A 17th-century, former water mill and its eight-hectare
estate, nestled between woods and meadows, in the Vexin region
estate, nestled between woods and meadows, in the Vexin region
Chaumont-en-Vexin,
OISE
picardy
60240
FR
Location
Secluded, but not isolated, the mill, located within a rural hamlet and accessible via a small lane, is nestled in a bucolic landscape traversed by a river that winds its way through the middle of a clearing surrounded by large, old trees. As for Paris, it can be reached in approximately one hour, via the A16 motorway or by train, to either Saint-Lazare or Paris-Nord station, while Brussels and Calais, a crossing point to London, are 3.5 and 2.5 hours away, respectively, and the Charles-de-Gaulle and Beauvais-Tillé airports are both less than one hour away.
Description
Built in the 17th century, the first confirmed reference to the mill dates back to 1718 when it was used to grind the grain harvested from the surrounding fields of the Vexin region, the latter of which has been used for agricultural purposes since Antiquity, while, in the late 19th century, the mill’s water power was employed for the manufacturing of small household objects and buttons made out of mother-of-pearl when its grinding stones were swapped out for machines designed to cut nacre. Having ceased this production during the 1930s, the edifice was then transformed into a full-time residence before becoming a holiday home in the 1970s.
Today, the dwelling, nestled within dense, verdant vegetation and built above a mill run, approximately 25 metres long and fed by the river, first comes into view with its gable end, while the three-storey stone building, including a floor under the eaves, is topped with a small local tile hipped roof.
As for its main façade, it is arranged into seven rows of vertical, large-paned windows, safeguarded by shutters, whereas Virginia creeper blankets its understated walls in abundant foliage, the former of which feature stringcourses on each floor as well as keystones placed above each window. In addition, a hanging hipped dormer punctuates the roof directly over the dwelling’s front door, while along one wall, water still flows over the mill’s immobile waterwheel.
Directly opposite and parallel to the dwelling, an outbuilding is located on the other side of the lawn, whereas two streams and a pond, bordered by moss and reeds, are the home to many wild ducks, and, in the back, woods and a pasture extend over the rest of the property.
Today, the dwelling, nestled within dense, verdant vegetation and built above a mill run, approximately 25 metres long and fed by the river, first comes into view with its gable end, while the three-storey stone building, including a floor under the eaves, is topped with a small local tile hipped roof.
As for its main façade, it is arranged into seven rows of vertical, large-paned windows, safeguarded by shutters, whereas Virginia creeper blankets its understated walls in abundant foliage, the former of which feature stringcourses on each floor as well as keystones placed above each window. In addition, a hanging hipped dormer punctuates the roof directly over the dwelling’s front door, while along one wall, water still flows over the mill’s immobile waterwheel.
Directly opposite and parallel to the dwelling, an outbuilding is located on the other side of the lawn, whereas two streams and a pond, bordered by moss and reeds, are the home to many wild ducks, and, in the back, woods and a pasture extend over the rest of the property.
The Water Mill
The ground floor
Two entrances, located on either side of the mill, communicate with a dual-aspect foyer with a wooden staircase, the base of which is decorated with a bevelled glass orb, while the walls, in pointed ashlar stone, complement the terracotta tile floors, which can be found in all the rooms on this level.
On one side, a living room with four windows, bathing this space in ample sunlight, features a Directoire-style fireplace, flanked by two windows facing the pond, as well as white visible ceiling beams and walls, which help balance the room’s overall composition, whereas, extending on from the foyer, a large dual-aspect room with five windows provides direct access to the garden and an adjacent kitchen, furnished with white cupboards, also communicates with the garden via a glass door.
As for the second entrance, it houses the axle and pinion of the mill’s former mechanism, which have been preserved in a white masonry structure topped with two beams, which are, in turn, supported by four thin wooden columns.
The first floor
Two staircases, located on each end of the mill, provide access to this level, with either parquet or sisal floors, where a hallway communicates with three bedrooms. One of them, at the end of the building, features a floor area of approximately 34 m² and plenty of natural light thanks to four windows, while two bathrooms can also be found on this floor, and, on the other end of the dwelling, a bedroom, of approximately 40 m², has been converted into a library.
The second floor
Under the eaves, it includes four bedrooms and a bathroom, while the dwelling’s renovation respected its 17th-century timber frame structure, which remains visible, despite the insulation installed.
The Outbuildings
Facing the mill, a small single-storey cottage, built out of rubble stone and topped with a local tile roof, was later extended on one end by a small tower and is divided into guest accommodations as well as a workshop, a storeroom and horse stables, while a garage, located in a brick building on the edge of the woods, provides parking for two vehicles.
The Grounds
Extending over approximately eight contiguous hectares and including a wooded area, two large meadows, a former vegetable garden and swaths of lawn, an immense pond, fed by a stream structures the whole, while the former vegetable garden, enclosed by brick walls, still features its ancient stone staircase and two cast-iron basins.
Overlooking the mill and surrounded by tall trees, a meadow with hedgerows extends to the horizon, whereas, in one of the fields, a comfortable horse shelter has been built in order to protect them from inclement weather.
Lastly, along the property’s outskirts, the countryside is made up of farmland and groves of trees, unspoilt by any constructions or electrical, wind turbine or solar-power installations.
Our opinion
This estate, sheltered from all disturbances and carefully preserved in accordance with its history and architecture, boasts a peaceful atmosphere thanks to its many water features, while the pasture provides enchanting views of the surrounding countryside.
The only challenge that the mill imposes consists of choosing between such outdoor activities as fishing, hiking and bird watching, while the property also includes a small forest, which provides plenty of firewood during the winter.
With such fine feathered neighbours as herons, egrets, buzzards, pheasants, swallows and ducks, which frequent the outskirts of the pond and can be seen from the dwelling itself, the property creates an environment sheltered from view, surrounded by nature, where time itself seems to stand still.
Reference 527777
| Land registry surface area | 8 ha |
| Main building floor area | 450 m² |
| Number of bedrooms | 7 |
| Outbuildings floor area | 110 m² |
French Energy Performance Diagnosis
Information on the risks to which this property is exposed is available on the website: www.georisques.gouv.fr
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NB: The above information is not only the result of our visit to the property; it is also based on information provided by the current owner. It is by no means comprehensive or strictly accurate especially where surface areas and construction dates are concerned. We cannot, therefore, be held liable for any misrepresentation.
