Location
Little Chesterford is a charming village approximately 3.1 miles north of the market town of Saffron Walden and approximately 12 miles south of the world famous University city of Cambridge.
Range of shopping facilities are available in Saffron Walden and Cambridge. There is a market in Saffron Walden that takes place weekly on Tuesdays and Saturdays.
For the rail commuter, Great Chesterford (approximately 1.2 miles) offers services to London Liverpool Street from an hour and Cambridge from as quick as 15 minutes.
Little Chesterford is located just approximately 2 miles from the M11 (J9), granting access to the A11 to the north and the M25 and Stansted Airport to the south.
Primary schooling is available in Great Chesterford at Great Chesterford Church of England Primary Academy, and in Saffron Walden at St Marys' Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School. Secondary schooling is available in Saffron Walden at Saffron Walden County High School and sixth form colleges in Cambridge at Hills and Long Road. Further independent schooling is available for all ages in Cambridge such as The Perse, The Stephen Perse Foundation, The Leys and St Faiths.
Description
Bank Cottage is a really special and much loved detached family home created by the amalgamation of two thatched cottages which were, we understand, added to and connected to each other by the Victorians. With rendered elevations beneath a superb newly re-thatched roof, this delightful period property provides versatile accommodation over two floors with two staircases – an enjoyable feature for children might be what's fondly known as the 'Narnia cupboard' with its low door that connects the two halves upstairs.
Listed Grade II as being of historical and architectural interest, and quoted in the listing as having previously been known as 'Swifts Thatch', the listing states 'Swifts Thatch originally comprised a 2 storeyed C17 timber-framed and plastered house on the west and a C17-C18 timber-framed and plastered cottage block of one storey and attics on the east. Now one tenement. The centre dormer of the cottage block has a modern date 1690. The windows are partly casements and partly horizontal sliding sashes.'
Two of the earliest windows (in the utility room and main bedroom) are horizontal sliding sashes, with leaded lights and other period features include a variety of exposed timbers, some exposed elm in the hall and a bressumer beam over the kitchen Aga fireplace.
Approached via a path from the drive, the main part-glazed entrance door leads to the hall with exposed timbers and book shelves, parquet flooring and elm door to the understairs area. There is access from here to the sitting room, the first floor via a turning staircase and the drawing room. This is a delightful room with French doors to the garden, fireplace housing a woodburner, fitted bookshelves and cupboards, space for a desk in one corner beside the chimney breast and a charming stained-glass window to one side. The sitting room has a higher ceiling, again with French doors enjoying access to the terrace and views of the garden and a fireplace housing the second woodburner.
The music room/playroom beyond incorporates the second staircase to the first floor, a shelved understairs cupboard and a step up to the kitchen/dining room. Here, a former fireplace with its bressumer beam houses the oil-fired Aga, and there is a range of floor and wall units, granite and wooden worktops, Miele electric cooker and induction hob, concealed extractor fan and space for a dishwasher. Beyond the kitchen is a useful utility room with space for a fridge/freezer, airing cupboard with hot water cylinder, oil-fired boiler and an ingenious space-saving pair of narrow doors leading to the cloakroom with further storage, plumbing for a washing machine and space for a tumble dryer.
On the first floor, the double aspect main bedroom is much larger than expected with views over the garden, fitted shelves and extensive fitted wardrobes. Across the landing is the part paneled family bathroom with Czech & Speake fittings, including Victorian style mixer taps and shower attachment and a drench shower over the bath with a folding shower screen. Also approached from this landing is a second double bedroom, vaulted with shelves and desk space, which features a wardrobe with a 'Narnia' low door opening to the third bedroom. This room incorporates eaves storage and further shelving and is also approached from the second staircase. Beyond is the fourth bedroom – another vaulted double room with a dormer window to the front, loft access, a useful storage cupboard and spacious en suite shower room.
The delightful gardens are lawned to the front with a wild flower area and a gate to one side. This leads to a secluded vegetable garden with three raised beds, a Hartley Botanic greenhouse incorporating brick edging, the oil tank and a wood store. Mature yew hedging divides this area from the main garden and a double-glazed summer house with pointed leaded roof, three sets of French doors and oak flooring. Beyond are six further raised beds edged by espaliered pear and apple trees and further yew hedging. The corner of the garden with its box hedging and a rose-covered arch provides an appealing west-facing spot to sit and enjoy views of the house and garden. A terrace is flanked by a low brick and part flint low retaining wall with shallow steps which leads to a wide lawn. There is a useful shed beyond towards the back of the garden and gate leading onto a public footpath and open farm land. A mature acacia tree stands to one side of the gorgeous garden room, which makes a great entertaining room or 'work from home' space with its twin sets of double doors, oak flooring and electric heating. A drive beside the house provides parking and leads to a garage with mezzanine storage.