Rare & unique Essex home with its own orchard is going under the hammer: Look inside

A rare and characterful farmhouse in Rochford is up for auction in June, offering buyers the chance to own a slice of rural Essex history.

Known as Orchard House, the four-bedroom detached property sits on Apton Hall Road and includes five acres of land, an orchard, and numerous outbuildings. It’s being sold by local firm Dedman Gray at auction on 12 June, with a guide price of £1.1 million.

The farmhouse has been in the same family for 45 years – owned by the Ravens family, who previously ran Southend’s iconic menswear store, Ravens, which closed in 2017 after 120 years of trading.

“This is such a unique opportunity to be available by auction,” said Mike Gray, Managing Director of Dedman Gray. “Having been family owned for over 45 years by the Ravens family (former owners of Ravens of Southend), the property has never been on the market in modern times and is set in a wonderful five-acre orchard in the middle of Rochford.”

“This well-known Southend family had enjoyed living there for many years. The Ravens were known for their iconic menswear store located just off Southend High Street and was an all-time favourite for generations.”

Set well back from the road, the house boasts expansive views across open farmland and offers plenty of privacy.

It does require some modernisation, giving a new owner the chance to create a bespoke rural home in a peaceful location.

The sale includes all the land and buildings on the plot, with a guide price of £1.1million. The auction will be live streamed on 12 June 2025.

Dedman Gray have specialised in property auctions in Essex for over four decades. The firm says auctions typically complete in around six weeks, making them a popular option for sellers who want speed and certainty.

To see more photos and full details of the property, visit the listing on the Dedman Gray Auctions website here: https://bit.ly/OrchardHouseAuction