There’s little mystery to the charm of this English cottage in Princeton

This meticulously restored Tudor residence is literally a storybook home. Constructed by local civic leader Edwin Kimble, it is a replica of a house featured in an Agatha Christie novel.

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This meticulously restored Tudor residence is literally a storybook home. Constructed by local civic leader Edwin Kimble, it is a replica of a house featured in an Agatha Christie novel.


   Though Washington didn’t sleep here, famed detective Hercule Poirot would have been very comfortable in this beautiful home on State Road in Princeton Township.
   This meticulously restored Tudor residence is literally a storybook home. Constructed by local civic leader Edwin Kimble, it is a replica of a house featured in an Agatha Christie novel. There’s even a secret panel in the library.
   While the home was built in the 1930’s, its history can be traced back to the original royal grant of land to William Penn. Originally consisting of 200 acres, the parcel contained one of the largest old-growth forests in the United States. After changing hands several times, it was eventually donated to The College of New Jersey (later to become Princeton University) in 1752 for use as a woodlot.
   For all it’s historic charm, there is more to the story of this 2.47-acre urban retreat, which is being marketed by Andrea D’Angelo of the Pennington office of Gloria Nilson GMAC Real Estate.
   The current owners devoted years and a great deal of effort to restore the home and update it where appropriate. The cedar shake roof is brand new, and the trio of baths have been completely redone. However, most of the home’s endearing qualities remain.
   The hand-hewn beams that support the soaring ceiling of the drawing room and frame its double archways still bear the carved markings that Mr. Kimble used to help him piece together his dream house. He and Boy Scout Troop 43, which he led, carried those beams from nearby Griggs Farm, where they had been part of a great 19th century barn. Mr. Kimble believed learning how to build a house would make a good project for the boys.
   The drawing room is home to one of the residence’s three working fireplaces, and there are radiators, for which the current owners installed custom-built covers, throughout the home.
   The library is a book lover’s dream. Dark mahogany panels line the walls and frame a set of built-in floor-to-ceiling bookcases. The nearby dining room features built-ins as well. The tall china cabinets are framed by large windows that overlook the extensively landscaped back yard and terrace. The wide galley kitchen is illuminated by a pair of tall windows and leads to a sunny tiled breakfast room with French doors that open to the garden.
   Upstairs, a beautiful wooden canopy bed, which was custom built to match the decor of the home, graces the master suite, which has been expanded to include a sitting room. The master bath features a beautiful glass block stall shower, while another nearby bath has been set up as an oasis from the rest of the home. It’s decorated with soothing colors and includes a sumptuous soaking tub. Two additional bedrooms round out the second level. One works perfectly as a sitting room, while the other makes a great guest room as it offers a staircase to a private entrance below.
   Given the home’s proximity to the Princeton Airport, the train station, Route 206, Route 1 and I-95, the home is equally suited to be a family home or a weekend retreat. It’s close to the quaint shops, amazing restaurants, parks and culture of Princeton and greater Mercer County. With all it has to offer, there’s no mystery to its appeal.
   The home is priced at $785,000. For additional information, please contact Andrea D’Angelo of the Pennington office of Gloria Nilson GMAC Real Estate at (609) 737-9100 or [email protected].