Chapel Lane, Chigwell, Essex

This beautiful and impressive Grade II Listed detached house, believed to have originally been built in 1710, offers all the grace, elegance and well-proportioned rooms that are the hallmark of a house from that era. In the 1940s it was owned by Sir Francis Chichester who later became famous as the first solo round the world yachtsman. The house is surrounded by stunning gardens of 1.01 acres and approached via a pair of electric wrought iron gates that lead to an attractive block paved driveway and the period front door. With its original brickwork, multi-pane sash windows and chimney stacks it has immediate kerb appeal and, as you walk into the entrance hall, you may feel you have stepped into a Jane Austen novel. Although sensitively modernised for 21st century living it still retains many historical features that give it such special character including high coved ceilings, dado rails, wall panelling, original shutters, and a period staircase.

A vast dual aspect sitting room incorporates many of these features including an ornate marble fireplace, while guests will be delighted to be entertained in the elegant and well-proportioned dining room that is surrounded by attractive pine walling panelling with built in shelving, a pine fireplace and original wood shutters on the sash windows. The equally good sized breakfast area includes built in shelving and is open plan to the kitchen that has modern shaker style white units with built in appliances a door to the multi-purpose utility room with laundry facilities and a freezer as well as access to the cloakroom and the delightful listed conservatory area. This makes a superb informal seating and dining area which provides lovely views over the walled garden, where the star is the magnificent Magnolia tree. The galleried landing leads to a bathroom and separate en-suite shower room as well as to the four double bedrooms including three with built in cupboards.

There is a detached outbuilding with a lean-to greenhouse and a very useful workshop. It includes a shower room and a very spacious lounge with a crossed beamed vaulted ceiling currently in use as a games room that can not only house a three quarter size snooker table but is also large enough to provide a seating area. There is an inner walled cottage garden with a large fig tree and a wrought iron gate entrance that leads to the surrounding parkland style grounds. These are a delight with vast swathes of lawn interspersed with well-established

What the Owner says:

We moved here some 28 years ago and it has been a wonderful family home and a great place to bring up our family but we feel it is now time for us to downsize. It is a splendid place for fun and entertaining, whether it is having a barbecue, putting a marquee in the grounds for our daughter’s wedding with 200 guests or creating a football pitch for our son to kick a ball around. We also built the annex using reclaimed bricks and roof tiles so it matched the main house to provide a great games room for all the family and their friends. However it could always be converted into additional living accommodation or offices if required.

We are in a great location as the property is along a small, cul-de-sac so it is not only very quiet but also safe for children and pets. The London Loop walking trail runs past the house and provides excellent opportunities to go for a good walk with the dog. At the same time, it is less than a mile to Grange Hill station where the Central Line underground trains can whisk you to Liverpool Street in approximately half an hour, so commuting to London is very easy.

With its delightful old buildings coupled with all the amenities needed for modern day living, Chigwell is a special place to live. It offers the largest open spaces of any Greater London area that includes Epping Forest, Hainault Country Park and Roding Valley Meadows Nature Reserve.