Ludham £575,000

Surrounded by the wonderful Norfolk Broads, Seven Oaks is an outstanding six-bedroom family home. The property was originally built in the 1930’s by the Hunter family, who were popular local boat builders. The interiors include an expansive drawing room and a fabulous kitchen/breakfast room, while outside there are secluded gardens and a double garage with full planning to be converted.
THE STORY
Looking out across Horse Fen Marsh and the river from their drawing room, David and Sara Elliott remember how they fell in love with their home when they first saw it just over eight years ago.
As they relax in front of the open fire they remember how they were attracted by the stunning location and realised they could really make the Norfolk house their own.
This house is quite famous around these parts and when we saw the location, we knew we had to have it, she said.
BROAD APPEAL
The property was built by boat builder Percy Hunter, who established Hunter’s Yard, from where he produced mahogany cabin yachts for sailing around the Broads.
The house is really quite well known and we often get people saying to us is this the house that Percy Hunter lived in, said Sara.
Since moving in, the couple have transformed the original two-bedroom cottage into a bright and spacious, five-bedroom home.
We loved the house and location so much that we thought we would be able to make it into a home that met our family’s needs, she added.
EXPANDING SPACE
Percy bought the land in 1932 and built himself the character-filled cottage. He lived in the house for about 30 years and David and Sara are only the third owners of the property. Hunter’s Yard is still operated today and sailing enthusiasts can hire a boat to take out on the Broads.
With four children, the couple set about extending the house and, in a bid to retain its original charm and character, enlarged it in a horseshoe-shape fashion.
They built a new family-sized drawing room, kitchen, hallway and bedroom with en-suite bathroom on the ground floor plus two additional double bedrooms upstairs.
TWO IN ONE
We put leaded windows in the new rooms and replaced all the existing leaded ones in the original part of the house, explained Sara. We have really tried to carry out the works sympathetically with the style of the house, although the new kitchen is quite modern.
With the extension, the house does now have two kitchens, one in the old part of the house along with the original drawing room, study or dining room and another bedroom with en-suite bathroom.
Because of the way we have extended, the house can effectively be split into two separate homes. In fact, for a while we had my in-laws living here and they took over the older part of the house, she said.
And she added: It would be possible to use one side of the property as a holiday let.
ON THE DECK
The couple also spent time on landscaping the pretty gardens around the house and on the left-hand side of the property, where David constructed a green oak deck, which is perfect for sitting out on and admiring the fabulous views of the marshland and river.
We did do quite a lot to the garden, she said. Most of the garden is at the front and the side of the house and we had professional landscapers in to sort it out for us.
FAMILY MEMORIES
Now the children have flown the nest, Sara loves spending her time in the modern kitchen, which has room for a table and eight chairs.
Whenever the family visits, the kitchen is where everyone tends to congregate. As well as cooking and eating, you can sit and watch TV in there as well, she said.
One of the things I love about the house is how adaptable the rooms all are. I tend to change things around between summer and winter.
The house holds many memories for the couple, who have hosted some fabulous parties over the years including their own pearl wedding anniversary at which about 100 guests attended.
Sara added: We have really loved living here. It has been just perfect.
ON THE MAP
Ludham is a sleepy village in the heart of the Norfolk Broads, but nonetheless can trace its history back thousands of years.
It has a number of claims to fame including being one of the locations for the filming of the 1954 movie Conflict of Wings starring John Gregson and Muriel Pavlow.
Adapted from the novel by Don Sharp, the story takes place in a Norfolk country village where the locals decide to fight against a proposal to build a rocket range on a bird sanctuary.
BROADLY SPEAKING
The beautiful Broads is a network of mostly navigable rivers and lakes in the English counties of Norfolk and Suffolk.
The Broads and some surrounding land was constituted as a special area with a level of protection similar to a UK National Park, by the Norfolk and Suffolk Broads Act of 1988.
The famous wetlands cover a total area of 117 square miles and is wonderful for boating, walking and cycling.
ACCOMMODATION
GROUND FLOOR
Enjoying such a unique and sublime setting, the first glimpse of Seven Oaks with its charming front elevations will both impress and excite you, raising expectations as to what lies within. Stepping inside you find yourself in a bright and elegant reception hall with a beautiful sweeping staircase that leads to the upper floor. From the reception hall you enter the attractive kitchen, a light and airy space with a plethora of stylish cabinets providing plenty of storage, while French doors offer a glimpse of the secluded gardens beyond making this area ideal for informal meals and family gatherings. From the kitchen you are able to access the fantastic drawing room, which boasts a stunning fireplace, acting as the focal point for the room. A large window allows an abundance of light to flood through and also offers pretty views of the gardens. Moving on you will locate the formal dining room, which provides access to the garden as well as the second kitchen. This expanse is perfect for entertaining guests and is ideally placed next to the drawing room, creating a lovely social flow, perfect for parties.
The family room offers a further feature fireplace and a wonderful bay window, a superb place to relax and enjoy a good book. Two delightful bedrooms are situated on this ground floor, one has fabulous garden views while the other benefits from French doors opening on to the pergoda and decked area. Returning to the reception hall you will find a further welcoming bedroom which has the advantage of its own en-suite.
Completing this floor is the family bathroom, a haven in which to relax and unwind.
A door into the garage can be found at the bottom of the reception hall, the current vendors have full planning permission to convert this large space into further accommodation and have started the process. A staircase leads up from the garage to the games room/bedroom offering wonderful elevated views of the gardens.
FIRST FLOOR
Ascending the staircase from the dining room to the first floor you will find a beautiful bedroom and bathroom, a great space for teenagers or older children wanting some privacy. The main staircase from the reception hall guides you to two further well-proportioned bedrooms with glorious elevated views and a generous bathroom.
SETTING THE SCENE
Seven Oaks is situated in stunning grounds within the heart of the Norfolk Broads and is reached by its own gravel driveway that leads to a double garage, which has a games room complete with snooker table.
Most of the garden sits at the front of the property, which takes advantage of the wonderful countryside views. There is also a bird’s eye view of the wherry boats that sail along the river opposite.
The garden has been laid to lawn and features flowerbeds, an ornamental swing and a large, stocked fish pond. Wisteria climbs up the front of the house and at the back of the house the enclosed courtyard has its own vine growing.
The courtyard really does get the sun in the summer and I sometimes like to sit and have a cup of tea out there, said Sara.
WITHIN EASY REACH
Known as the jewel of the Broads pretty Ludham is well-served with independent shops, a butcher, post office and public house. The villages of Wroxham and Stalham are approximately six miles away offering additional shopping facilities and education for all ages. For high street stores, superb shopping centres and large leisure amenities, Norwich is just a 20 minute drive away.
From Norwich there are also major road links to London, the M25 and Stansted Airport, or cross country towards Peterborough and the A1.
We have found it very easy to get about from here. I have either worked from home or driven to the station, which takes just 25 minutes and caught the train to London, which is very simple, said Steve. A lot of our neighbours commute daily.
Norwich International Airport provides both domestic and international flights to a wide variety of destinations and the city itself has many great attractions, including a variety of sports and leisure facilities.
DIRECTIONS:
Leave Norwich north-east bound via the A1151 passing through Rackheath and into Wroxham. Continue over the bridge and at the double mini roundabout turn right signposted Ludham, A1062. Follow this road bypassing Horning into Ludham and continue through the village and past the ‘S’ bend. Just before leaving the village turn right into Horse Fen Road, also signposted Womack Staithe. Follow this country lane for exactly 0.4 of a mile where the entrance to the property will be found just after a sharp left hand bend.
From the A47 Norwich southern bypass, continue east towards Great Yarmouth, following the A47 to Acle. At the end of the dual carriageway continue straight ahead on the A1064 towards Fleggburgh and Filby, also signposted Caister-on-Sea. After approximately 3 miles bear left onto the B1152, signposted Martham and Potter Heigham. Follow this road until it joins the A149 and after a short distance, bear left into the village of Potter Heigham. Proceed over the narrow river bridge and then continue out of Potter Heigham into Ludham on the A1062. Take the first turning on the left before entering the village onto Horse Fen Road and follow this country lane for exactly 0.4 of a mile where the entrance will be found just after a sharp left hand bend.
For those with satellite navigation the postcode for the property is NR29 5QG.
Fine is the seller’s agent for this property. Your conveyancer is legally responsible for ensuring any purchase agreement fully protects your position. We make detailed enquiries of the seller to ensure the information provided is as accurate as possible. Please inform us if you become aware of any information being inaccurate