An elegant, 16th century presbytery and its large farm, bordered by a stream
on some 5 ha of land with an unobstructed view, 120 km from Paris
on some 5 ha of land with an unobstructed view, 120 km from Paris
Gournay-en-Bray, SEINE-MARITIME
upper-normandy
76220
FR
Location
Paris can be reached in 2 hours from the train station in Gournay-en-Bray, a small Normandy town with all local shops, just 9 km away. Forges-les-Eaux, its casino and its thalassotherapy centre are 18 km away. Gisors is 30 km away. Beauvais and its international airport are but 35 km away. Dieppe and its seaside are 70 km away.
Local markets selling their home-grown produce are to be found just a stone’s throw from the property.
Description
The tall gates belonging to the property are reached via little roads winding their way through the very attractive countryside of the Bray region on the edge of Picardy, with its wonderful undulating landscapes. They open into the square courtyard of an old farm, its superb outbuildings comprising three cowsheds standing on the left and right-hand sides of the courtyard, preceded by clumps of decoratively trimmed boxwood. Straight on, adjoining one of said cowsheds, the old presbytery spans two levels. An old bread oven, standing some 50 metres behind the building, has been converted into two rooms. A stream set in verdant surroundings, follows a tennis court and an orchard. Its 200 metres of bank with a little beach are on a slightly lower level. Various species of trees have been planted throughout the property.
The presbytery
Its thick, local stone facades are protected by a gable roof, covered with local tiles, typical of the Bray region. The house is constructed over a 15th century cellar.
The through rooms feature small-paned windows, letting a maximum of pleasant light inside. On the first floor, a gothic window is filled with stained glass, allowing the sun’s rays to play with its multitude of colours. All of the openings are framed with brick surrounds. A solid wooden door gives access to the inside. This building adjoins an old cowshed, now fully converted over two levels. On the ground floor, a lean-to is next to a kitchen. Vast living rooms and bedrooms, all soberly decorated, are to be found on every level. The floors are covered with rectangular or hexagonal terracotta tiles or parquet flooring. French windows in the lounge-dining room open on to the garden, laid out behind the house. Most of the openings have indoor shutters.
Ground floor
The front door opens into a vast living room, laid out with lounge and dining room areas. The floor is covered with its original terracotta tiles and a large fireplace is in good working order. These features are also to be found in a second, adjoining lounge. The stone of one of the walls has been left exposed, just like the facades. A kitchen and a small room, with a door to the outside, are on the left-hand side. A shower room, a toilet and a laundry room complete this area. Three stone steps go up from the main lounge to a landing, leading to the stairway providing access upstairs as well as to a large bedroom and its bathroom.
First floor
A gallery with an exposed stone wall, on the facade side, provides access to four bedrooms, a shower room, a bathroom and a toilet. On the left-hand side, above the adjoining cowshed, a vast living room has been converted in the attic space. The floors on this level are covered with sisal matting or parquet flooring. Cupboards are to be found in each bedroom.
Attic
A large living room, following on from the first floor, is fully converted. The other section, with its outstanding roofing framework, awaits conversion.
Cellar
The presbytery is constructed over a vaulted cellar, dating from the 15th century.
The little house on the prairie
This former bread oven comprises but one bedroom with parquet flooring upstairs, reached via a ladder. Two rooms await conversion.
The outbuildings
The outbuildings are composed of four cowsheds, spanning two levels, one of which is an open tithe barn in use as a garage.
The roofs are covered with slate or tiles. The facades are built of flint, stone and brick. The openings, framed with brick surrounds, are protected by solid wooden shutters and doors, all painted white.
The cowsheds are still in their original condition with spacious areas. These would be ideally suited to any function or hotel and catering project.
Our opinion
The main building has been restored and decorated to a good standard and new owners have no need to schedule any works before moving in. Both the tennis court and the stream make this property somewhere the family can relax at weekends or during holidays. The local surroundings with their villages can be explored, enabling residents to discover local products as well as the history and culture of the Bray Country and all at a reasonable distance from Paris.
689 000 €
Fees at the Vendor’s expense
Reference 440370
| Land registry surface area | 5 ha 62 a |
| Main building surface area | 350 m2 |
| Outbuilding surface area | 1000 m2 |
| Number of bedrooms | 5 |
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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.
