Stunning Georgian Old Rectory in gardens and grounds of about 3.45 acres

Description

The Old Rectory is a most attractive and beautifully presented country house, largely late 18th century although with earlier origins and extensively altered in the 1860s. The house is traditionally constructed, rendered with a hipped slate roof and has elegant and well-proportioned rooms lit by large sash windows, so typical of the period. The Old Rectory is set in within pleasant gardens and grounds with far reaching views over the surrounding countryside and crucially the house is not listed. Offering substantial accommodation of over 5000sq ft the house makes an ample family home complete with a stunning and recently re-modelled orangery to consist of a large kitchen/family room. Complete with bi-folding doors onto the courtyard this spectacular addition perfectly blends a modern characteristic with the older Georgian aesthetics.

Of particular note are two further reception rooms which could be utilised as a playroom and a now essential home office providing an ideal working from home space.

Totalling in with seven bedrooms including a wonderful principal room consisting of both an en suite and dressing area. Spread over the first and second floors there is plenty of room for guests with three family bathrooms serving the accommodation adequately....

Outside
The property is approached from the northeast entered through electrically operated wrought iron gates mounted on brick piers and this leads to a sweeping gravelled drive which finishes to the front and east of the house where there is an ample gravelled parking area. The drive continues around to the north of the house and to the west there is a garage block with a slate roof built to match the house with a covered log store adjoining. The gardens and grounds in general contain some magnificent mature trees including oak, beech, lime and horse chestnut. The gardens and grounds in all extend to about 3.45 acres.

A superb kitchen garden sits away from the house behind hedging and is perfectly placed for growing vegetables or keeping chickens for the enthusiast. A variety of fruit tree are in situ also giving the planting and garden a sense of character.

Perfect for entertaining, a stone terraced courtyard off the orangery provides an ideal position for outdoor cooking and socialising. A particular feature is the pleached hornbeam hedging bordering and dividing the area.

The owners have implemented equestrian facilities to consist of several paddocks with post and rail fencing and automatic water troughs. A former hard surface tennis court has now been utilised for stabling with a block consisting of two stables, tack and feed rooms. In 2022 a ménage was installed.

Two ornamental ponds are found with the larger featuring a decked jetty.

Location

The village of South Lopham, as well as being renowned for its fine Norman church, still retains a public house and there is a village school nearby in North Lopham. The south Norfolk town of Diss (5 miles) has excellent shopping, banking and transport facilities as well as a mainline station with regular trains to London Liverpool Street with a journey time of approximately 90 minutes. This part of Norfolk is accessible to the rest of the county and the A11 at Thetford is 10 miles and provides easy access to London, Cambridge and the Midlands. To the north, Norwich, the Cathedral city and regional centre of East Anglia, is about 23 miles and the abbey town of Wymondham is about 17 miles.

Square Footage: 5,323 sq ft


Acreage: 3.42 Acres

Directions

From Norwich take the B1113 Mulbarton and Bracon Ash Road and at New Buckenham, continue towards Kenninghall. After driving through Kenninghall, turn left singposted to The Lophams. Drive through the village of North Lopham and continue to South Lopham passing the church on the right hand side. At the T-junction, turn left passing The White Horse public house on the left and turn immediately right signposted ‘Botesdale 4, Redgrave 2½’ (Redgrave Road). After about 0.2 of a mile, the drive to The Old Rectory will be found on the left hand side entered through electrically operated gates mounted on brick piers. The postcode for the property is IP22 2HL.

Additional Info

Services
Mains water, electricity, oil fired central heating and private drainage

Local Authority
Breckland District Council
Council Tax Band G

Fixtures & Fittings
All fixtures and fittings including fitted carpets and curtains are specifically excluded from the sale, but may be available in addition, subject to separate negotiation.

Viewings
Strictly by appointment with Savills. If there is any point which is of particular importance to you, we invite you to discuss this with us, especially before you travel to view the property.