops and the famous Wilkin & Sons jam factory, or the vibrant town of Maldon for riverside dining, boutiques and markets.

Square Footage: 3,650 sq ft

Acreage:
8.1 Acres

Directions
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Additional Info
Agent's notes
The barn has modern drainage and the house a septic tank. When setting the guide price consideration was given to the fact that the buyer will need to upgrade the private drainage to the main house to meet regulations.

In 2019 a large oak tree caused some damage to the dining room. The tree was removed, and an engineer conducted satisfactory works to remedy. This is documented accordingly with works being carried out by Bakers of Danbury which was solely internal and exterior decoration.

The planning permission for the barn to be converted to residential carries a section 106 prohibiting the barn to ever be sold off separately and to remain ancillary to the main house. Planning for holiday let uses was also granted in 2010

In 1998 planning permission was granted for the demolition of the existing two-storey building with a replacement including pitch roof (Ref 98/00482). Also in 1998, planning permission was granted for erection of single-storey building over swimming pool (making an indoor pool complex under Ref 98/00928). Both these planning approvals are now lapsed but they appear on MDC website under Rockleys Farm back in 1998.