Main image: Farnham, Essex £1,750,000
A unique coupling of two Listed barns set in a remarkable and convenient spot. Situated in a remarkably unspoilt corner of north west Essex and astride the Hertfordshire border, is a striking stone Victorian Gothic mansion, which was built for the Gosling family in the mid 19th century. The house enjoys an elevated location in mature parkland with panoramic views. The mansion was a private school for much of the 20th century, in more recent years the mansion has been divided into private properties and some of the fine outbuildings and barns into substantial family homes. The immediate grounds to the original house amounted to about 200 acres, but is now currently about 12 acres. The Barn is situated in the grounds of the former mansion and unusually comprises of two barns, one Grade II Listed and thought to date back to the 17th century. The second barn is Grade II* Listed and thought to date back to the 15th century which would make it one of the oldest timber framed structures in the world. The star normally relates to something important in a building and in this case, it is the particularly fine timber frame. When the barn was purchased by the present owners, the sales particulars described it as "a timbered barn with 17th century origins, adjoining a Grade II* Listed barn", which was then used for garaging and storage purposes. The Grade II* Listed barn being a particularly important building, has since been cleverly converted into flexible residential use, without harming the fabric of the building which needed to remain untouched. Each of the seven pods (5 x glass/steel and 2 x timber framed) are completely flexible in their use and independently heated. There is now an excellent family home attached by a glazed link to the older barn, where there is accommodation over two floors, with a gym at one end, a utility room, shower room and family room/bedroom 5 at the other. Towards the centre of the barn is a workshop and separate store room. Two spiral staircases lead to a fine office and games room. The Barn: Set towards the middle of the Hassobury Estate and close to Hassobury Mansion, The Barn is traditionally constructed with a timber frame and weather boarded elevations under a tiled roof. Internally, there is one huge central area of accommodation with a vaulted ceiling, which is used as an open plan drawing room, sitting room and a dining area. There is a very well-fitted kitchen/breakfast room with integrated appliances and a door leading to the glazed link to the older barn. At the far end of the property there are two bedrooms served by a central bathroom. Two staircases lead to the master bedroom with an en suite shower room and a further en suite bedroom. There is also a small mezzanine seating area overlooking the entrance lobby. Outside, the property is approached along a private driveway which leads to ample parking to the front and side. There is a pleasant garden about 85ft deep and easily maintained, laid to lawn with a terrace, shrub borders and steps up to an upper lawn with fine views across paddocks with a backdrop of mature woodland and a pair of very fine oak trees. There is a resident's management company which looks after the maintenance of all communal areas including the garden maintenance, pathways, driveways, pond, fountain, gates, lighting and waste disposal. There is also painting schedule whereby all private and communal areas are painted every 4 years and paid for from the communal fund. (Mullucks Wells Bishop's Stortford)