“Whimsical gardens merge quietly with the enveloping scenic Suffolk countryside”
“Whimsical gardens merge quietly with the enveloping scenic Suffolk countryside”
This magnificent Grade II-listed former rectory lies on the edge of the picturesque Suffolk village of Blaxhall. The home is a portrait of classical detailing inside and out, retaining a wealth of original features and opening to a beautiful landscaped garden. The interiors span 4,737 sq ft and have been sensitively renovated to a high standard with curated finishes across seven bedrooms and numerous reception rooms. Extending over approximately 4.5 acres, the enchanting garden includes a vegetable garden, a natural lily pond, two paddocks, and tennis courts.
Setting the Scene
The former rectory dates to the early 19th century, with an older 17th-18th century timber-framed structure at the rear. Listed since 1966, the home presents a smart brick facade with a slated hipped roof and a symmetrical three-window range of three-light sash windows. The older part of the house retains a timber-framed core, reflecting the building’s earlier vernacular before the formal early 19th-century neoclassical expansion.
The Grand Tour
A private gravel driveway winds its way to the front of the house, entirely embedded within its wooded setting. The grand entrance features a prominent portico surrounding a front door with a semi-circular fanlight.
Inside, the entire ground floor lends itself to communing and hosting: the front of the house consists of two spacious reception rooms, while more intimate rooms open out to the rear. The first part of the house is Georgian – apparent through its generous proportions and floor-to-ceiling sash windows – and houses the formal dining room and the drawing room, each decorated with a distinct colour scheme and elegant period fireplaces.
A short set of stone steps descends to the older part of the house, where exposed ceiling beams and wonderfully wobbly walls define most of the rooms. To the right lies the kitchen, with white-painted shaker-style cabinets and an AGA range cooker enclosed in the original brick fireplace. A large walk-in pantry sits adjacent, along with a well-equipped utility/boot room with original pamment flooring.
Opposite are a breakfast room, with a wall of bespoke shelving, a study, and an intimate sitting room grounded by another brick fireplace. Exposed beams overhead and floorboards underfoot hint at the home’s storied past.
Two sets of stairs rise to the first floor, one lit by a pretty, restored cupola. Seven generous bedrooms occupy this floor with two well-sized bathrooms. The principal suite is arranged at the front of the house, with exceptionally large proportions and wide sash windows that frame the treetops and draw abundant light into the room. It has an adjoining study and an en suite with a large walk-in shower.
On the lower-ground level is a cellar with original brick wine vaults and slate shelving.
Set within the surrounding woodland is a one-bedroom coach house with a living room, kitchen and bright bathroom.
The Great Outdoors
Within its 4.5 acres of private grounds, the house is surrounded by expansive landscaped lawns, a tennis court, a natural pond, and areas of established woodland. There are two paddocks with stables serviced by electricity and water. The vegetable garden has raised beds filled with raspberries, rhubarb and herbs, and there are productive fruit trees bearing pears, plums, and quince. Paved terraces provide peaceful outdoor seating areas, and structured paths are forged with colourful perennial borders.
Out and About
The home is situated in a peaceful area of rural Suffolk on the edge of Blaxhall. The village has a local community pub, The Ship Inn, along with a 64-hectare heathland reserve managed by the Suffolk Wildlife Trust as part of the Suffolk Sandlings.
Blaxhall is situated roughly eight miles south-west of Aldeburgh and Leiston, and less than a 20-minute drive from Woodbridge, a thriving historic market town along the River Deben with a bustling high street filled with independent boutiques, artisan bakeries, restaurants, and the iconic Woodbridge Tide Mill. Nearby are the National Trust site at Sutton Hoo and the broader Suffolk Heritage Coast, within easy reach for coastal walks.
The area is well served by both state and independent schools. For transport, mainline rail services run directly from Ipswich railway station (around a 30-minute drive away) into London Liverpool Street in approximately 70 minutes, while local train links are also accessible from nearby Campsea Ashe (Wickham Market) station.
Council Tax Band: G
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