1 The Priory

About The House cont'd

Stevenage mainline train station is 2.2 miles away with commuter trains into Kings Cross taking only 23 minutes. Luton airport is 13 miles away.

History and Heritage

The property was given Grade II listed status in September 1976 as a property of architectural and historical interest. It is built of grey brick with a low pitched hipped Welsh slate roof and retains features of the Georgian period including high ceilings, tall sash windows with shutters, and ornate coving and plasterwork. The property was built as the Rectory for St Nicholas’ Church in 1780. The wings with bay windows to the rear were added around twenty years later. Of historical note is that the property features a blue plaque to the side of the main entrance and was once the home of William Jowitt, 1st Earl Jowitt, whose father was the Rector of St Nicholas Church from 1874 until 1912.

History cont'd

Jowitt was appointed Solicitor General in Sir Winston Churchill’s World War Il coalition government. Later he became Paymaster General in charge of drafting plans for postwar reconstruction. When the Labour Party gained power in 1945 he became Attorney General, a post he held until 1951. Winston Churchill was an occasional visitor to the house during the War and once took a call in the telephone room, now the downstairs cloakroom.Displayed on a wall in the Inner Hall are a series of pictures which portray the house at different times during its history and these will remain with the property.

Ground Floor

The panelled front door is sheltered by an ornate Doric portico and has a traceried fanlight window.

Dining Hall

The front door opens into the dining hall which has herringbone parquet flooring, picture lights, two sash windows to the front and glazed French doors to a courtyard garden at the side. There is a door to the cloakroom which has space for coat and shoe storage, wall shelves, a vanity washbasin and a Sanitan high level WC. The Inner Hall has dado rails with the walls above covered in a stone effect wall paper. A cantilevered wooden staircase curves up to a galleried landing on the first floor with a cupola with ornate original plasterwork providing plenty of natural light. There are built-in cupboards and seating under the stairs, and a door to a walk-in store room.

Kitchen/Breakfast Room

The kitchen was installed about 5 years ago and is in the Shaker style. It has a range of painted full height, wall and base units, including display shelves, drawers, and pull out recycling bins. Complementary work surfaces incorporate a double Belfast sink set under a window overlooking the kitchen garden at the front. A chimney recess houses a two oven gas Aga with two hot plates, and a companion electric oven with a gas hob. Other appliances include an integrated larder fridge, a Neff dishwasher, and a built-in Neff steam oven with a warming drawer below. There is space for a seating area and for a breakfast table and chairs.

Utility Room and Pantry

A door from the kitchen leads into the utility room which has a window overlooking the drive, a range of full height and base units, and an Ideal gas boiler which provides the heating and hot water. There is space and plumbing for a washing machine and a freezer. A back door leads to the kitchen garden and a further door provides access to a triple aspect pantry/wine store which has base units, shelving and space for additional appliances.

Drawing Room

The drawing room has a high ceiling with ornate coving and a tall bay window with full height shutters overlooking the rear garden. There is a dado rail, picture lights, Victorian style radiators, and a working fireplace with a tiled surround and hearth with a cast iron grate. An imposing mirror sits over the fireplace.

Sitting Room

The sitting room has a high coved ceiling, a dado rail and wall panels, and two sash windows overlooking the rear garden. The fireplace has an ornate mantel and surround and houses a coal effect gas fire. There are built-in cupboards in the chimney recesses either side.

Study

A door from the sitting room leads to a study which has a sash window to the rear and a range of built-in cupboards and bookshelves.

First Floor

The galleried landing has space for a seating area and access to two bedrooms both of which have windows with views over the rear garden, feature fireplaces, and high ceilings. Steps lead to an upper landing which has a built-in shelved airing cupboard and access to two further bedrooms, a shower room, and a bathroom.

Bedroom Two

The second bedroom has built-in wardrobes spanning one wall, working shutters and a coved ceiling.

Bedroom Three/Guest Bedroom

The third bedroom is used as a guest bedroom and has ornate coving, a ceiling rose, a built-in double wardrobe, and a fully tiled en suite three piece bathroom which includes a bath with shower attachment and a pedestal washbasin. A hatch with pull down ladder gives access to a part boarded loft which houses the water tanks with additional space for storage.

Principal Bedroom

The principal bedroom has dual aspect sash windows with an east facing window to the side and a south facing bay window to the rear. There is a feature fireplace and a range of freestanding cherrywood furniture and wardrobes.

Bedroom Four/Dressing Room

The fourth bedroom has a high ceiling with ornate coving and a ceiling rose, a sash window with working shutters to the side, and a connecting door to the bathroom. It could be used as a dressing room if preferred.

Bathroom and Shower Room

The bathroom has panelling to dado height, a panelled bath with shower attachment, a vanity washbasin, a WC and a towel radiator. The fully tiled shower room has a contemporary walk-in double shower cubicle with rainwater and standard shower heads, a vanity washbasin and a WC.

Gardens and Grounds

The property is set well back from the road behind walls with electric wrought iron gates which open to a drive with an octagonal turning circle. The block paved drive provides extensive parking and access to the detached 22 ft. garage. The front garden is lawned and there are mature trees providing screening. A wrought iron gate leads to the part walled kitchen garden which is block paved with a flowering cherry tree, a magnolia, and the original entrance bell to the property. An original brick wall separates the drive from the rear of the property with a timber gate to the courtyard garden at the side of the house, which can also be accessed via the French doors in the dining hall. The courtyard is paved and has space for al fresco dining and entertaining. There are symmetrical shaped rose beds with further roses, a vine, and pear, nectarine and cherry trained up the wall.

Gardens cont'd

A wisteria climbs up the side of the house. Glazed double doors lead to a garden store which has a tiled floor, a sink and shelved storage.The rear garden faces south, backs onto playing fields and is enclosed by mature hedgerow with mature trees providing screening. Trees include a feature weeping buddleia, and apple, pear and plum trees. The whole of the rear façade is covered by a Virginia creeper which turns red in the autumn. A path from the courtyard garden leads to a vegetable garden which has a greenhouse and several vegetable beds. The garden contains a treehouse which would need renovation. Beyond the vegetable garden there is a formal, terraced bed and the rest of the garden is laid to lawn.

Situation and Schooling

The property is within walking distance of amenities in the historic old town of Stevenage which has a selection of shops, cafes, restaurants, and public houses. There is also a network of cycle routes accessed at the bottom of Rectory Lane which lead to the local schools and the railway station. The new town has a large pedestrianized shopping centre and retails parks, with many high street brands including Marks and Spencer, Asda, Tesco, Aldi and Sainsbury supermarkets. Adjacent to the train station is the Gordon Craig Theatre. On the other side of the station there is a Leisure Park which has a David Lloyd Health Club, restaurants, bars, a bowling alley and a 16 screen Cineworld complex. For the commuter, Stevenage railway station has services to Kings Cross in just 23 minutes, as well as excellent connections to the North.