8 House AL8 7NX Seller Insight

As designers seeking to move out of London, as soon as we walked in and saw the lounge at 8 Digswell House, we could see huge potential,” say the current owners of this stunningly presented period property. “With its 14ft high ceilings, the lounge alone could have accommodated our London house!”

A Grade II Listed mansion built by Samuel Wyatt for the honourable Edward Spencer Cowper in around 1805, Digswell House was converted into several private homes in the mid 1980s. The current owners have since done much to modernise Number 8, which occupies a substantial part of the original house. “We are business people and designers,” they say, “we purchased this house as a showroom and a place to retreat from our busy lives in the City. A place to entertain family and friends. It is now a stylish home which takes advantage of the many period features whilst giving an atmosphere of easy contemporary living. The original grand staircase is a particular stunning feature, sweeping up to the first floor and providing a dramatic statement. “

“The luxurious interior living space opens out onto the private terrace,” the owners continue, “with fantastic views of the south facing communal gardens. The grounds of Digswell House stretch over 4 acres and are beautifully maintained by gardeners, with various places to sit for picnics or barbecues. The gardens are very enclosed, with a wall of mature trees providing shelter and seclusion. The grounds are also home to a family of Muntjac deer and lively foxes that keep their distance at all times.”

On the perimeter of Garden City, the location of the property offers the best of both worlds, surrounded by countryside yet enjoying easy access to London Kings Cross from Welwyn North station in between 17-33 minutes. Welwyn village itself is friendly and well equipped. “The people are lovely and the area has a variety of pubs and fabulous places to eat,” say the owners. “Our son attends the local private school, although good state schools are a short walk away. We love being surrounded by hills and countryside too, as well as historic sites and villages.”

“The basement with vaulted ceilings provides a dramatic setting for the sociable kitchen, where everyone tends to congregate at parties. With TV and a sound system, guests are reluctant to leave!”

“We have a number of favourite rooms, all for different reasons. We love the sumptuous spaciousness of the lounge and can spend hours in the beautiful staircase room. The property is vast, with so many places to be under the same roof, whether together or apart.”

“The development attracts London people who like to travel, as you can just lock up and leave. Everyone looks out for one another, so there is great security. What’s more, we can get into central London faster from here than we could from our London house in Hampstead, with a journey time of less than an hour from home to office.”

“It is hard to pick out one particular area in this house that we will miss, it was designed for fun and relaxation, although, the vaulted ceilings of the basement and the amazing staircase will be a tough act to follow!”

* These comments are the personal views of the current owner and are included as an insight into life at the property. They have not been independently verified, should not be relied on without verification and do not necessarily reflect the views of the agent.

8 Digswell House

Digswell House is an impressive property in an excellent location. It comprises 13 freehold houses, each with its own garage and parking. All the houses share the stunning 4.5 acres of parkland grounds. No. 8 Digswell House not only enjoys the use of the communal grounds, but also has its own large private patio that overlooks the beautiful grounds and is a great place to entertain. To one side of Digswell House lies Cricket Club and Cricket field, which stands in an area designated as an area of ‘Urban Open Land’.

Location The location of this home really does benefit from the best of both worlds – beautiful countryside and woodland on its doorstep, together with excellent commuter links via road and rail. Welwyn Garden City and nearby Welwyn North Stations run frequent trains to London Kings Cross, Moorgate, Cambridge and Peterborough. Junction 6 of the A1(M) is just a mile away. Both Stansted and Luton airports are within 30/40 minutes’ drive.

The pretty village of Old Welwyn is approximately 2 miles away, is highly renowned for its charming High Street and excellent selection of cafés, bars, restaurants and an excellent choice of shops for day to day needs. A wider range of facilities can be found at nearby Welwyn Garden City, with its Howard Centre and large John Lewis department store, Gosling Sports Centre and Stanborough Park and sailing lakes.

Other nearby towns, with a wide range of shops, include Hertford, Stevenage, St Albans, Harpenden and of course London is only 20 miles away. There is a frequent local bus service nearby with buses into WGC and nearby towns.

Schools within the immediate area include St Marys C of E School in Welwyn Village, St Johns Primary School, Monks Walk Secondary School and private schooling at Sherrardswood. Other private schools in the vicinity include Heathmount, Haileybury, St Edmunds College and Kingshott.

Agents notes: All measurements are approximate and for general guidance only and whilst every attempt has been made to ensure accuracy, they must not be relied on. The fixtures, fittings and appliances referred to have not been tested and therefore no guarantee can be given that they are in working order. Internal photographs are reproduced for general information and it must not be inferred that any item shown is included with the property. For a free valuation, contact the numbers listed on the brochure. Copyright © 2018 Fine & Country Ltd. Registered in England and Wales. Company Reg No: 05488780 Registered office address: Market Rd, Saint Ives, Cambridgeshire PE27 5YZ Printed 23.03.2018 Fine & Country – Selling the finest homes in Welwyn, Hertford, Ware and Buntingford areas Tel: +44 (0) 1438 55333 [email protected] 110 High Street, Ware, SG12 9AP