8 bedroom house

The Old Rectory is an immaculately presented 8-bedroom Grade II listed family property situated in a sought-after location within a short walk of the centre of Beccles. The property features fine architectural period detailing and benefits from off-road parking, beautiful, landscaped gardens and from the property’s elevated position, it enjoys spectacular far reaching views over the Waveney river and valley.
__________

GROUND FLOOR

- Entrance hall
- Drawing room
- Dining room
- Morning room & library/study
- Kitchen/breakfast room with adjoining family room
- Larder
- Utility room
- Lobby/Boot room
- Shower room
- Study
- WC
__________

FIRST FLOOR

- Galleried landing
- Main bedroom suite with en suite bathroom
- 3 further double bedrooms, 2 with en suites
- Family bathroom
__________

SECOND FLOOR

- 4 bedrooms
- Bathroom
__________

BASEMENT

- 2 room cellar
__________

OUTSIDE

- South facing landscaped walled garden
- Pond
- Terrace
- Off-road parking
- 2 bay open garage
- Wood store
- Gardens & grounds in all approx. 0.34 acres (stms)
__________

DRIVING DISTANCES (approx.)

- Bungay 5.4 miles
- Southwold 12.5 miles
- Norwich 19 miles
__________

SITUATION

The Old Rectory is situated on Ballygate, just a short walk from the centre of the Georgian market town of Beccles. This fine market town has a traditional market, held each Friday and a wide selection of shops that provide excellent day to day shopping. The town offers an assortment of restaurants, cafes and pubs, together with leisure facilities and schools in both the public and private sector. There is a railway station with services to Lowestoft and Ipswich, with onward connections to London, Liverpool Street. The River Waveney from Beccles gives access to the Norfolk Broads, and North Norfolk and the Suffolk coast offer beaches and sailing and are within easy driving distance. Beccles has a long history dating back before 1260 when it was granted the right to hold the yearly fair and also it was the place where Horatio Nelson’s parents Catherine Suckling and Edmund Nelson married in 1749.

The market town of Bungay has a wide selection of shops, a theatre, and a golf club with an 18-hole course. The Earsham Street area of Bungay has several excellent shops including a fishmonger, delicatessen, florists, and greengrocer and a market on Thursdays. There is a Sixth Form College in Bungay and Independent Langley School near Loddon.

The popular coastal town of Southwold is 12.5 miles to the south east, offering a wide range of facilities that include good shopping, beaches, a golf course, a sailing club, and a unique small cinema.

Norwich is about 19 miles to the north, with its fine Cathedral and close in the centre of the city, a permanent market in the shadow of the city hall, and The Forum which also houses the library. There is an extensive and eclectic range of pubs, bars and restaurants, theatres, museums and a vibrant business community. Close to the city centre is the mainline railway station with trains to London Liverpool Street and to the north of the city is the expanding Norwich International Airport. __________

DESCRIPTION

This property is the archetypal old rectory, listed Grade II and with symmetrical design, classic proportions, and decorative elements. The property is of mellow red brick façade with a large pedimented gable and a panelled front door with fan light over and a leaded canopy supported by Doric columns. On entering the property there is a wide entrance hall with flagstone flooring, extending through to 2 further central hallways, each with glazed doors and fanlights. The vista from the front of the property through to the rear garden draws the eye into the distance creating a wonderful feeling of space and airiness. An elegant staircase rises from the main entrance hall to a galleried landing on the first floor.

Over the years, the property has been subjected to extensive restoration with high-specification finishes and incredible attention to detail throughout. The rooms are elegantly proportioned with good ceiling heights, and the large Georgian sash windows provide an abundance of good natural light. The property retains many classical Georgian features, including columns, ironwork, marble, sash windows and original shutters to the front elevation, some fine cornicing and friezes, deep skirting boards and dado rails to the two main reception rooms. During 2015 the entire roof was replaced. This is a fabulous example of a property of this age coupled with modern additions.
__________

GROUND FLOOR

To the left of the entrance hall is the drawing room, which is a beautifully presented well-lit room, featuring corbeled cornicing, two sash windows with original shutters, wood flooring and fireplace with marble mantle and slate hearth and a woodburning stove. The dining room is situated off to the right of the entrance hall. This is another beautifully proportioned and well-lit room offering a feature fireplace with marble mantle and cast-iron grate and slate hearth, fine cornicing with frieze under, deep skirting boards and original dado rail and two sash windows with original shutters.

From the dining room there is a small lobby with china cupboard and further narrow cupboard inset into the chimney breast, and an archway leading to the kitchen/breakfast room and adjoining family room. The family room area is a lovely room with French doors opening out to the canopied terrace and the gardens beyond. The room has a high ceiling and a fireplace with woodburning stove, slate hearth, and wooden mantle surround. There is a period alcove with original cupboard and display shelving above and to the right of the fireplace there is an original built-in cupboard. The floor is tiled, and this extends through to the adjoining kitchen/breakfast room, which is a light and sunny room with an aspect over the rear garden and additional skylights that really maximise the natural light to this area.

In the kitchen there are a range of hand-built kitchen units with drawers and cupboards with marble work surfaces over and further wall units with in-built plate rack, storage cupboards and over work surface lighting. Central to the units is a mantle with inset Falcon gas stove range with five ring hob two ovens and a grill. There is a tall unit with cupboard and built in dishwasher and an island unit with matching marble work surface and stainless-steel sink. There is also a ceramic Belfast sink with mixer tap and drinking water tap. A step down from the side of the kitchen leads to a small Lobby with fitted shelving and space for fridge freezer and a walk-in shelved larder. Beyond the lobby, there is a utility room with work surfaces and space and plumbing for two freestanding appliances. There is a double bowl ceramic sink with storage cupboard below and the addition of a skylight affords good natural light. Adjoining the utility room is a separate shower room, with tiled shower cubicle, WC and wash hand basin. Beyond the utility room there is a study, with built-in shelving, loft access and door leading through to a lobby/boot room with a street entrance.

Returning to the family room, a door opens through to an inner hallway with WC and secondary staircase leading to the accommodation on the first floor. A further door opens through to the middle hall, which has a wonderful, vaulted ceiling, flagstone flooring and glazed double doors leading to the back hall. From the middle hall, steps descend to the two-room cellar, with original alcove storage. At the top of the cellar stairs is an original storage Cupboard.

Leading off from the middle hall is the morning room, which is an elegantly proportioned room with French doors and windows to either side giving lots of natural light to the room. From this room one can enjoy the wonderful views through the canopied terrace to the gardens beyond. There is a feature fireplace with wooden mantle and slate hearth and two deep storage cupboards to either side of the chimney breast. Additional period features include a beautiful hand-painted frieze and alcoves.

Adjoining the morning room is a further study/library with a lovely aspect over the garden. Beautiful hand-built book and display shelves with storage cupboards below extends the length of one wall. A door from this room with attractive fan light over leads back to the middle Hallway.
__________

FIRST FLOOR

An elegant staircase rises from the main entrance hall to a large galleried landing, with sash window to the front, affording good natural light and lovely views over the river and marshes. To the left of the landing is bedroom 2. There are two large sash windows with original shutters and the views over the river are wonderful. There is a feature fireplace with marble mantle and cast-iron grate. The adjoining en suite features a walk-in shower, wash hand basin and WC.

Bedroom 3 is situated to the right of the landing, and two sash windows with original shutters offer far reaching views over the river. There is a beautiful handmade wardrobe with hanging and shelving space and drawers. There is a further feature fireplace with marble mantle and cast-iron grate with tiled slips and slate hearth. The adjoining en-suite shower room features a tiled shower cubicle, WC and wash hand basin.

There is a linen cupboard off the middle landing and door leading to bedroom 4, which enjoys lovely views over the rear gardens. The adjacent bathroom features bath with mixer tap and shower unit, wash hand basin and WC. At the rear of the middle landing is the secondary staircase landing.

The main bedroom suite has a lobby with shoe storage cupboards and a doorway leading to a large double bedroom with a range of hand-built fitted wardrobe cupboards and a further deep walk-in wardrobe. There are lovely views from this room over the gardens and there is a large en-suite bathroom with vanity unit with two wash hand basins with mirror and lights above. The bath sits in front of the window and from here fine views over the gardens can be observed. There is a huge walk in shower with fully tiled walls. There is a separate WC and bidet with tiled flooring and storage cupboards over.
__________

SECOND FLOOR

From the second-floor landing there is access to substantial eaves storage. Bedrooms 5 and 7 have pretty dormer windows and views over the gardens. Both bedrooms offer eaves storage and wash hand basins.

Steps lead from the landing to a raised middle landing with doors giving access to the roof gulley’s. These glazed doors, with windows either side provide excellent natural light to this floor. Bedrooms 6 and 8 with dormer windows provide wonderful views over the river and marshes. Bedroom 6 also offers a wash hand basin and has its own WC. Between bedrooms 6 and 8 there is a large loft storage cupboard with skylight and hanging rails and storage space. The bathroom on the second floor affords lovely views over the church tower and the surrounding town of Beccles. The bathroom features a free-standing claw foot bath, pedestal wash hand basin and WC.
__________

HISTORIC ENGLAND

Grade II listed, number: 1186891 first listed in 1948

The following text has been taken directly from the Historic England website:

1. BALLYGATE 828 (East Side) ----------- No 29 (The Rectory) TM 4190 2/12 16.3.48 TM 4290 2/12

II GV

2. Circa 1770-80. 2 storeys and attic with 2 dormers. Red brick. 5 windows. Flat arches. Plinth. Centre 3 windows grouped by gauged brick pilasters with stone caps with fluted enrichment, brick pediment with fluted frieze. Parapet. Double- span roof. Pantiles. Sash windows, in reveals, now with central glazing bars only Windows at back, in elliptical arched openings and centre blank panel with trefoil arch, now with 19th century mullion transom casements. 6-panel door with arched fanlight in wood case with Doric columns, and open pediment. Stone steps with wrought iron railings. Some Adam type ceilings. NMR photos. Nos 11 to 27 (odd) and the Rectory form a group.

Listing NGR: TM[use Contact Agent Button]
__________

OUTSIDE

The property is approached through an archway with electric roller door, offering complete security and privacy from the front. The archway provides covered parking and space for storage. There is a paved driveway leading up one side of the house to a paved parking area and a newly erected 2-bay open garage. To the rear of the property is an attractive wrought iron glass canopy veranda extending over the rear terrace. The gardens are a wonderful feature of The Old Rectory and have been developed over many years by the present owners and their predecessors. The Walled gardens create a quiet and peaceful setting and are a most attractive feature of this property. The gardens have been beautifully designed with a central water feature with surrounding box parterre together with the extensive planting of mixed herbaceous and shrub borders. At the far end of the garden there is a small secret garden also with flower and shrub borders. This is a wonderfully secluded garden with a fine view of the rear of the house.
__________

LOCAL AUTHORITY

East Suffolk Council, Band: G, Annual cost: £2,956.78 (2020/21).
__________

SERVICES

Gas central heating, mains electricity, water and drainage. Our client has advised us that superfast broadband is available.
__________

DIRECTIONS

From Norwich take the A146 to Beccles. Continue along this road for about 15 miles and at the second roundabout by the BP Station, take the 2nd right which is the A146 to Beccles and Great Yarmouth. After about 200 yards, turn right signposted Gillingham and follow this road across the marshes and into Beccles. After the river bridge, continue along the road round a sharp right bend and then take the next right which is a one-way street leading to a small square which is the bus station. On the other side of the square, turn left up the hill and turn right at the church tower and follow this road into Ballygate and The Old Rectory will be found on the left hand side opposite a low wall on the right with views to the marshes and river.
__________

DATE DETAILS PRODUCED

September 2020
__________

IMPORTANT NOTICE

1. These particulars have been prepared in good faith as a general guide, they are not exhaustive and include information provided to us by other parties including the seller, not all of which will have been verified by us.

2. We have not carried out a detailed or structural survey; we have not tested any services, appliances or fittings. Measurements, floor plans, orientation and distances are given as approximate only and should not be relied on.

3. The photographs are not necessarily comprehensive or current, aspects may have changed since the photographs were taken. No assumption should be made that any contents are included in the sale.

4. We have not checked that the property has all necessary planning, building regulation approval, statutory or regulatory permissions or consents. Any reference to any alterations or use of any part of the property does not mean that necessary planning, building regulations, or other consent has been obtained.

5. Prospective purchasers should satisfy themselves by inspection, searches, enquiries, surveys, and professional advice about all relevant aspects of the property.

6. These particulars do not form part of any offer or contract and must not be relied upon as statements or representations of fact; we have no authority to make or give any representation or warranties in relation to the property. If these are required, you should include their terms in any contract between you and the seller.

7. Note to potential purchasers who intend to view the property; we would politely ask you discuss with our staff the reason for the property coming onto the market and if there is any point of particular importance to you, before you make arrangements to visit or plan a viewing appointment.

8. Viewings are strictly by prior appointment.



Marketed by: Jackson-Stops, Norwich