£2,850,000 /Sale price

Constructed of mellow red brick under a clay tile roof, Crunnells Green House has a handsome, perfectly symmetrical front elevation. Built in the style of Edwin Lutyens in 1919, the house combines light and spacious reception rooms with comfortable bedroom accommodation on the first floor. The generous reception hall provides access to the principal reception rooms, each notable for their high ceilings and large windows, allowing maximum light. The drawing room is particularly elegant, centred on a substantial open fireplace with carved surround whilst the original herringbone wood block floor has been restored here and throughout much of the ground floor.On the first floor, the principal bedroom suite has been remodelled by the current owners to provide a substantial bedroom with an en suite bathroom and separate dressing room, each enjoying views over the gardens and open countryside.There is an extensive range of outbuildings including the workshop, boiler room and coach house which could be incorporated into the main house to provide additional living space, subject to planning consent.Gardens and groundsArranged in a series of 'rooms' and studded with a selection of trees including a Handkerchief Tree, Deodar Cedar and ornamental Maples, the gardens at Crunnells Green House are a particular feature of the property. A sheltered, paved terrace lies to the south west overlooking the principal lawns which are flanked by well stocked herbaceous borders, interspersed with colourful shrubberies leading down to the wild flower garden.Separated by tall evergreen and beech hedges are three further 'garden rooms' including a productive vegetable garden, herb garden and soft fruit cage with a greenhouse and a charming private sitting area with a paved terrace, approached through an arched evergreen hedge and flanked by a brick wall.Crunnells Green House stands on the edge of the popular village of Preston, surrounded by well managed agricultural land. The village itself has a thriving community with well attended nursery and primary schools, St Martin's Anglican Church and a thriving Cricket Club. The Red Lion Pub overlooks the village green and was the first community owned pub in the country. The nearby market town of Hitchin provides a comprehensive range of amenities with good shopping including a Waitrose and Sainsbury's supermarket together with a good selection of traditional shops, pubs and restaurants. Communications are excellent with fast and frequent trains running to London Kings Cross from Hitchin (30 minutes) or Stevenage (24 minutes). The M1 (junction 10) is about 9 miles away whilst the A1(M) (junction 6) is about 10 miles distant. Luton Airport is just over 6 miles away The region offers an excellent choice of both state and private schools including Hitchin Girls and Boys secondary schools which are rated outstanding by Ofsted together with Kingshott School and St Christopher School and St Francis College at Letchworth Garden City