Duton Hill, Dunmow, Essex

** GUIDE PRICE £1,750,000 to £1,800,000 **
Character, charm, space, and tranquillity can perfectly describe Broadfans Barn. A detached barn conversion, set in a beautiful rural location with far reaching countryside views. The property offers incredible period features, character, and high vaulted ceilings and just over 8500 Sq. Ft of accommodation across the main barn, and outbuildings, which include studio office, formal office, games room, indoor swimming pool, garages, and a one-bedroom annex.
HISTORY: Broadfans Barn was part of the Broadfans farm and estate. Construction began in 1588 and was completed 1589. The farm and estate was primarily used to raise peacocks for the table of Queen Elizabeth I. Peacocks were considered a great delicacy during the sixteenth century.
The main beams of the barn were reclaimed from oak timbers that were washed up during the attempted invasion of the Spanish Armada that took place in the spring of 1588. Those beams that survived can be found in the main sitting room and are now petrified into a stone-like state.
During the Civil war in 1948 Sir Charles Lucas and his royalist army who were making their way through East Anglia to raise support for the king made use of the Barn and the land to rest and obtain refreshment and wait for Lord Chapel and his Norfolk Regiment. After several days they marched on to Braintree and were later forced to retreat to Colchester by Sir Thomas Fairfax and the Lord General of the Parliamentary force.
The land that the property stands on was originally a motte and Bailey fortification that was in service during the Anglo-Saxon period when Britain was under Roman Rule.
The Main Barn is an impressive 4000 Sq. Ft with large porch entrance, reception hallway with stairs to the first floor, w/c, cupboard/storage, doors to the rear garden. Kitchen/breakfast room with a variety of units, cupboards, work surfaces, integrated double oven, four burner hobs, and stand-alone hoover dishwasher. There is a separate utility room offing great space with further units, cupboards, work surfaces, and door to the garden. There is an impressive footprint downstairs with large drawing room, formal dining, front reception which was utilised as a cinema room. A picturesque main reception room which has a beautiful feature brick fireplace that has a further study area. The first floor offers four bedrooms, large family bathroom, the principal bedroom has a large en-suite, there is also another bathroom between bedrooms 2 & 3 offing Jack and Jill doors.
Annex and garages: Entrance door to hallway, storage, stairs to flat, large bedroom with cupboard, shower room, large open kitchen/living. Reception room with doors to private patio and access to grounds. Below is a single garage, double garage, and workshop.
The Studio/Office/games room: An incredible separate outbuilding consisting of sound room & recording studio, large hallway, kitchen, female & male toilet facilities, a large games room with full sized snooker table, and bar. There is a joining storeroom/office ideal for working from home.
Swimming Pool: Vaulted ceiling, heating indoor swimming pool, with shower room, plant room, multiple windows, and access doors to the front and side.
The property has unbelievable grounds of around 3.5 Acres. Private electric security gates lead to a stunning long gravelled tree lined driveway that open out to a courtyard with room for multiple vehicles. The grounds surrounding the property and outbuildings are mainly laid to lawn, with amazing unrestricted countryside views. There is a tranquil patio seating area with pergola overlooking the rear gardens. Further parking, and paddock. A picturesque Willow Tree over hangs a Koi Pond with filtration system. The property has a variety of trees, hedging and fences surround the plot with open views.
** VIEWING IS ADVISED TO TAKE IN THIS INCREDIBLE PROPERTY **