5 bedroom semi-detached house for sale

Coastal splendour and charm, with direct sea views and private walled gardens.

Description

Umgeni is magical, a house full of surprises with the atmosphere of a timeless country house combined with a dream coastal home. The house, with its classic Dutch Gables that are integral to Cley sits high on an unmade track above the coast road in Cley, veiled by olive trees and roses, pretty much opposite the Beach Road, with uninterrupted views over the reedbeds and marshland to the sea. The informal brick and flint front elevation is discreet and belies the sense of lush garden scents and planting when you step through the wooden gates and enter over half an acre of wonderfully private south facing walled garden.

Internally the house continues to surprise. The staircase is a feat of high quality craftsmanship, and the interior is true to the first impression with an eclectic mix of colour, design, architectural and decorative features that brings to mind the creatives of the Bloomsbury Group and Arts & Crafts movement, while the large windows capture the very best views of the marsh, and the sea also fill the house with light from the south, connecting you to the lovely garden and the seaside from within the house.

The front door opens to a half landing in an elegant stairwell, from which you step down to the ground floor entrance hall with panelled walls and stone flooring.

Beyond, the kitchen is informally fitted, with a lovely mix of wooden bespoke units, a unique central island and an oversized Belfast sink backed with vintage mirrored tiles. Integrated appliances include an electric Aga and a Miele dishwasher. There is a good-sized pantry cupboard, and a pretty glass fronted crockery cabinet. Painted wooden floorboards run throughout and a large sunny window overlooks the coast.

Step up from the kitchen into a sunny south facing dining room with wooden flooring, gracefully panelled walls and a generous window overlooking the garden. A glazed door opens from here to a small south facing terrace with steps into the garden, perfect for alfresco dining. Also, on this floor is a cosy, half panelled snug with pamment flooring, exposed beams (saved from a long-ago shipwreck) and views to the garden. There is also a utility and boot room with a Belfast sink.

Taking the stairs to the second floor where the sunny hall has a large bay window with a window seat to make the most of the sea views. On this floor the drawing room is a large, bright, south and west facing room with a marble mantlepiece and wood burning stove, French windows open to stone steps that lead down to the more formal part of the garden.

The main bedroom is up a few steps on its own small landing, a beautifully proportioned room, with a high ceiling, an original cast-iron fireplace and views to the coast at the front. From the semi open plan en suite bathroom, French windows open onto a charming semi- circular iron balcony with a stunning Magnolia Grandiflora growing through it, arguably the best spot in the house to overlook the garden with your morning cuppa! The bathroom has a traditional Victorian style suite, an original oversized caste iron bathtub, which we understand had to be brought in through the window! There is a further WC on this floor- certainly a loo with a view.

Following on up to the next half landing, the full height arched window gives incredible evening light as it faces the western end of the house. From here you can see the tide change on Blakeney Point and enjoy the sunsets.

The third floor has a single bedroom with fitted wardrobes, and a nice double room with fireplace, both overlook the gardens. There is a family shower room on this floor.

At either end of the house, further staircases lead to two bedrooms with tent effect ceilings, both have spectacular window views in the Dutch gables to the coast side, and then both have verdant beautiful views over the garden and one has a slit window with a special view to Cley windmill.

The larger room is a spacious double with north and south aspect and a working fireplace, this room incorporates a bathroom with another original Victorian cast iron bath. The other top bedroom is another spacious double with triple aspect windows, and the vendors had considered putting a bathroom on this floor too.

Outside
The south elevation of the house is pretty and elegant with artistically pleasing proportions and decorative painted shutters. The mellow brick and flint elevation is covered with wisteria and roses that complement the painted windows, lovely old York stone steps and the delicate iron balcony.
Near to the house is a formal area of garden with a Mediterranean/Coastal feel with palm trees, a tamarisk, mown lawn, and herbaceous borders filled with an abundance of flowers.

From here the garden steps up and up, meandering via mown paths through a larger entertaining terrace to a much less formal area where daisy strewn pathways lead you through a wildflower nature haven that is low maintenance and so pretty, interspersed with an abundance of tree peonies, bluebells, shrub roses, hollyhocks, cow parsley, magnolia grandiflora and so much more, it is truly heavenly. There are also many fruit trees, including apple, plum, medlar, and pear and even a mulberry tree and a vegetable garden with raised beds and fruit canes.

But for those who love to look out from their own world, the overriding wonder of this garden is its amazing privacy combined with the extraordinary views. Planting and terraces have been structured to artfully reveal evermore incredible vistas of the coast, the sunset, the creeks and the red sailed boats that glide in on a high tide to Cley Harbour. From this point, you really do feel you are on top of the world, or at least the North Norfolk Coastline, and you can see all the way to Wells-next-the- Sea. Up here is the wooden writer’s studio that offers so many potential uses. With mains power, it sits at the very top of the garden with a wooden decked area, there probably couldn’t be a better place for a sundowner!

Nearer to the house, further outbuildings provide a utility room which houses an oil-fired boiler, and a radiator and Belfast sink, and washing machines, so you can get all of the clutter out of the house to a warm functional outhouse. Adjacent to this, another barn houses the oil tank and wood store and then the single garage, with a loft area above which could be extended if required and makes a great office space. Parking is provided by the garage with further off-street parking available by the house.

This is a very special house that must be seen to really appreciate all it has to offer. It is surprisingly rare to find a lovely character house, in such a location with a generous, private garden with some of Norfolk’s finest views.

Location

The highly sought after village of Cley was formerly an old 18th Century port and retains many attractive brick and flint cottages alongside grander merchant’s houses. Today it offers an eclectic range of shops on the doorstop including the Crab Pot Bookshop, Pinkfoot gallery, Cley Smokehouse, Made in Cley, and the renowned Picnic Fayre delicatessen. The village benefits from St Margaret’s Church an architectural delight, two pubs and nearby Wiveton Hall Cafe.

This is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and a Conservation Area, Cley has a fabulous shingle beach which is within easy walking distance, perfect for swimming and family picnics, and offers easy access to the saltmarshes and Blakeney Point with many ways of whiling away leisure hours including sailing, seal trips, cycling, golf, amazing coastal walking and fine beaches. The Cley marshes wildlife reserve dates from 1926 and makes this one of the very best places for birdwatching.If you want to keep a boat in Cley harbour, (a three-minute walk) it is free, and whether a canoe, paddleboard or a small traditional boat, setting out from here through the reeds is a wonderful experience.

Just 4 miles to the south is the Georgian market town of Holt, renowned for its attractive street frontages and for its wide and eclectic range of independent shops. As well as Bakers & Larners department store, there are boutiques, cafes and bars, doctors’ surgery, dentist, and post office. Holt is also home to the highly regarded Gresham’s School, pre-prep, prep, and senior. .

Square Footage: 2,703 sq ft


Acreage: 0.57 Acres

Additional Info

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

Local Authority
North Norfolk 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.

Important Notice
Savills, their clients and any joint agents give notice that:

1. They are not authorised to make or give any representations or warranties in relation to the property either here or elsewhere, either on their own behalf or on behalf of their client or otherwise. They assume no responsibility for any statement that may be made in these particulars. These particulars do not form part of any offer or contract and must not be relied upon as statements or representations of fact.

2. Any areas, measurements or distances are approximate. The text, photographs and plans are for guidance only and are not necessarily comprehensive. It should not be assumed that the property has all necessary planning, building regulation or other consents and Savills have not tested any services, equipment or facilities. Purchasers must satisfy themselves by inspection or otherwise.