A Mint-Green Kitchen in a 16th-Century English Country House
Set within the Hertfordshire countryside, this Grade II*-listed four-bedroom home offers a clear sense of its long history, with origins dating back to the late 1500s.
Surrounded by two and a half acres of gardens and woodland, it combines period character with a rural setting, while remaining within easy reach of Bishop’s Stortford and its direct rail links to central London.
Known as Fiddlers Croft, the house was once home to violin maker Nicholas Pamphilon in the 18th century. A decorative double frieze of violins above one of the doors reflects this past.
Inside, the home retains a wide range of historic features, including brick-mullioned windows and 17th-century plasterwork. Decorative motifs of roses and thistles reference the Union of the Crowns in 1603, while carved lions are thought to link the house to the Capel family of nearby Hadham Hall.
Entry is through a round-arched timber door into a central hallway with parquet flooring.
From the hall, you can access two reception rooms at the front of the house, each with a window seat beneath the original mullioned windows, bringing in natural light and views of the surrounding greenery.
One living room is painted in a warm yellow hue paired with a pink-toned rug, while the other room features sage-green walls.
The kitchen is a more recent addition and has been designed with a practical layout. Mint green cabinetry provides storage and adds a fresh color pop to the space, while Crittall-style doors open directly onto a paved terrace.
A butler sink with brass fittings sits alongside integrated appliances, including a Smeg range cooker and fridge/freezer. Warm terracotta floor tiles and plant boxes under the windows connect the indoors with the garden.
A large wooden dining table sits at the center of the room, creating a natural gathering point during the day.
From the kitchen, you can access a separate dining room with the same floor tiles.
Upstairs, four bedrooms are arranged across the first floor.
The master bedroom features an original brick fireplace and an en suite bathroom with traditional casement windows.
In the second bedroom, the chimney breast is decorated with detailed plaster friezes of roses and thistles.
The family bathroom features a Lefroy Brooks shower, with terracotta tiling that complements the home’s historic materials.
Outside, the house is surrounded by established gardens and woodland extending to approximately two and a half acres.
Planted borders, mature hedging, and trees create a private setting, while a greenhouse supports the option for growing fruit and vegetables.
The house is listed for £1.850.000 at Inigo.