Queen of the Valley Quendon | Saffron Walden | Essex QUEEN of the VALLEY

Queen Of The Valley Quendon | Saffron Walden | Essex QUEEN OF THE VALLEY Quendon quite literally translates to ’Queen of the Valley’, and this magnificent five bedroom home occupying a picturesque and secluded plot, in a highly sought after corner of north west Essex, really does feel like it was built for royalty. With over seven thousand square feet of space, including two conservatories, three en- suites, three further bathrooms and four garages with a separate annex above, it doesn’t fail to impress, however, the jewel in its crown, a luxurious basement pool and spa, is arguably the most impressive feature of all. Our goal was to make it as aesthetically pleasing as possible from the outside, whilst having the perfect family living space on the inside. We have often been praised for the way in which we have augmented the building, and visitors that are not aware of its history often think it is more of a period property, than a relatively modern one”. A Vision Realised When the present owners took on the property in central island which incorporates a breakfast bar, 2003 it was a very different home to the one you see another sink, wine rack and chiller. today. Built in the 1960’s as a five bedroom rectory for the nearby church, it was only a third of its current Its All In The Detail size, but being the owners of a construction company, This attention to detail extends to the adjoining our vendors viewed it as a magical opportunity to utility room where you will even find a shower transform it into the family home they’d always installed specifically for the dogs, when returning dreamt of. They were immediately drawn to its from a muddy walk in the neighbouring fields! The incredibly private position and the fact that the house first of two conservatories creates an airy open plan is approached via a rising gradient. As we hear, “You feel with the kitchen, and it is the perfect place to could tell that the original architect had put a great enjoy a sun-drenched breakfast, or family meal. A deal of design and feeling into it and we just wanted downstairs WC and a further large reception room/ to maximise that”. They put their heart and soul into study are situated at the end of the hall, which then the project, all the while determined to retain the flows into the expansive rear conservatory, easily the original character. Carefully marrying up the existing largest space in the house. It’s a multi functioning brickwork, it’s virtually impossible to tell where the area, ideal for the children to play in and for extensions begin and end, although you will find tell entertaining. Again, French doors give you access on tale signs, for example, when noticing the original to the wrap around terrace and the lawn. stacks and twin fire places in the living room. Our Home, Our Sanctuary With such a grand undertaking, upon entering the house one might expect a more extravagant interior, but this is where you will be very pleasantly surprised. Beautifully understated, the emphasis here is very much on quality, simplicity, space and the intelligent allocation of it. Predominantly neutral and natural tones flow throughout, on the walls, carpets and furnishings, all accented by the clever use of wood, stone, texture and ample sunlight. While giving a clean minimalistic appearance, this styling also provides the perfect foundation for any new family to build upon and tailor to their needs. Once past the generous dining/reception room with its own set of french doors to the front, the elongated living area is next, adapting perfectly all year round with two fireplaces for the cooler months, and three further sets of doors leading onto a terrace to maximise its southerly aspect in spring and summer. Continuing through leads you into the luxurious kitchen, with its multiple units, integrated appliances, marble worktops, and desirable Rangemaster cooker. Everything has been thought of here, including the One of the best features of the house is being able to access the garden from every side of the house. It makes it feel very open but has also been extremely useful from a business perspective. What is now the dining room was once an office, and my clients and colleagues could access it without having to go through the main house. That way, our two businesses never interfered with each other, which was important”. Written In History Having moved here only six miles from the nearby historic town of Bishop’s Stortford, our owners were already aware of Quendon’s exclusivity and its enviable location. Another six miles in the opposite direction takes you to the delightful medieval market town of Saffron Walden, yet while stunning countryside surrounds you here, only twenty miles to the north and south respectively finds you at the university city of Cambridge, and Epping on the Greater London perimeter via Stansted. With so much history on your doorstep here, it is gratifying to know that Hill House too, or rather the plot on which it sits, has its own fascinating story. This story stretches back way further than the 1960’s, to the middle of the seventeenth century and a gentleman poet by the name of William Winstanley, also dubbed ‘The Man Who Saved Christmas’. In the book of the same name (in which Hill House is mentioned) this history is accurately detailed. Prior to the building of the rectory, a house once stood in the grounds named ‘Berries’. Winstanley grew up in this house and later moved there with his second wife after inheriting it from his family. He was a keen Anglican and supporter of the monarchy, however during the time of Oliver Cromwell one of his favourite traditions, Christmas, was abolished. After the monarchy was restored under Charles II, he set about with enormous enthusiasm trying to reinstate it, and there is well documented evidence of the festivities and revival of traditions that occurred right here to honour it. Our Hill House residents have a copy of the 2007 book by Alison Barnes and are, quite rightly, enormously proud of the association. “Every year, coming up to Christmas, the church holds a ‘William Winstanley Day’, and during his time at the rectory the local Vicar held the Village Fête here in the grounds. Character & Warmth Complete the circle around the ground floor back to the entrance hallway, and from here you can alight the staircase to the first floor and five generously sized bedrooms, three of which have en suites, with the other two sharing a beautifully equipped family bathroom. We hear from the vendors about the upstairs layout, and the thinking behind it. “We wanted to give our children as much space as possible, for them to feel like they had privacy, and have the freedom to comfortably have friends over, and they loved to do so! Because of that, their friends became our friends, which is very special indeed.” With this in mind, you can see that the layout appears to have two distinct sides, with the two larger ensuite rooms to the left of the property designated for this purpose. “While the main bedroom may not be the largest, I particularly chose it for its dual aspect capitalising on the light. We also have a walk in dressing room here, and while we awaited completion of the spa, we installed a large jacuzzi bath and steam shower, complete with mood lighting in our bathroom. We have a lot of space in our home, but unlike some large houses that can often feel empty and cavernous, we love the character and warmth here, it all comes together like a real family house”. Outside the garden is mainly laid to lawn, with a few well positioned shrubs and mature trees, reflecting the simplicity and elegance of the interior. “Again, we wanted a garden with space to run around in, and although we have an acre and a half here, it doesn’t feel too big or unmanageable, and we love the tranquility.” The four door garage block to the right of the property was built from scratch after the original garage on side of house gave way to the extension works. Above it is a spacious annex, providing complete and private accommodation for whomever should need it. “This came to be very useful for our son and his small family whilst waiting for a property of their own.” There is also the option to use the annexe as a stand alone office for those wishing to work from home and/ or run a business. The ‘gate house’ also offers much potential, a former scout hut in the rectory days, this two story building has recently been granted planning permission for extension and refurbishment into another self contained one bedroom annex. The Cwena Spa Another possible use for the spa could be a hydrotherapy facility, With a choice of two staircases to gain access, the idea for the spa was there from the and we have been approached about this in the past. Failing all outset. Incorporating a large jacuzzi, sauna, steam room, bathroom and changing that though, the salon area would make a really fantastic snooker room! room, and a 1.2m deep pool with a built in swimming machine, it is the ultimate facility for relaxation and indulgence. “We built it very much for our own family We’ve even measured it up in the past for a grand piano”. enjoyment, however, as the children grew older it was used much less, and over time we decided to incorporate it more into the beauty therapy business as well on a private hire basis”.

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