Brick House, The Green

A landmark restored Grade II listed Georgian country house offering nearly 8,000 sq ft within spectacular garden.

Brick House is a country house of rare scale, provenance and personality, combining near 8,000 sq ft across the principal house and Pightle Cottage with the kind of lateral living more commonly associated with London’s finest homes. Positioned directly on the green in Finchingfield, one of England’s most photographed villages, this landmark Grade II listed home brings together 18th-century architecture, exceptional interior design and a complete country lifestyle within approximately 1.3 acres. Dating from circa 1750, the principal house has been comprehensively and sympathetically restored, with almost three years devoted to returning the building to its former glory while adapting it for modern family life. The work extended far beyond the decorative, with the house taken back to brick and timber and renewed throughout, including the electrics, plumbing, heating and roofing. The result is a home that retains the soul and texture of its history without asking its next owner to compromise on comfort. Original beams, deep sash windows, working shutters, historic doors and fireplaces sit alongside bespoke joinery, beautifully considered lighting and a rich palette of fabrics and wallpapers from names including Nina Campbell, Mulberry, Zoffany and Designers Guild. The main house extends to near 5,000 sq ft and is arranged over four floors, yet its defining quality is its sense of width. A substantial entrance hall opens into a sequence of beautifully proportioned reception rooms, creating an unusually lateral ground floor with distinct spaces for formal entertaining, family life and quieter moments. The formal sitting room is particularly atmospheric, with its original detailing, log-burning stove and a concealed door leading discreetly into the study. The dining room has views towards the village pond and provides a wonderful setting for winter dinners, while the family room offers a more relaxed counterpoint. Jim Lawrence lighting, bespoke curtains and blinds, wool carpets and brass-fronted radiator covers add depth and continuity throughout. To the rear, the handmade shaker kitchen was designed by Goddards Interiors and hand-painted in a timeless, understated palette. Granite worktops are complemented by a bespoke farmhouse table made to match, while an electric range cooker, two additional ovens and a full suite of Siemens appliances, including an American-style fridge-freezer, provide the substance required of a serious family kitchen. Underfloor heating and direct connections to the gardens make this an equally natural space for everyday living and large-scale entertaining. Five bedroom suites are arranged across the upper floors. The principal suite includes an expansive bedroom, a fully fitted dressing room with handmade Goddards cabinetry and a quartz dressing table, and a beautifully appointed bathroom. Each additional bedroom has access to its own bathroom or en suite, giving the house the comfort and privacy of a boutique country hotel when family and friends come to stay. The lower-ground floor introduces another layer to the home, incorporating extensive cellar space, storage and a fully equipped gym with Life Fitness machinery. Perhaps its most memorable detail is an original well, now glazed and illuminated within the wine cellar: a quiet piece of the building’s history made into an architectural feature. Separate from the main house, Pightle Cottage provides near 3,000 sq ft of additional accommodation and transforms the flexibility of the estate. Its generous living and dining room, family room and kitchen are joined by four bedrooms accessed from two separate staircases. It is ideal for guests, extended family, older children, staff or those wishing to combine home and work without compromising the privacy of the principal house. A contemporary glazed link connects the cottage to the indoor swimming pool, introducing light and uninterrupted views across the gardens. The pool complex is accompanied by a shower room, plant room, bar area and bespoke Effegibi Sky sauna, creating a private wellness space that can be accessed either through the cottage or independently. Further outbuildings include a garden room or conservatory, a double carport, enclosed garage, workshop, WC, plant room and a versatile loft room. Secure gated access opens into a generous courtyard with ample additional parking, allowing the estate to accommodate family and guests with ease. The gardens have been designed as carefully as the interiors. Formal lawns, structured borders, mature planting and a kitchen garden create year-round interest, supported by an irrigation system. International sculptor Paul Vanstone was commissioned to create individual pieces for the grounds, introducing a subtle contemporary layer among the traditional landscaping. The River Pant meanders directly through the gardens, crossed by two bridges and enjoyed from a series of terraces and seating areas. Views extend towards the church, while the rear of the estate feels remarkably peaceful and private despite its position in the very heart of the village. The garden room offers one of the prettiest vantage points, overlooking the water and planting beyond. At the front, Brick House looks directly across Finchingfield’s celebrated green and village pond. Three pubs, restaurants, a tearoom, village store and post office, primary school and highly regarded GP surgery are all close at hand, surrounded by open Essex countryside and miles of walking routes. Connections remain practical, with Braintree, Saffron Walden, Cambridge and Stansted Airport all accessible and rail services into London Liverpool Street available from several nearby stations. Brick House offers something increasingly difficult to find: genuine architectural history, exceptional lateral space, nine bedrooms across the principal house and cottage, extensive leisure facilities and a complete country lifestyle, all positioned at the centre of a living village rather than hidden away from it.

Read more