A hidden riverside garden oasis that’s the perfect blend of city and country, just 45 minutes from central London
Grade II listed Barnes Mill and Mill House occupy the most stunning location within Chelmsford, offering flexible accommodation within its watery grounds. James Fisher takes a look.
Somehow set both within the city of Chelmsford and its own naturally landscaped mature grounds (which extend to some four acres) Grade II-listed Barnes Mill and Mill House is that rare, yet oh-so-desired, thing: rus in urbe.
This beautifully converted property, consisting of the 4,360sq ft Barnes Mill and the adjoining 2,500sq ft Mill House, offers a total of eight bedrooms (four in each) in an exceptional riverside setting at the end of a quiet no-through road.
Originally dating from about 1700, the buildings have been sensibly restored and renovated by the current owners, who have lived in the property for the past 24 years, and now provides the comforts of modern living set in a property of immense period character.
The mill was converted into a house in 1975 with the great spur wheel and ‘shut’ visible within the property today.
The gardens and grounds are nice and private, featuring two mill ponds and double-bank fishing on the River Chelmer, plus very easy access to the surrounding countryside for walks — all within five minutes’ drive from Chelmsford railway station and London beyond.
Trains run to London Liverpool Street every 15 minutes whilst driving takes about 40-50 minutes.
Exquisite houses, the beauty of Nature, and how to get the most from your life, straight to your inbox.
With Chelmsford city centre just over a mile away, you have access to a huge variety of leisure and shopping facilities with big name department stores, cinemas and restaurants; but really, it’s the joy of retreating back to a property like this which makes it so appealing.
Barnes Mill and Mill House are currently on the market via Jackson-Stops with a guide price of £2.85 million — see more pictures or enquire with the agent for further details.
Credit: Strutt and Parker
Best country houses for sale this week
An irresistible West Country cottage and a magnificent Cumbrian country house make our pick of the finest country houses for

James Fisher is the Digital Commissioning Editor of Country Life. He writes about motoring, travel and things that upset him. He lives in London. He wants to publish good stories, so you should email him.
-
What a report on the spending of female billionaires tells us about the future of museum collectionsBetween 2015 and 2024, the number of female billionaires grew from 190 to 344. Could this be good news for the art world?
By Athena Published
-
A simply perfect thatched cottage in Devon, with charm, walled gardens and all the space you need for family lifeThatched cottages are often pretty, but pretty small — but Julie Harding finds one brings which blends cottage charm with the space of a country manor.
By Julie Harding Published
-
A simply perfect thatched cottage in Devon, with charm, walled gardens and all the space you need for family lifeThatched cottages are often pretty, but pretty small — but Julie Harding finds one brings which blends cottage charm with the space of a country manor.
By Julie Harding Published
-
'A rare gem' of a country house, in 163 acres of the idyllic Colne Valley, just 50 minutes from the CityThe Regency-style Over Hall in Colne Engaine is a country house whose previous owner has spent 40 years getting everything just right. Penny Churchill takes a look.
By Penny Churchill Published
-
Five home offices so good that every work day will feel like a holiday (well, probably)Five years on from the Pandemic, millions of us are still working from home much of the time — and thus the appeal of a home office is as strong as ever. They don't much nicer than these.
By Julie Harding Published
-
A grand country house and 329-acre estate for sale at £1.89 million — and it's on the market for the first time in a quarter of a millenniumArabella Youens takes a look at the beautiful Monreith House and Estate on the south-west coast of Scotland.
By Arabella Youens Published
-
A beautiful home on the outskirts of one of Scotland's prettiest market towns, and an easy commute to EdinburghArabella Youens looks at Kirklands House, a wonderful old home set in five acres of charming gardens near Melrose.
By Arabella Youens Published
-
18 grand country homes, from £600k to £6 million, as seen in Country LifeOur regular look at the best homes to come to the market via Country Life this week include a house in a charming seaside village and a 17th century farmhouse.
By Toby Keel Published
-
Caveat renovator: The TV star, the writer and the salvation of a crumbling farmhouseThe actor, writer and comedian Robert Webb and his comedy writer wife Abigail Burdess embarked on a renovation project in 2019 which became far more than they imagined — and just as the job is at last complete, they've decided that it's the right time to put house on the market.
By Toby Keel Published
-
An Alpine hideaway on a Swiss mountaintop that's like something from the pages of a Gothic novelA wonderful Baroque castle set amid gardens and woodland is for sale in one of Switzerland's most beautiful areas.
By Toby Keel Published