Bottisham Heath Stud

INTRODUCTION

Bottisham Heath Stud is that rare combination of a well known and successful stud farm with excellent training facilities. An attractive and discreet entrance with an electric coded gate provides security leading to a long drive. 5 miles the London side of Newmarket at Six Mile Bottom, it is well placed behind mature hedges and trees making it a superb environment to train and to board mares within sheltered, well maintained paddocks. With an excellent principal house and an additional manager's house this stud farm has ample staff accommodation to compliment the versatile stud buildings.

HISTORY

Bottisham Heath Stud has been run as a successful stud farm and training yard for many years. In the 1980s the late Bob Cowell bought the property from Lord Matthews who bred many a successful mare. The Cowells bred a number of good horses including Mohican Princess, dam of multiple stakes winners. Robert Cowell trains successfully from Bottisham Heath and has earned the reputation for turning out sprinters, of which victories in the King's Stand, the Nunthorpe and the Prix de l'Abbaye are the most notable. This is a truly versatile operation which gives anyone the chance to build on the history of successes that have been at Bottisham Heath Stud.

LOCATION

Bottisham Heath Stud is ideally located for easy access to Newmarket and onto the A11; which has quick access to London or Cambridge. The area is renowned in the equine world - the racing centre of Newmarket is nearby, Cambridge is within easy reach, with some trains from Cambridge North and Audley End to London taking under 55 minutes. Stansted Airport is under 30 miles. Newmarket is the racing and bloodstock capital—two racecourses, Tattersalls sales, Equine Hospitals, the greatest concentration of training yards and stud farms in the country. This is the place to be for the serious bloodstock investor. For the sport horse operation, the accessibility is remarkable—both the A11 and the A14 are on the doorstep.

DESCRIPTION

Approached from the Newmarket to Six Mile Bottom road by a long drive Bottisham Heath Stud comprises:

Heath House— The principal house for the stud farm, about 300 yards from the stud buildings, sitting well in its own ground, behind a high hedge in a large garden, which gives it privacy.  Brought up to date in the last 10 years, and approached via a pillared porch, 4 reception rooms and a downstairs loo on the ground floor; with 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms and dressing room on the first floor, making Heath House ideal for entertaining. The main reception rooms lead out to the air conditioned kitchen, dining and sitting rooms incorporating the solid roofed garden room, giving a light airy feel to the house. Of brick under a tiled roof, the house is on 3 floors. With a useful cellar, the house is about 4,170 sq ft. plus the garage. The extensive garden has an open summer house, pond, mature trees and beds with numerous fruit trees.

Heath Lodge— About 150 yards from the stud buildings with 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, clad and rendered house originally built for the stud manager. Extended in 2011, the Lodge has a large drawing room with an open fire, an open plan kitchen and an airconditioned garden room. On the top floor is a large walk in attic storage space and a snug room. Outside is a mature and fully enclosed private garden with a patio and a fully insulated timber garden room with kitchenette. All in about 2,100 sq ft.

1 & 2 Heath Cottages (10 on the building plan) - A pair of semi-detached farm workers' cottages built in the 1970s next to the main stud yard, each with 2 bedrooms a bathroom, a nursery/office room with open plan dining and sitting areas. Both have their own front and rear gardens. All in about 735 sq ft.

The Cabin (11 on the building plan) — A timber framed and clad insulated building with tiled roof built in 2019. 2 bedrooms a bathroom and an open plan living area. About 495 sq ft. This was built to house stable staff, conveniently placed by the stud buildings.

The Stud Buildings

At the end of the 750 yard long drive, the stud buildings are centrally placed to serve the stud farm. Adapted to be both stud buildings and a training yard complex, they are extremely versatile. They comprise:

1. Stud /training yard office: A very functional and recently refurbished office, kitchenette and WC. This is centrally placed for supervision of the yard. The yard foreman's office is the other side of the arch.

2. Main Stable Yard: A courtyard with 23 large boxes (inclusive of 2 large foaling boxes); easily accessible feed and tack rooms. All with easy access to the rest of the stud.

3. Stable Barn and workshop: A well ventilated, American style 10-box barn with workshop at one end.

4. Stable Barn and canteen: A large, well ventilated, American style barn with 2 rows of 7 boxes, making a 14-box barn. With a staff canteen and tack room attached to the SW corner.

5. 2 Ranges of 5 boxes: 2 rows of 5 wooden stables, slightly separated from the other stables with front and rear windows.

6. Range of 5 boxes: A row of 5 wooden stables, front and rear windows offering good isolation if required.

7. Utility Barn: A useful barn split into 2, with one side on a concrete floor with 10 large loose boxes. The other on stone floor providing tractor and hay storage.

8. Horse Walker Barn: An extra utility barn for storage and containing a 5-bay Claydon horsewalker .

9. Presentation Ring: An all-weather ring for walking, trotting or presentations.

In addition: 2 large isolation boxes with nursery paddocks. A 5-bay Claydon covered horsewalker (another is excluded); an all-weather lunge surface; a 4-bay wash down area with hot and cold showers; staff and separate visitor parking.

Gallop: A well maintained and serviced 7 ½ furlong Polytrack gallop, running along the north eastern boundary of the stud farm with a high hedge to one side, with the added benefit that it can be used in either direction. The gallop is well isolated from the principal paddocks and has an excellent track alongside. The route from the stable yards to the beginning of the gallop is quiet and well sheltered through blocks of woodland.

Land and Paddocks: Totalling 162 acres, Bottisham Heath Stud has 130 acres of well railed, attractive and mature paddocks, with 11 acres of woodland, shelter belts and thick hedges providing good shelter for all seasons. The ground is well drained loamy soil over chalk, providing good ground for stock. This is an ideal environment for horses. There are gravel and tarmac service roads round the farm providing easy access to all areas throughout the year.

General Remarks

Method of sale: Bottisham Heath Stud is offered for sale by private treaty with vacant possession on completion.

Vendors: The vendors of the property are executors. The business operating the property is under separate ownership, therefore tenant's fixtures fitting and equipment will only be available by separate negotiation.

Services: Mains electricity (3-phase). Private drainage systems. Private borehole supply for water. The borehole is in the middle of the farm, about 100m NE from the stud buildings. Heath House and Heath Lodge have oil fired central heating. The Cottages have electric cooking and heating. The Cabin has electric heating and gas cooking.

Local Authorities: The majority of the property and buildings are in East Cambridgeshire Council www.eastcambs.gov.uk The two southern paddocks are in South Cambridgeshire Council.

Planning and Occupancy: Heath House was built in the 1970s. The planning approval limits the occupation of the dwelling to persons employed locally in agriculture. From its construction it has been occupied by those involved with the Stud Farm. Heath Lodge was extended in 2011. Its occupation is limited to persons employed on the stud. 1 & 2 The Cottages are subject to an occupancy restriction limited to persons employed on the stud farm. The Cabin is limited to single workers directly employed at Bottisham Heath Stud.

Easements, covenants, rights of way and restrictions: The property is sold subject to or with the benefit of, all existing wayleaves, easements, quasi-easements, rights of way, covenants, and restrictions, whether mentioned in the particulars or not.

There are no public rights of way crossing the property.

The area of the drive between the main gate and the public road, shaded brown on the sale plans subject to a right of way for all purposes in favour of the paddock to the south side of the entrance. Maintenance to be shared as to user.

There is an unused gateway at the southern end of the property onto Wilbraham Road

The 2 paddocks (9.000 and 6.892 acres) in the SE of the stud are subject to a covenant requiring the approval of the owner of the neighbouring property for any house, building or other structure. There are currently no buildings on these paddocks.

Future Development Proposals: Land near Six Mile Bottom is being promoted as a site for development. This has been ongoing for some years. Bottisham Heath Stud is not currently part of these proposals. Details are available from the agents.

The Vendors reserve the right to receive 30% of any uplift in value in the event that planning permission is granted (payment on the earlier of sale or implementation) for any use other than agricultural or equine, for a period of 30 years from the date of completion.

Boundaries, plans, areas, schedules and disputes: The Boundaries are based on the Ordnance Survey and are for reference only. The Purchaser will be deemed to have full knowledge of the boundaries and any error or mistake shall not annul the sale or entitle any party to compensation thereof. Should any dispute arise as to the boundaries, or any points arise on the general remarks and stipulations, particulars, schedules, or plan on the interpretation of any of them, such questions shall be referred to the selling agents whose decisions act as an expert shall be final.

VAT: Any price guide given or discussed is exclusive of VAT. In the event that the sale of the property or any part thereof or any right attached to it becomes a chargeable supply for the purpose of VAT, such tax will be payable in addition.

Land Based Schemes and Designations: The property is registered to receive Rural Payment Agency basic payments. The property is entered in to the Sustainable Farming Incentive scheme. Details are available from the agents.

Employees: The stable staff are employed by the tenant. Details are available from the agents on request.

Fixtures and fittings: Some of the fixtures, fittings and equipment are available to purchase at valuation; however, they are not included in the sale of the property. Those items belonging to Robert Cowell Racing Ltd will be subject to VAT.

Anti-Money Laundering: In accordance with the Money Laundering Regulations 2017, once an offer has been accepted, the Purchaser will be required to provide proof of identity and address prior to the instruction of solicitors.

Viewing:

Postcode: CB8 0TT

Strictly by appointment with the Agents.

Windsor Clive International 01672 521155.

Directions: 

From London, take the M11 and A11, leaving the A11 at 6 Mile Bottom, onto the A1304 signed to Newmarket. Go over the level crossing and Bottisham Heath Stud is ¾ of mile on the left.

From Newmarket take the A1304, keeping straight on at the July Course roundabout, and Bottisham Heath Stud is 3 miles on the right.

Go through the gate and meet at the stud offices.

https://w3w.co/huddle.waking.author

Note that care must be taken when viewing in the proximity of horses.