The Abbey at Coggeshall isn’t your average home — even by the standards of the sort of homes featured in Country Life. It’s a historic former monastic complex of immense character and charm set in 25 acres of beautifully landscaped gardens on the banks of the River Blackwater, less than a mile from the centre of the medieval market town of Coggeshall and 10 miles from Colchester.
With the monks long gone, these days it’s a wonderful family home — one which is for sale via Karl Manning of Savills in Chelmsford who is handling the sale of enchanting, Grade I-listed home at £2.5m.
Originally a Savignac religious house and later a Cistercian abbey until the Dissolution, Coggeshall Abbey and its associated buildings were much altered in the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, although the principal house still retains many of its earlier features including 16th-century chimney stacks, oriel windows and the west porch. And other parts — including the chapel, above — are far older still.
The Abbey offers a total of six bedrooms split across the main house and an adjoining one-bedroom cottage, a former monk’s lodgings.
Other buildings include an entertaining barn/guest house, and the aforementioned consecrated private chapel, which dates from 1162 and — at not far off a thousand years old — is one of the oldest buildings on the site.
Ornate wood panelling features heavily throughout the building, alongside stone arches and some remarkable timbers. Of particular note is the splendid Grand Hall, which overlooks the north-facing lawn.
Among the other highlights are the family room, dining room, library and the kitchen, which enjoys riverside views.
The first-floor accommodation comprises five bedrooms and three bathrooms, all orientated to make the most of the delightful setting.
Two substantial Essex barns and extensive stabling are set around a central courtyard with direct access to a manège.
As for the location? Well, not only is Coggeshall itself a charming little market town, it's also just off the main A120 (mercifully, there has long been a bypass), close to the main A12 London to Colchester route, and just 50 minutes on the train from central London from the nearby station at Kelvedon.
The Abbey at Coggeshall is for sale at £2.5 million — see more pictures and details.
Credit: Strutt and Parker
Best country houses for sale this week
An irresistible West Country cottage and a magnificent Cumbrian country house make our pick of the finest country houses for
-
Sophia Money-Coutts: If you have same-sex parents, who should walk you down the aisle?Sophia Money-Coutts is the new Debrett's and she's here every Wednesday to set some modern etiquette wrongs, right.
-
Let's go crazy with Country Life's Quiz of the Day, August 26, 2025Tuesday's Quiz of the Day will test your knowledge of Prince's discography, The Addams family and Prime Ministers past.
-
A micro estate for sale in west Wales shows that the best things come in small packages. In this case, three of themBrithdir is a remarkable collection of properties centred around a lake and just five miles from the sea.
-
This blissful converted mill has sweeping views, a breathtaking library and gardens by a Chelsea gold medallistPenny Churchill takes a look at Stanbridge Mill, one of the finest properties for sale today in the west country.
-
Portmore has it all: A 3,459-acre Scottish estate for sale, with a signature Baronial sandstone mansion at its heartFor sale for the first time in 40 years, Portmore Estate is everything you could ever want in Scotland.
-
Location, community and charm: the enduring desirability of London's mews housesFrom birds, to horses, to beautiful family homes, the mews of London are some of the nation's most sought-after homes. But why?
-
The distinctive and historic home that might just be 'one of Dorset’s most picturesque'Grade II*-listed Manor House, set in just under eight acres, dates from the 16th century.
-
A 17th century farmhouse in Surrey with one of Britain's oldest squash courtsFords Farm is on the market for the first time in over half a century.
-
The 15 best-value commuter towns for people working in London, according to new research from one of Britain's top estate agentsSavills have released their list of the best-value commuter towns in Britain. But do the sums add up? Toby Keel takes a look.
-
What everyone is talking about this week: Where are the new Cotswolds?The appearance of American Vice President J. D. Vance in the Cotswolds is a sure sign that they're saturated, but where else can you escape to that has the same charm?
