4 bed detached bungalow for sale

East Road, East Mersea CO5

Walnut Tree Lodge is a historic Dormy house, built in the early 1930's as one of the guest houses which, forming the popular East Mersea Golf Club complex. One of seven, it remains in excellent structural condition today. At the end of the Second World War, the Golf Club was closed, and each property sold on to private buyers. Being unique due to the fact that the house boasts views of the River Colne from both the front and rear of the property, Walnut Tree Lodge nestles in a peninsula at the very tip of East Mersea. This stunning three bedroom chalet sits in an unusually large plot of 1/3 of an acre and is in excellent structural condition throughout, having undergone a host of structural improvements to maintain the integrity of the building by the present owner during the last twenty five years.

The house offers many unique features, including a front lounge with a large bay window, with a traditional, functioning brick coal fireplace, topped with an oak beam. There is a large sitting room, with a brick and stone hearth and traditional oak beam, housing a high output, ten kilowatt multi fuel stove, leading on to an adjoining well lit conservatory, fitted with underfloor heating, offering uninterrupted views of the river to the rear. The house has a large separate dining room, also with a large bay window and original fireplace with dining for six.
There is a large, open kitchen, fitted with a custom built three sided bay window offering estuary views. It has a newly fitted engineered wood floor, a large traditional butler sink and smaller butler sink. It has fitted storage units and a new double open cooker.

The house has extensive block paving to the front and the rear of the property, offering ample car parking to the front, of up to eight vehicles. There is a double length garage to the left, with heating, lighting, eve storage, and a secure electric roll up garage door. To the right of the property is a large, double length car port, with electric points, and motion sensor lights.The two dormy windows front and rear have been recently completely rebuilt with new insulation, tiling and new felt roofs. The bedrooms are cosy and warm during winter, and light and airy during summer. The boiler has recently been replaced, serviced regularly, and the heating system is in excellent working order. There is a new, large capacity oil tank too.

The front and sides of the property have been extensively damp proof injected to make it completely watertight. Additional water activated air bricks have been installed to increase ventilation underneath the floors and joists. The guttering has been replaced entirely, with extra large capacity channelling and downpipes, to cope with heavy downpours, therefore preventing any damp issues common with properties of this age. The wide channel guttering runs completely around the house, and is in excellent condition.

The bathroom has recently been refitted, and all the associated plumbing is in good order and working well.
The sitting room has a large 10KW Jotul 400 multi fuel stove, capable of quickly heating the entire house in under an hour. This excellent stove really is the very heart of the house, offering warmth and comfort during chilly evenings. The stove has recently been serviced, and runs quietly and efficiently. At time of installation, a chimney lining was also fitted and has been swept and vacuumed regularly.
The property sits in a truly unique and delightful spot. There is a small narrow cut through opposite the property, leading to the popular Cudmore Grove Country Park, within a few minutes walk. The Park has its own, secluded beach, nestling beneath a line of cliffs. There is a small cafe offering seating, hot drinks and snacks too. There is a newly built play area for children to enjoy and make friends. You can alternatively, take a short walk past the historic Golf House to another beach within 4 minutes, where there is a seasonal ferry service that operates to Brightlingsea and other villages.
There are also a few tiny, secluded islands nearby in the estuary, reachable only by boat, each with their own private beaches, to explore.
Sailors paradise!

The property is close by Colchester Oyster Fishery, just a few minutes walk away, reachable by a short walk along the sea wall, or a couple of minutes walk along the secluded lane. It is possible to purchase Lobster, oysters and fine seafood platters to be enjoyed in the gardens at home with a chilled glass of wine. Positively delicious! Certainly a rather unique and wonderful facility. The Fishery also offers deep water moorings for yachtsmen on a seasonal basis. The present owner of Walnut Tree Lodge has moored his yacht there for many years, enjoying both estuary and coastal sailing, just a stones throw away.

The rear of the garden is lined with established trees, the most well-known one is the Maiden Oak, which unusually, has never been pollarded. There is also a lovely Walnut Tree, where the property gets its name from. The tree yields a wonderful harvest of walnuts every autumn, perfect for cakes and treats! These trees also create a natural sanctuary for many species of birds, squirrels and other wildlife, to be observed from the conservatory, in total comfort and seclusion.
The roof of the property has been removed to the left-hand side, and an extensive liner has been installed under the tiles to reduce the wind that blows in an easterly direction. The house benefits from mostly recently fitted double glazing throughout which is in good order. The double glazing system in the conservatory is of particularly good quality, and the conservatory foundations are 600mm deep, enabling an extension to be built required, alternatively an extension can be built to the side of the property in place of the existing double length car port. Many of the properties have been extended due to the relaxed building regulations. The house is cosy in the winter months, equally during the summer months the house can be opened up, giving a convincing, open and bright villa feel. The garden backs directly onto farmland, where horses graze in peace.
There is an annex to the side of the property, reachable from the kitchen. Acting as a laundry room, housing washing machines, fridges, freezers, cloakroom etc. There is heating, lighting, a butler sink, hot and cold running water, and doors front and rear. There is a large airing cupboard, and an additional small bathroom, housing a toilet and washbasin.

A cozy, evening shelter is situated in the garden, complete with lighting inside and out, with a large fire pit for those long summer evenings!
There is a large coal shed, together with a large garden shed, housing gardening a mowing equipment.

Walnut Tree Lodge also has facility for a mooring in the river, originally specified for each dwelling when the properties were built. The village envelope is safe from any future building developments.

A short, 25 minute drive takes you to Colchester North Station, commutable to London Liverpool St within 50 minutes.

All in all, a charming, well presented property with very unusual and desirable features, in excellent structural condition. Offered with no onward chain, with all fixtures, fittings, furniture and artwork to remain!
Unique opportunity!

Details as follows:-

front door to porch, tiled floor, door to:

Spacious Hallway, one radiator, stairs to first floor, Door to:

Double glazed door leading to the porch. A double glazed front door leading to:

Lounge:
14'92 x 13'7". Double glazed bay window to front, open fireplace with brick and wood mantle, two radiators, door to:

Dining room:
14'3" x 13'6". Double glazed bay window to front, fireplace (blocked off), radiator, wood floor, featured arch window to kitchen giving borrowed light.

Sitting room:
14'1" X 13'1" Attractive brick fireplace with wooden mantle above and inset multi-fuel burner, one radiator, walk through to conservatory:

Conservatoiry:
14'1" X 12'4" Attractive red brick base, tiled floor with under floor heating, UPVC double glazed french door leading to patio area and rear garden

kitchen:
13'1" X 12'2" Double glazed bow window to rear, range of matching base and eye level cupboards with inset enamel sink and drainer with mixer tap, gas hob and oven, extractor hood above, one radiator, door to inner lobby:

Bathroom: Double glazed window to rear, panel enclosed bath with side taps, over bath shower and shower screen, low level WC, wash basin with vanity unit, chrome heated towel rail

cloakroom: Wash hand basin, low level WC, tiled floor and double-glazed window to inner lobby, one radiator

utility area: Worktop with enamel sink, space and plumbing for automatic washing machine, tiled floor, oil fired boiler for hot water and heating, secure door to front, double glazed door and window to rear, door to tandem length garage with power roll up door, strip lights and power points

first floor landing: Access to loft and smoke alarm

master bedroom:
17'5" x 11'11' Double glazed window to front, storage to space to eaves and one radiator

bedroom two:
15'5" x 9'1". Double glazed window to the front, two eaves storage space and one radiator.

Bedroom three:
12' x 6'5". Double glazed window to the rear overlooking hills and peninsular, one radiator

outside:
To the front of the property there is a large u-shaped driveway with lawned area to the front enclosed by mature hedging, multiple parking and turning point and door to tandem length garage.

Rear garden has a large block paved patio area, outside tap and security lights, enclosed wooden seating area, retained dwarfed wall leading to lawn with mature oak tree overlooking fields and peninsular.