Summary - MEAD COTTAGE HOBBS CROSS HARLOW CM17 0NN
4 bed 2 bath Detached
Grade II listed 17th-century cottage with gardens, character rooms and commuter links.
Grade II listed 1600s cottage with original Tudor beams and inglenook fireplace
Thatched roof: historic charm but higher maintenance and specialist approvals
Set on c.1/3 acre with mature private gardens and greenhouse
Four bedrooms, spacious dressing room, two bathrooms, 1,930 sq ft total
Detached garage (currently gym) plus driveway parking for three vehicles
Playhouse with heating and electrics suitable as office or studio
Good commuter access: near Epping station and M11/M25
Council tax quite expensive; local crime levels reported as high
Mead Cottage is a rare Grade II listed thatched home dating from the 1600s, set on about one-third of an acre in peaceful Hobbs Cross. The house retains strong period character—exposed Tudor beams, an inglenook fireplace and beamed reception rooms—alongside modern comforts: a luxury kitchen with granite worktops and integrated NEFF appliances, and two stylish bathrooms. Generous living spaces and mature, private gardens make it well suited to family life and entertaining.
Practical benefits include off-street parking and a detached garage (currently fitted out as a gym), a well-proportioned dressing room, a Hartley Botanic greenhouse used as an outdoor dining room, and a heated, electrified playhouse that can serve as a children’s room, studio or home office. Commuters will appreciate easy road links to the M11/M25 and direct trains from nearby Epping (Central Line) to London.
Important considerations: the Grade II listed status affects permitted works and will complicate alterations, repairs and any reroofing; owners should expect specialist approvals and potentially higher maintenance costs. The thatched roof and the property’s age bring ongoing upkeep responsibilities. Council tax is described as quite expensive, and local recorded crime levels are high—prospective buyers should factor these into their plans.
This property suits buyers seeking character and space in a rural setting with good transport links—families and professionals who value historic charm and garden space. It is less suitable for those seeking a low-maintenance, modern new-build or for buyers expecting unrestricted renovation freedom.
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