Aside from a general plea to anyone living in a former rectory to consider naming their home something other than ‘The Old Rectory’, there is little else to fault at (you guessed it)…The Old Rectory, near Bury St. Edmunds in Suffolk.
The elegant home is Grade II listed and believed to date from the 1800’s. Now on the market via Savills for offers over £ 2 million, its grand interiors offer a snapshot into a bygone era and fully encapsulate all the qualities of a classic country home.
The approach sets the scene nicely: a long gravel drive opens up behind double gates, making its way to a sweeping curve in front of the house where the cool grey tones from the imposing Gault brick and Welsh slate exterior stand out against the surrounding green countryside.
Upon entering, a lofty hallway opens up to another central hallway where you’ll find an elegant staircase with iron balustrades. In keeping with the grand theme, a large ballroom takes centre stage on the ground floor mirroring the shape of the adjacent drawing room.
Fluted Ionic columns, sash windows, decorative cornicing and intricate plasterwork form much of the interiors.
Upstairs are eight bedrooms (ideal for visiting family over the festive period). The principal bedroom mimics the footprint of the drawing room below, with an elegant curved wall and plenty of sash windows that provide uninterrupted views out to the surrounding parkland.
Six more bedrooms can be found on this floor (along with four bathrooms), with the remaining bedroom located up a short flight of stairs above.
Whilst the house itself is undoubtedly impressive — and could very easily be made even more spectacular with some refreshed interior design – it’s the 33 acres of private parkland which make The Old Rectory a true ‘hidden gem’, as the agents note.
To the north of the house is a heated outdoor swimming pool and spacious pool house, as well as a charming walled garden overflowing with roses.
To the east of the property is a three-bed cottage known as Old Rectory Cottage. Near to this is the stable yard, complete with seven loose horse boxes, tack room and kennels. A timber barn and several storerooms complete the setup.
The village of Tostock is located approximately eight miles from Bury St Edmunds, 20 miles from Ipswich and just under 35 miles from Cambridge. Trains run from Thurston to London Liverpool street and take about 75 minutes.
Tostock has a popular local pub, The Gardener’s Arms, a village hall and playing field, plus a parish church. Bury St Edmunds offers a wider range of amenities, with comprehensive shopping facilities (including the Arc shopping centre), a Cathedral and Theatre Royal.
Norton CEVC Primary School is the closest primary and is rated ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted. Further options include Thurston Church of England Primary School, Bury St Edmunds Country High School, as well as more options around Cambridge.
The Old Rectory is currently on the market via Savills for offers over £2 million — see more pictures or enquire with the agent for further 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
-
‘The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago; the second best time is now'Now is the time to firstly, hug a tree, and secondly, plant some more — in increasingly imaginative ways.
-
At the Bonneville Salt Flats, the only currency is speedCharlie Thomas reports from Speed Week, and talks to those with a bad case of 'Salt Fever'.
-
Rock stars and the country house: Liam Gallagher's life in the Cotswolds is in the finest tradition of music A-listers, from The Beatles to BeyoncéWhat is it about the British countryside that draws A-listers from every walk of life? With Liam Gallagher's Cotswold former home on the market, Toby Keel takes a look.
-
Life on Portugal's Coast of Kings, where Ian Fleming met the triple-agent whose gambling inspired 'Casino Royale'Once a quiet fishing village west of Lisbon, Cascais became an unlikely hive of activity during the Second World War, attracting regal refugees and intelligence operatives in equal measure. Russell Higham investigates its enduring glamour — and its connection to Casino Royale.
-
An extraordinary Italian palazzo built in the heart of Oxfordshire is up for sale at £16 millionThe Palazzo Pallavicini in Genoa inspired the creation of Newington House, which is on the market for the first time in 35 years.
-
A bum deal on a bog-standard property? The former public conveniences being sold off for a songLondon has several affordable properties with enviable postcodes and great lighting... so long as you're happy spending more than a penny on a Victorian loo.
-
A castle for sale just down the road from Gleneagles, where everyone from George VI to a farmer and his pigs once roamed the grand hallsOrchil Castle has seen it all in a tumultuous century and a half — but it's getting back to its best, and now needs a brave new owner to take it on the next step of its journey.
-
Five homes with their own orchards that will be the apple of your eye (almost literally)If you've been looking enviously this year at neighbours with apple trees that have been heaving with fruit, here is the solution: five lovely homes for sale that come with their own orchards.
-
A beautiful Victorian vicarage that was home to one of the Cadbury family heiresses is on the marketPenny Churchill tells the tale of Monks Bridge in Warwickshire.
-
An outrageously opulent mansion in London's answer to Beverly Hills, with a gym that 'wouldn't look out of place in a 7* hotel''One of the finest houses in St George's Hill' is on the market. Annabel Dixon takes a look at what's on offer.
