4 bed detached house for sale in Frognall, Grove Road, Wickhambreaux CT3

Estate Agent Description

Frognall comprises a substantial, Grade II Listed detached house constructed in the 18th Century, possibly on the site of an earlier dwelling, with a late 18th/early 19th Century rendered front elevation. The house is constructed of brick with predominantly sash and casement windows (some with original shutters) under a pitched, Kent peg tiled roof. Approached from Grove Road via a long, private drive flanked by hedgerows and woodland (a former paddock), this terminates in a parking area in front of the three garages. On the open market for the first time since 1960, this potentially fine house formed the principal dwelling of a larger landholding at one time. The property now requires extensive renovation throughout but provides the opportunity to create a wonderful period home in an utterly unspoilt rural setting.

Accommodation:

On the ground floor an entrance porch and front door open to an entrance hall with staircase to the first floor. To the right is a dining room with a large brick fireplace, part concealed door to the kitchen and shuttered windows. It is understood that the partition wall between the hall and this room is a more recent addition, thereby providing the opportunity to reinstate the original large reception hall subject to Listed Building Consent. To the left is the drawing room with a large brick inglenook fireplace and shuttered sash windows. Leading past the staircase, there is a door and steps to the cellar, which is sited beneath the dining room. Beyond is an attractive study overlooking and with French doors to the rear terrace and garden. All rooms retain good ceiling heights. A door to the left opens to a lobby and cloakroom, whilst to the right is a large playroom, again overlooking the rear garden, with quarry tiled floor, beyond which is the large kitchen (former dairy) with part vaulted ceiling, a well (believed to be of considerable age), substantial range recess and door to utility room, boiler room and cloakroom. From the hall, a balustraded staircase rises to the first floor landing with doors to a principal bedroom and shower room suite. In addition there is a second double bedroom, then access to a secondary landing with two further double bedroom and a bathroom. From the landing, a door and staircase rises to two attic rooms providing the opportunity for further bedrooms, subject to any relevant consents.

Outside:

Flanking the drive are the remains of a very substantial threshing barn, formerly thatched, adjoining which is a range of brick and tiled garages and former office. To the South of the house, fronting the rear, lawned garden, is a derelict range of stores, and beyond timber-framed (now collapsed) changing rooms fronting a disused swimming pool. The septic tank for the house lies beyond the swimming pool. Above the pool is the site of a former vegetable garden. Adjacent to the kitchen is a service yard fronting which is a former summerhouse, granary on brick piers, logstore, outside WC, together with further brick and timber stores. All require substantial renovation. From the drive a spur leads to a dilapidated small barn with two pairs of timber doors, and on to a rear farm lane. Fronting these is a range of more modern, dilapidated stores and outbuildings. A second spur off the drive leads down to the West of the house, past the swimming pool, to terminate in the former pasture field (recently flailed).

Gardens & Grounds:

Frognall is approached from Grove Road over a short, shared access way and then a long, private drive flanked by overgrown hedgerows and woodland (a former paddock). A public footpath leads a short distance North-East to South-West within the boundary. The drive leads down towards the house flanked by mature lime and beech trees to a parking area in front of the garages. To the North-West of the house is a lawned garden bounded by overgrown shrubs and trees.
A path leads around to the rear of the house where there is a terrace, approached via the breakfast room, and steps down to an extensive lawned garden bounded by herbaceous and shrub borders (now overgrown) and in part by high, brick walls.
In one corner there are the foundations of a former glasshouse. Steps lead down to a lower garden area beyond which is small paddock, then a large (recently flailed) pasture field which leads down to a line of mature willows and the nature reserve lakes which play host to a variety of migrating birds including nightingales, swifts and wildfowl. There is also evidence of beavers within the woodland. To the side of the house a pedestrian gate set within high brick walls provides access to the rear farm lane, fronting which is a range of block and brick stores.

In all the land totals approximately 6.69 acres.

Council Tax Band ‘G’