Listed for £865,000
June 3, 2024
Bonheur is a stunning four double bedroom period home dating back to around 1915. An attractive Edwardian style in a sought after and very convenient location, walking distance to the city centre and all of the Lexden Schools.
Beverley Road has always been a sought after location with a collection of well-maintained period homes and a friendly community of residents. A road that has a high number of red brick Victorian homes and Bonheur ‘stands out from the crowd’ because of its individual style, charm and character that you know will be replicated inside.
A property that needs no updating, no modernization or any building work. Something of a rarity for a property of this age. You can simply move straight in and perhaps add your own colour scheme.
Prior to 2005 this home was a modest two/three bedroom house and in need of modernisation to cater for today’s family lifestyle.
Great care was taken to ensure that anything which needed refurbishing or replacing remained in keeping with the period Inside, there is an original encaustic tiled floor in the hall and four fireplaces. It has high skirting boards, ornate coving and picture rails in the principal rooms. All the window and door fittings were replaced with antique brass monkey-tail handles, the internal doors are an unusual and original six panel design
However the most prominent change was the addition of a two storey extension. Creating a fantastic open-plan kitchen/dining room stretching across the back that is contemporary in style and, the ceiling height has been maintained from the original building so it feels very spacious. When the weather allows, the bifolding doors opening onto the patio and west facing garden create another sense of space and bring the outside in. The other bonus is the addition of the utility room. On the first floor the extension allowed the creation of a large principle bedroom with en-suite shower and a generous size third double bedroom.
Since moving in our vendors have continued to maintain their home to a very high standard, with quality furnishing and décor, and one of the changes they’ve made is replacing the modern radiators with those more in keeping with the period of the property.
Today this would put shame to many a more expensive and high end new properties for style, finish and space. You have the character, the period features and one of the best locations so near to the City Centre without the concerns of additional expense once moved in. It has been a wonderful family home to our current vendors who will be sad to leave but now have a growing family and a different set of needs.
ACCOMMODATION
Ground floor
A traditional leaded light glazed entrance door opens to an attractive hallway with original tiled flooring and turning stair flight leading to the first floor accommodation with a useful storage cupboard beneath. Two principal reception rooms are found at the front.
To the left is a large sitting room with decorative ceiling and picture rail with focal cast iron fireplace with painted surround and traditional part leaded light bay window, with rear doors opening into the kitchen/diner
To the right, the second reception can be used as the family room, playroom or, as originally, a formal dining room (not as relevant now with the new large open plan kitchen/diner). This is of good size with cast iron fireplace with painted surround and adjacent cupboards and large part leaded light bay window. There is also a study with tiled flooring and cloakroom with toilet, wash hand basin and etched window.
Running along the length of the rear of the property is a magnificent kitchen/diner with tiled underfloor heating and bi-fold large picture doors opening out onto a terrace and overlooking the secure walled garden. The kitchen itself is a Harvey Jones painted kitchen with two shelved larder cupboards and space for a fridge freezer currently occupied by a Fisher & Paykel stainless steel fridge freezer. The Corian work surfaces have further cupboards beneath as well as integral dishwasher with range of wall mounted cupboards, induction hob and two Siemen ovens. There is a further Corian topped island unit with drawers beneath including wine fridge and breakfast bar. A door leads through to the utility room with matching tiled flooring again with Corian work surfaces with cupboards and drawers beneath and a range of matching wall mounted cupboards with inset stainless steel sink bowl and built-in useful storage cupboard with shelving and also housing the Vaillant gas fired boiler.
First floor
Stairs rise from the main hallway with half landing up to a galleried spacious landing having access into the loft space and deep storage cupboard. A light tunnel provides natural light. At the front of the property are two double bedrooms both having built-in wardrobes with double hanging rails and a storage shelf. The rooms have part leaded light windows and cast iron fireplaces with inset decorative tiling, in keeping with the properties original period.
To the rear is the extension and two further double bedrooms, both having double glazed windows overlooking the west facing garden. The principle bedroom, with en suite shower room, faces west so it's very sunny and bright. The en-suite with a walk-in tiled shower cubicle with glass screen, vanity unit wash hand basin with Hans Grohe tap, toilet and heated towel rail.
The three additional double bedrooms share a large family bathroom with a panel bath, corner tiled shower cubicle, wall mounted wash hand basin with Hans Grohe tap and large mirror above as well as toilet. There is also a heated towel rail and natural light from a ceiling light tunnel.
Outside
Bonheur is set back from Beverley Road with a brick wall with railings and pillared driveway providing off road parking with lawn area and beech hedging. There is side access leading round to the rear of the property, easy access for pushchairs, bicycles, recycling and gardening needs where there is a terrace along the rear of property with steps down to a further patio area leading out onto lawns with attractive shrub borders enclosed by an old redbrick wall providing a high degree of privacy to the westerly facing garden. In the far corner of the garden is a new timber shed that was intended to and could be used as a home office or gym but is equally useful for bicycles, garden tools and furniture.
LOCATION
What’s nearby
Beverley Road is located within a quarter of a mile of the city centre with Crouch Street offering good local shops, restaurants, pubs and wine bars. The area is highly sought after and is well known for its excellent schooling facilities including Colchester Royal Grammar School and the Girls High School, Phillip Morant Comprehensive School, Six Form College, St Mary's School for Girls, Oxford House and Colchester Prep and High School.
The centre of Colchester with it bars, restaurants and shops is just a short walk from Beverley Road. There is also the Arts Centre, Odeon Cinema and Mercury Theatre.
For dog walking, nearby is Lexden Park and the larger open space of Hilly Fields.
The train station is about a five-minute car journey, ten minute bus journey or twenty five minute walk. Trains from Colchester to London Liverpool Street take 50 minutes at peak times.
Within Easy Reach
The A12, which connects with the M25, heads south towards London or north to Ipswich. London Stansted is the nearest airport.
Dedham Valley and Constable Country, the landscape immortalised by the great painter John Constable, are approximately fifteen minute drive.
For more variety of boutique and national stores - Chelmsford and Ipswich are approximately a thirty drive.
The coast is also within easy reach. Fifteen minute drive to Mersea Island for its beaches, sailing and wind surfing, sea food – renowned oysters, walks at Cudmore Grove Country Park, Thirty minutes to the seaside town of Frinton with its superb family friendly beaches. Further afield are the beautiful Suffolk coastal towns of Aldeburgh and Southwold, approximately one hour and ninety minutes respectively.
Stane Retail Park at Stanway for the larger superstores of Aldi, Marks and Spencers, Sainsbury, PC World and a selection of eateries is a ten minute drive. Waitrose supermarket is approximately a ten minute drive. All supermarkets offer delivery to Beverley Road
Stansted airport is less than an hour drive.
TENURE - Freehold
COUNCIL TAX - E
LOCAL AUTHORITY – Colchester City Council
SERVICES
Mains gas, electricity, water and drainage
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