Wheat Hill Farm
Sandon, Hertfordshire
Sandon 1 mile, Royston 7 miles, Baldock 7 miles, A1(M) 7 miles, London 45 miles
An attractive arable farming estate with a sporting partridge shoot.
- High-quality arable land extending to 696.40 acres
- Georgian-style principal farmhouse and two further cottages
- Barns with potential for residential use (subject to planning)
- Range of farm buildings with grain storage for 1,200 tonnes
- Partridge and pheasant shoot
- Available as a whole or in 2 lots
- Additionally available if required: four further cottages and barns with planning consent
Georgian-style principal farmhouse and two further cottages; about 705.03 acres (285.34 hectares) in all.
Introduction
The introduction and the particulars are intended to give a fair and substantially correct overall description for the guidance of intending purchaser(s) and do not constitute, nor constitute part of, an offer or contract. No responsibility is assumed for the accuracy of individual items. Prospective purchaser(s) and lessees ought to seek their own professional advice.
Wheat Hill Farm
Wheat Hill Farm lies between the villages of Wallington and Sandon in North Hertfordshire and extends to approximately 705 acres.
About 696 acres are in agricultural production and in recent years have grown wheat, barley, oats, oil seed rape and sugar beet. A series of tracks cross the land provide good access to all the fields. New Lodge Farmhouse, built in 2003 is an attractive, Georgian-style, five bedroom detached house built on the site of former cottages. There is a pair of brick semi-detached cottages and a timber-clad shoot lodge in the grounds of the house. A private driveway leads from the farmhouse to the grain storage buildings that are situated to the north of the farmhouse. There are two further barns within the farm which have potential for residential conversion, subject to planning.
The farm is part of the Game Conservancy project to reintroduce English partridges into the area and there are estimated to be 21 pairs on the farm. The shoot that has been run for the family has provided excellent sport.
The Farmland
The land is mostly of the Hanslope series and is classified as Grade 2 & 3 by Natural England. The land is easily workable, productive arable land capable of growing a wide variety of crops. It is currently farmed in hand by the vendors.
The Shoot
This is currently run as a sporting family shoot with seven days each year with an average of 80 / 100 partridges and pheasants per day.
Situation
Wheat Hill Farm is an exceptional arable farm on the outskirts of the village of Sandon. Nearby Royston, 7 miles to the north-east, provides local services and amenities, and the larger city of Stevenage is 15 miles away. Trains run from nearby Ashwell and Morden station to London Kings Cross. The journey takes about 55 minutes. The village of Sandon has a junior school and a church and the local village of Rushden has a public house.
Lot 1 - Wheat Hill Farm
Coloured pink on the plan 543.33 acres (219.90 ha)
New Lodge Farmhouse
The farmhouse is constructed of brick under a slate roof with double-glazed sash windows. The house was built in 2003 in a Georgian style and stands in an elevated position overlooking the shoot lodge and west across the farm. There are no occupancy restrictions on the house.
There are stone columns to the front portico with stone steps flanked by box hedges leading up to the front door. Formal lawn gardens surround the property with extensive views out over the farm. The terraced gardens are flanked by flowerbeds and shrubs. A gravel driveway sweeps to the front of the house through double gates.
The accommodation comprises a well-proportioned Hallway with tiled floor; Stairs to the first floor; Dining room; Sitting room with French doors to the garden; Kitchen with four oven, oil-fired Aga with electric module, floor units with granite tops and wall units; French doors to the Garden; Cloakroom with WC and wash hand basin; Utility Room with floor and wall units, quarry-tile floor and walk-in larder; Separate boiler room; Cloakroom with WC, wash hand basin; and Back Hall/Boot Room with door to double Garage.
The Stairs from the Hall lead to a fine galleried Landing with a curved balustrade. There are four double Bedrooms, three with en-suite Bathrooms; a single Bedroom; family Bathroom and linen cupboard.
1 and 2 Lodge Farm Cottages
A pair of semi-detached cottages constructed of brick under a tile roof.
The accommodation to the ground floor comprises; hall, kitchen with larder, sitting room and WC. On the first floor there are 3 bedrooms and a bathroom. Outside both properties have parking areas and gardens.
1 Lodge Farm Cottage is let under the Rent (Agriculture) Act 1976, to the widow of a former farm worker. 2 Lodge Farm Cottage is let under an Assured Short-hold Tenancy agreement.
The Shoot Lodge
An attractive timber-clad barn (22ft x 64ft) has been converted to a shoot room and farm office, and stands to the west of New Lodge Farmhouse. The building has a concrete floor, an open plan dining room, kitchen with floor and wall units, and WC with hand wash basin. Stairs from the dining room lead to the first floor where there is a farm office and a lockable storeroom.
The Farm Buildings
The main buildings are in a courtyard to the north of the farmhouse. The buildings comprise:
- Workshop (60ft x 45ft) – Concrete frame and floor with block walls and fibre cement / steel cladding under an asbestos roof. The building has a roller shutter door and is part workshop, part machinery store.
- Dutch barn grain store (120ft x 13ft) – Steel-clad under a steel roof with concrete floor, the building contains grain storage for 560 tonnes in bins together with a Law Denis 157 drier and dresser.
- Grain store (30ft x 90ft) – Capacity for 540 tonnes grain storage.
- A free-standing 160 tonnes silo.
- Garages – 3 bay garage block with timber cladding under a slate roof.
- Dutch barn (90ft x 45ft) - To the south of the farmhouse stands a six bay open-fronted Dutch barn with tin roof under a steel frame.
