Green Lane, Ardleigh, Colchester, CO7 7PD

Centuries of character, around a quarter of an acre and countryside wrapping around the garden – Tudor Cottage is the kind of home you simply can't recreate.

Grade II listed and wonderfully individual, this three-bedroom cottage is packed with everything you hope to find in a home of this age: exposed timbers, solid wood floors, cottage windows and all those beautifully imperfect lines that tell you it has been standing here for centuries.

And then there's the setting. Around a quarter of an acre, approximately 110ft of rear garden, a substantial barn-style double garage and fields to the rear and side make this far more than simply a pretty old cottage.

There is undoubtedly work to do, but that's also the opportunity. Tudor Cottage has the history, setting and character already in place; its next owner gets the rather exciting job of bringing the rest back to life.

The Property

There is character everywhere you look here.

Historic England records Tudor Cottage as Grade II listed, with 17th and 18th-century elements and later alterations. The traditional timber-framed and plastered construction, red plain-tiled roofs, small-paned casement windows and internal beams are all referenced within the official listing.

Inside, those centuries of history are immediately apparent. Substantial exposed timbers run through the house, floors slope, walls aren't perfectly straight and the rooms have an individuality that no modern reproduction could convincingly imitate.

The ground floor centres around two generous reception rooms, giving you plenty of space for separate living and dining areas. Both have real presence, with exposed beams and period detailing providing the backdrop rather than something that has been added afterwards.

The kitchen sits towards the rear and, together with the ground-floor bathroom and separate WC, is an area where a future owner can really put their stamp on the house.

Upstairs, a particularly characterful landing leads to three bedrooms. Exposed timber framing continues through this level, along with solid wood flooring beneath the current coverings, sloping ceilings and those wonderfully irregular lines that are part and parcel of a cottage of this age.

The house now needs updating and renovation throughout, but crucially, there is an enormous amount worth preserving. This isn't about trying to turn Tudor Cottage into a new house. It's about sensitively bringing it forward while allowing everything that makes it special to remain.

Selected photographs have been digitally enhanced to illustrate how the first-floor rooms could look with the existing solid wood flooring exposed. Corresponding photographs showing the rooms in their current condition are also included.

The Outside

The grounds are every bit as exciting as the cottage itself.

Tudor Cottage sits within a plot of approximately ¼ acre, with the rear garden extending to around 110ft and open fields bordering the rear and side.

Currently mature and overgrown in places, the garden has an almost hidden quality to it, with established trees and planting creating a wonderfully natural backdrop to the house. For someone prepared to take it on, there is huge scope to reveal and reshape the space into a beautiful country garden.

Set within the grounds is a large barn-style double garage, a substantial and useful addition that further adds to the possibilities here.

The aerial photographs really show what you are buying: not simply an old cottage, but an historic home sitting within its own established grounds, with mature greenery and countryside stretching beyond.

The Area

Ardleigh gives you the best bits of country living without making everyday life difficult.

Surrounded by the North Essex countryside, Tudor Cottage enjoys a distinctly rural setting, yet both Manningtree and Colchester are within easy reach. Manningtree provides a good selection of everyday amenities alongside its mainline station, with direct services towards London Liverpool Street, while Colchester offers a much broader choice of shopping, leisure and schooling.

This is also a particularly attractive corner of the Essex/Suffolk border, with Dedham Vale and Constable Country nearby and no shortage of countryside, walks, villages and pubs to explore.

It's a setting that suits the house perfectly – peaceful, green and tucked away, but not isolated.

Further Information

Tenure: Freehold
Local Authority: Tendring
Council Tax Band: E
Property Construction: Timber
Mains Gas, Electricity, Water and Sewerage

Mobile Coverage

EE Good outdoor
There is a good chance of getting a connection good enough to support mobile services. You may be able to get limited indoor coverage.
O2 Good outdoor, variable in-home
There is a variable chance of a good connection to support mobile services in parts of the home, as well as outdoors. Basic services such as voice and text messages are more likely to be available.
3 Good outdoor
There is a good chance of getting a connection good enough to support mobile services. You may be able to get limited indoor coverage.
Vodafone Good outdoor
There is a good chance of getting a connection good enough to support mobile services. You may be able to get limited indoor coverage.

Broadband Coverage

The table shows the predicted broadband services in your area.
Broadband type Highest available download speed Highest available upload speed Availability
Standard 17 Mbps 1 Mbps Good
Superfast 52 Mbps 8 Mbps Good
Ultrafast 1800 Mbps 1000 Mbps Good
Networks in your area - Gigaclear, Openreach