“A distinguished and storied home with an orchard and a pretty kitchen garden”
“A distinguished and storied home with an orchard and a pretty kitchen garden”
This remarkable 17th-century house is a former rectory that lies in the picturesque Suffolk village of Clopton. The home is a picture of classical detailing inside and out, whilst providing exceptional levels of comfort, the result of years of sensitive renovation works under current ownership. High-quality materials have been incorporated throughout, celebrating a transitional style in which the traditional meets the contemporary. Set within 3.8 acres of private grounds, including an enchanting, partly walled garden and whimsical woodland, the house occupies a delightfully peaceful setting.
Setting the Scene
The Old Rectory dates to the early 17th century, with extensive alterations and additions over the subsequent centuries, lending the house a distinctive composite structure. Officially listed in 1966, the home presents a timber-framed foundation, colour-washed stucco render (an ashlar imitation), a patinated tiled roof, and two original gabled wings. It incorporates many of the period’s architectural inclinations, from rows of four-over-four sash windows to chamfered ceiling beams within.
The Grand Tour
A sweeping tree-lined gravel driveway defines the approach to the house. At its centre, a Greek-revival door surround with Doric columns and a moulded entablature forms a grand entrance point. The front door has a glazed upper panel and two recessed lower panels, and it opens to a spacious entrance hall with local Suffolk flooring.
From here, the plan follows a tripartite layout: the central part of the house consists of three spacious reception rooms, intimate seating areas in the east wing, and a kitchen in the west wing. Suffolk pammet tiles tun throughout the ground floor hall.
A new shaker-style kitchen has been painted duck-egg blue, ‘Danbury' by Sanderson and counters are varnished hardwood. A light-coloured dado panel splashback frames a cream AGA range cooker, and pammet tiles run underfoot. Sash and casement windows at either side draw natural light deep into the room, and exceptionally generous utility and larder rooms sit adjacent with an original bread oven.
To the centre and right are a formal dining room, a drawing room, a library, and two sitting rooms. Original, working, Georgian shutters grace the sash windows in the main reception rooms. Original fireplaces have been fitted with working wood burners to warm the spaces, and a considered selection of paints washes the walls. The formal early 19th-century drawing room overlooks the walled garden and village church.
A sweeping staircase with a sisal runner winds up to the first floor, where six bedrooms are arranged along an open, lateral corridor, with original 17th-century hardwood floors and soothing paint tones. The principal bedroom, with original oak flooring, occupies the upper east wing, with an adjoining bathroom complete with a freestanding bathtub, a walk-in shower, and exposed beams. 'Witches marks' known as hexafoils can be found on one of the beams. A spacious shared bathroom lies off the landing with marble tiles underfoot, a claw-foot bath, and a spacious walk-in shower.
The staircase continues to the attic level, which has a room overlooking the garden that could double as an additional bedroom or a crafting room, and an adjoining room that provides generous storage. Marvellous views stretch across the garden and the treetops beyond. There is also a cellar that can be used for further storage or could make an excellent wine cellar.
The Great Outdoors
A strong connection is fostered with the home's enchanting rear garden. The garden is composed of a combination of lawn, pond area, an ornamental cherry tree that looks spectacular in late Spring and mature fruit trees. It is grounded by a mature two acre woodland, while a walled kitchen garden has been beautifully landscaped with raised beds filled with produce and flowering perennials. A paved terrace provides a peaceful outdoor seating area perfect for alfresco entertaining. The garden is peppered with historic outbuildings, including a coach house, old stables, and a potting shed, and an orchard stocked with apple, pear, plum, quince, greengage and damson fruit trees.
Out and About
The home is situated in a peaceful area of rural Suffolk on the edges of Clopton and Grundisburgh. Grundisburgh centres around a classic village green and stream, featuring a local grocery store, primary school, and The Dog at Grundisburgh, a popular local pub known for its wood-fired pizzas and local ales.
A 10-minute drive east reaches 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 schools in both the state and independent sector. Woodbridge School, Framlingham College and Ipswich School are all highly regarded, with Grundisburgh primary school, Woodbridge primary school and Farlingaye High School also close by.
For transport, mainline rail services run directly from Ipswich railway station (around a 20-minute drive away) into London Liverpool Street in approximately 70 minutes, while local train links are also accessible from nearby Woodbridge and Melton stations.
Council Tax Band: G
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