Street Farmhouse is a historic Grade ll * Listed house of great architectural interest, which is understood to have been the first house built in the village, with origins dating back to the early 15th century - although this is not immediately obvious from its 19th century brickwork exterior which was added at some point in Victorian times. As well as having been a substantial farm, the property was also once an Inn and a Townhouse for a prominent local family. Street Farmhouse is steeped in history and retains many fine original features including open fireplaces, original crown posts and exposed beams and studwork, some ancient medieval brickwork and the remains of a medieval doorway, together with solid oak doors and oak floorboards and flagstone pavement flooring. An original carved crown post of particular architectural interest is fully visible in the attic bedroom, as well as further crown posts in the part-boarded roof space. For more history on the property please click on the link below or contact Josh Walsh, Local YOPA Agent for further information

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1352339

Ground Floor

From the front, the house is entered via a covered entrance Portico with York Stone step through the unusual wood panelled double front doors which have an original bell pull and set of bells. From this, you step into the good sized entrance hall with pamment flooring and decorative cornicing. On the right there is a formal drawing room with a marble open fireplace, wooden flooring, dado rail and double aspect sash windows. To the left there is a large sitting room and dining room divided by an enormous ancient oak beamed inglenook fireplace with a double aspect wood burning stove which burns into both rooms, and an original bread oven alcove to the right. Of historical note on the sitting room side is the so-called "witches' mark" faintly carved but still visible in the original oak mantel shelf. There is a similar oak mantel shelf and ancient bressumer beam in the dining room, which also has traditional pamment flooring. Both rooms contain exposed ceiling beams and stud-work with an area of exposed ancient brick and timber-work between the two rooms. Both the sitting room and dining room have large windows facing out onto the front garden, with old latched wooden doors leading from the dining room into the kitchen or out into the back hallway.

The double aspect kitchen contains further pamment flooring, exposed beams and stud work, and is fitted with a range of base and eye-level units with worktops over, inset electric hob with hood over, separate electric oven with inlaid marble worktop over, and a stone glazed one and a half sink unit with windows overlooking the front garden. There are French doors leading out to the south facing back garden with a pleasant patio seating area containing the original covered well and working hand-pump. From the kitchen there is also a passageway containing a shelved larder area, and past this there is a doorway leading through to a large side hallway and cloakroom area, with a third WC and hand basin, a boiler cupboard, a separate utility room with a stone glazed butler's sink and plumbing for washing machine and dryer, and an exterior doorway out to the side garden, as well as a side staircase up to the first floor, with understairs storage area.

From the dining room there is a latched doorway out to the back hallway, with access to a further reception room currently used as an office/bedroom. This has a bay window overlooking the rear garden and an open red brick fireplace. This large rear hallway also gives access to a fourth WC with sink unit. There are double doors leading down to a large two roomed cellar containing brick and pavement flooring and a variety of wine and grain bins. An old village rumour has it that there may be a secret bricked up passageway leading from the cellar of Street Farmhouse to the nearby ancient Chapel-of-Ease! There is also a further part glazed door through to the front entrance hall, as well as the main back door out to the rear garden, boiler room and wood storage, and garden door into Mill Lane, which runs along the side of the property. The back hallway also contains the main staircase up to the first floor.

First Floor

The large rear staircase leads up to a fine beamed and galleried landing area with exposed curve brace beams and studwork, evidence of an original medieval doorway and an enormous chimney breast with a cupboard and small alcove set alongside it. There is also a small seating and bookcase area in the ancient beamed overhanging gable, and a long upper corridor with further beams and studwork running along the back of the house. This leads to a further small wooden staircase up to the enormous part boarded roof space where some blackened roof beams and a number of original crown posts can still be seen, amongst the replacement roof beams which have been added over the years. The landing area provides a variety of storage cupboards with original panelled wood doors.

Two bathrooms and five double sized bedrooms lead off the upper landing, including the large master bedroom with two large double windows overlooking the front garden, original oak flooring and an open cast iron fireplace with moulded pine surround and pine mantelpiece. There is also a large walk-in wardrobe in the master bedroom which would be ideally suited for conversion to an en-suite. There are four further double bedrooms, all containing exposed stud work and beams and one of which contains a further cast iron fireplace with mantelpiece and marble tiling. One of these bedrooms contains particularly fine exposed curve brace beams and stud work. The two bathrooms on the first floor are at either end of the house, and both contain very fine exposed beams and studwork. The main bathroom is particularly large and has an enamelled bath with brass taps, a newly installed and fully enclosed shower, WC, double sink units with mirrors, bidet and large airing cupboard. The fifth bedroom at the far right hand end of the house which is adjacent to the smaller bathroom, contains an additional spiral staircase leading up to a further sixth attic bedroom. This attic room contains an original carved crown post of great age sited on a huge original floor beam, and also has a small dormer window which overlooks the rear garden. A further improvement which could be permitted and carried out with relative ease would be the conversion of the smaller bathroom into an en-suite for the fifth bedroom, by the simple addition of a door in the adjoining wall.

Accommodation briefly comprises:-

Front entrance hall

Drawing room

Sitting room

Dining room

Kitchen and larder with access via French doors to rear garden

Back entrance hall and cloakroom

Office/hobby room/7th bedroom

Side entrance hall and cloakroom

Utility room

Two separate staircases from ground to first floor

Large galleried landing with seating areas

Large vaulted cellar

6/7 Bedrooms including attic bedroom with original crown post

Part- boarded loft space with original crown posts

2 Bathrooms, 2 cloakrooms, 2 staircases

Retains many period features including original beams, studwork and large open inglenook fireplace with wood burning stove and historic "witches' mark" still visible

Gravelled front driveway with separate in/out entrance & parking for multiple vehicles

Large triple garage with historic date stone, with potential for conversion into self contained annexe

Second garage area in old coach house

ear gate with parking space by side lane

Numerous outbuildings 

Ample enclosed gardens to front, side and rear of the property

South facing patio area with covered well and original hand pump

Retains a wealth of historic detail

Viewing is Highly Recommended 

Outside

The property is in the heart of Botesdale village, on the main village High Street, close to the market place and market cross and within easy walking distance of all local amenities. The property is approached via a curved gravel driveway with wrought iron gates, allowing a separate in and out access onto the main street, as well as ample parking. There is an enclosed front garden with a small lawned area, flower borders and a number of established climbing plants including roses, clematis, Virginia creeper and wisteria. A gravel path along the front of the property leads to a side gate and further spacious enclosed and private gardens to the side and rear which are mainly laid to lawn interspersed with shrubs and trees, including some apple trees. There is also a potting shed, a space with the foundations of a greenhouse, and additionally a number of flint-built outbuildings including a very large triple garage with historic date stone, which has the potential for conversion into a self contained annexe. There is additionally a former coach house, also used as a garage, which has lights and mains electricity, and an original brick floor and barn doors. A particular feature is the pleasant south facing back patio with the property's original well and handpump, which is still in working order. This terrace area is joined to the kitchen via French doors and is ideally placed for al fresco dining on warm summer days. At the rear of the garden there is a farm gate with roadside parking for one vehicle just off the quiet side lane. There are several garden lights at the front, side and rear of the property, including motion sensor floodlighting in the back garden. There are additionally two outside garden taps.

Outline Planning Permission was granted to the previous owners to convert the large triple garage into an additional single storey self contained annexe for family use. The current owners have recently enquired about this, together with submitting outline architectural drawings (DC/17/02228) and it has been confirmed by Mid Suffolk District Council/Babergh that Planning Permission is no longer expressly needed for such a garage conversion, so long as the work is carried out according to approved Building Regulations. This means that the conversion of this building into a self contained annexe could readily go ahead, should future owners choose this.

Location

Botesdale, linked with Rickinghall, is a picturesque and sought after village, within easy reach of the nearby market towns of Diss, Stowmarket and Bury St Edmunds, and surrounded by beautiful open countryside and quiet lanes, ideal for walkers and cyclists. This thriving village offers an excellent range of amenities and facilities including a large health centre with its own dental surgery and pharmacy, a village hall and playgroup, plus a primary school offering a pre- and after-school club - all of which are within a two minute walk of the property. Additionally, there are a number of boutique shops and businesses, a well stocked supermarket open until 10 pm, two local pubs, one with a restaurant, a popular Fish & Chip shop and Chinese Take Away, two playgrounds, one with its own skate park, a second village hall offering many further clubs and activities, including a Baby and Toddler group, and also several churches. The village is on a regular bus service between Diss and Bury St Edmunds. The historic market towns of Diss (6 miles) and Stowmarket (14 miles) provide regular intercity rail access to Norwich, Ipswich and London Liverpool Street (only 90mins), whilst the ancient cathedral town of Bury St Edmunds lies around 15 miles south west with easy access to the A14, connecting to Cambridge and the Midlands beyond. The unspoilt heritage coastline of Suffolk with the lovely beaches of Southwold and Walberswick are within relatively easy driving distance (1 hour) as is the beautiful medieval city of Norwich (45 minutes) with its full range of shopping, cultural and entertainment amenities.

Directions

From Diss take the A143 and head south west towards Bury St Edmunds. After the village of Wortham, take the right turn signposted to Botesdale and Rickinghall and just before the sharp right hand bend continue straight on into the village. The property is on The Street and can be found near the start of the village on the left hand side.

From Bury St Edmunds take the A143 and approximately 1 mile after the village of Wattisfield, take the left turn signposted to Rickinghall and Botesdale. Proceed straight through Rickinghall and the property can be found at the top of the hill on the right, just after the Botesdale village sign and Mill Road.

Services

Oil-Fired Central Heating, Mains water, Mains Drainage, Mains Electricity

£600,000