Residential properties - Vigo Road
This page lists the residential properties in Vigo Road which runs in a south-westerly direction from the top of Stansted Hill, through the centre of Faiseat, and finishes at the crossroads with the Gravesend Road and Vigo Hill.
Please get in touch with the Society should you have further information on any of the properties listed or suggest any alterations or additions.
Thanet Dene
Originally one of the show homes at a pre WW2 Ideal Homes exhibition and bought by Jim and Fanny Slade, it was re erected on land belonging to The Dairy Farm and was subsequently sold as a separate dwelling to Don and Alice Osborne.
The Dairy Farm
The farm house and buildings were constructed sometime between 1867 and 1895. It was a dairy farm for most of its life and was run by the Burgess family. A barn which was part of the main farm building was separated off as a separate dwelling in 1982/3 and is now known as The Coach House.
The Coach House
Previously a barn associated with The Dairy Farm was converted in 1982/3 to provide a ground floor granny annexe, a bedroom on the first floor and a self-contained 3-bedroomed dwelling.
Underpine Cottage
The property was originally a stables/ store/ garage within the grounds of Fairseat Lodge, then, in 1991, a granny annexe for the elderly mother of the owner of the Lodge. When no longer needed for that purpose, it was rented out, but remained within the curtilage and ownership of the Lodge and did not have its own entrance from the road. In 2007 a Lawful Development Certificate was obtained to separate the annexe from the Lodge. The building on the site in 2019 was demolished and completely replaced.
Fairseat Lodge
Fairseat Lodge and Fairseat Cottage started life as outbuildings of the girl’s school at Fairseat House and were probably built at the same time as the school (1835). It became known as Fairseat Lodge before 1901 and was used as a Coachman’s house and a stable block. Mrs. Pitt (the former owner of Fairseat House) lived there from 1935 to 1954. It became a separate property from Fairseat House in 1954 when it was bought by John and Charmian Stacpoole who lived there for the next 30+ years.
Fairseat Cottage
Fairseat Lodge and Fairseat Cottage started life as outbuildings of the girl’s school at Fairseat House and were probably built at the same time as the school (1835). The property was used as a coach house and harness room before parts of it became a dwelling some time around 1900. The Fairseat Post Office operated from the building from about 1871 to 1930 when it moved to what is now known as the Old Post House (behind Fairseat pond). The old hayloft in the premises was used as an HQ for Fairseat Scouts during and after WW2. The premises were sold in 1965 and it has been a self contained house since then and, for many years was the home of Adrien and Glenys Sturgeon.
Fairseat House
Horace Grant built the house in 1835 and enlarged it with further additions around 1850. The Cottage (now Court House) was built at the same time as a home for Horace. Hannah Grant ran Fairseat House as a Boarding School for about 50 young ladies until 1863. Major General John Kemball bought Fairseat House in 1867 as a family home, and he built the wall around the kitchen garden. From 1871 to 1930 the local Post Office operated from the coach house on the premises, which is now Fairseat Cottage. In 1935 a large wing and kitchen block, which were part of the original school, were demolished and another wing was reduced in height. The house was Grade II listed in 1984 and was considerably improved in the late 1990s, including a new roof and the addition of a substantial orangery.
Court House
Known as ‘The Cottage’ in the past, the house was built by Horace Grant in the 1830s at the same time as Fairseat House. Horace Grant lived there until his death in 1859, while his cousin Hannah lived at Fairseat House and served as headmistress of the girls’ school there. Court House passed through many hands, including Major Drummond, who died there in 1916, and the property has been significantly extended over its life. In 2020, a barn in the garden was converted into a residence, ‘Woolpack Barn ‘, and in 2021/22 a self-contained dwelling named ‘The Courtyard’ was formed from part of Court House.
The Courtyard
This property was created as a separate dwelling in 2022. It was formerly part of the 1908 extension to the original Court House (The Cottage) building.
Woolpack Barn
An existing barn built in the 1980’s on the farmland associated with Court House was converted into a residential property named The Woolpack Barn in 2019/20 and the construction and renovation of the barn conversion was featured in the TV programme ‘Grand Designs’. The link below is to an article in Grand Designs Magazine published in April 2021.
The Old Post House
The Old Post House is a flint stone house believed to date in part to the 16th Century and once understood to have been cottages with a barn; extended over time, it is now a detached house of some 3,251 sq ft. It operated as Fairseat’s post office and telephone exchange from 1930 to 1959 and was managed throughout this period by Miss Stella Hendren. A commemorative plaque dedicated to her is set into the current building’s boundary wall. The house was the home to the former Member of Parliament John Carlisle and his wife, Anthea, between 2007 and 2010.
Court House Farm
This courtyard property was created in 1988 from an existing old barn and sheds for Rodney and Pamela Sheldon.
Daisy Cottage
To be completed
Fairseat Farmhouse
To be completed
Fairseat Manor
The current building comprises a front elevation of the early 1700s with a much older building behind it. The building and the garden wall facing Vigo Road were Grade II* listed in 1952. The listing says that the original building dates from the 17th century but it could well be much older. The Georgian facade and high garden wall were added by John Cox after he has bought the older building from Sir Roger Twisden.
Staples Cottage
To be completed
Soranks Manor
The house now known as Soranks Manor was built in the mid-1850s and stands on the foundations of a much earlier, medieval manor house. The land associated with the original Manor was held by Ralph de Sandwich during the reign of Henry III and was later passed to Edmund Sorank whose name is recorded in the assize roll of 1313 as a juror for Stansted. Hasted records the Manor as covering some 140 acres in 1548. Soranks Manor was the home of Ada Berry after whom the almshouses in Tumblefield Road are dedicated. Before WW2 the house was owned by Miss Coomber who ran it as a guest house/ hotel until she died in about 1945.
Fairlight Lodge
The earliest documentation for this land being used as farmland was in 1788, and the first house on the site is recorded in 1841. Local legend has it that the house was rebuilt in its current form in 1880. In the 1930s, the overall landholding was reduced from 23 acres to its current area of just over one acre.
Byways
To be completed
Meadow House
This was originally the staff quarters for Soranks Manor. It was a two-storey timber-framed building on a brick plinth, with timber walls and a corrugated iron roof. Over the years the use became a coach house/ barn and access was from existing secondary access to Soranks Manor. In 2006 planning consent was given to convert the property into a three-bedroom house of the same size, with its own access from Vigo Road.
Soranks Cottage
To be completed
Woodbine Farm
In 1841 this was a smallholding of 3.6 acres and was called Woodlawn Farm. It was occupied by William Goodwin and comprised a house and garden, a meadow and some arable land. Today the farm comprises some 28 acres of land and in the 1980s was used to grow most types of soft fruit and was a piggery for a period. Current uses are equestrian stables and fields, caravan storage and industrial units along Crabtree Close. The land includes the site of a medieval manor which could be the original Soranks Manor.
Woodbine Farm Bungalow
Previously a timber barn with a tin roof this was converted into a bungalow in 2018/19 by Mr George Fowler, the owner of Woodbine Farm, for his personal use.
The Old Rectory
Originally called Woodbine Cottage this house was sold to The Anglo Saxon Friendly Society in 1898 who used it as a convalescent home for its members. It was used a Rectory for Stansted Church from 1968 to 1996 when it was sold. Prior to this part of its garden had been sold and a new house (Langara) was constructed.
Waterlow Cottage
This property and the adjoining Oliver’s Cottage were built by Sir Philip Waterlow in the late 1920s as farm workers cottages attached to Corner Farm (which he also owned). It was used as the local police house either side of WW2 and was called 2 New Cottages until the early 1980s.
Olivers Cottage
This property and the adjoining Waterlow Cottage were built by Sir Philip Waterlow in the late 1920s as farm workers cottages attached to Corner Farm (which he also owned). The local midwife and nurse, Evelyn Oliver lived here for over 30 years and its name changed from 1 New Cottages after she moved away after 1955.
Langara
The house was built in 1997 in the bottom half of the garden of the Old Rectory.
Linton
This is one of six semi-detached houses built by Fred Waters just before WW2.
Brentwood
This is one of six semi-detached houses built by Fred Waters just before WW2.
Wayside
This is one of six semi-detached houses built by Fred Waters just before WW2.
Hawthorns
This is one of six semi-detached houses built by Fred Waters just before WW2.
Shambley Cottage
This detached bungalow was built in 1956 at the same time as its neighbour, Squirrell Trees. It was substantially extended in 1988.
Squirrel Trees
This detached bungalow was built in 1956 at the same time as its neighbour, Shambley Cottage. It was substantially extended in 1990. For some years its name was changed to May trees before reverting to its original name of Squirrel Trees.
Mayfield
In the early 1930s a very small bungalow was built at the back of this plot by Miss Coomber of Soranks Manor for her chauffeur, Reg Cleave. Two rooms were added in 1949. In 2001 that building was demolished and a replacement chalet bungalow was constructed by Denise and Terry Ross.
The Ridings
This is one of six semi-detached houses built by Fred Waters just before WW2.
Oakland
This is one of six semi-detached houses built by Fred Waters just before WW2.
Karistova
This detached chalet bungalow was built in 1970 for Mr W. Brown.
Woodview
One of three identical bungalows built by Fred Waters in 1938 (along with Oakwood Cottage and Brighthill).
Brighthill
One of three identical bungalows built by Fred Waters in 1938 (along with Oakwood Cottage and Woodview). Occupied by the Hills family since new.
Cherry Hay
A bungalow was first built on this site around 1970 and was extended in 1972. Mavis Boddington lived here for many years until she died in 2012. In 2021 access from the Bridleway at the rear (Bumpy Lane) was allowed for a new detached garage.
The Herons
This was originally a small 2 bedroomed bungalow built around 1968 that was extended at the rear in 1973. A large side extension which almost doubled the size of the house was created in 1979 and a garden room at the rear was added in 2021.
Oakwood Farm Cottage
One of three identical bungalows built by Fred Waters in 1938 (along with Brighthill and Woodview). Rebuilt in 2017/18 after Oakwood Farm was redeveloped.
1b Oakwood Farm (Pear Tree Cottage)
This detached house and its neighbour (Apple Wood Corner) was newly built in 2018 on the site of the bungalow of the owners of Oakwood Egg Farm, Robert and Lyndsey Durrant.
1a Oakwood Farm (Apple Wood)
This detached house and its neighbour (Pear Tree Cottage) was newly built in 2018 on the site of the bungalow of the owners of Oakwood Egg Farm, Robert and Lyndsey Durrant.
Oak Tree Stables
The current house and two mobile homes for traveller families were built in 2019/21 on a vacant field. A planning inspector decided in 2022 that the builds could remain for the lifetime of the then-current occupants.
Whitecroft
To be completed
3 Manor Cottages
To be completed
2 Manor Cottages
To be completed
1 Manor Cottages
To be completed
Manor Farm
To be completed
Threipmure
To be completed
Pinewitch
The property was the local Police house until 1969
Wentshaw
To be completed