A Suffolk farmhouse with its own private beach, stables and 141 acres, on the open market for the first time in its history
Penny Churchill takes a look at the gloriously situation Lodge Farm Estate, in the beautiful Suffolk countryside near Woodbridge.


The River Deben cuts through a gloriously green valley south of Framlingham, twisting and turning past ancient abbeys and watermills before its final silty stretch from Woodbridge to Bawdsey.
Here, Ipswich-based Jackson-Stops and Landbridge are joint agents in the sale — at a guide price of £3.5m for the whole — of the wonderfully secluded and unspoilt Lodge Farm estate, which borders the magical Deben estuary, four miles from the Suffolk coast at Bawdsey and eight miles from Woodbridge.
For sale on the open market for the first time in its history following the owners’ decision to move to Cornwall, Lodge Farm was acquired by the Simper family as sitting tenants on the much larger Ramsholt estate, when the latter was sold in the 1940s.
Set within the Suffolk Coast and Heaths National Landscape (the new name for an AONB), the property includes 10 acres of beach and woodland along the ‘Rocks’ foreshore. Even with pictures taken in the colder half of the year it's clear to see that the beach is beautiful and unspoilt; how many happy childhood memories would could you make in a spot like this?
The house at the heart of Lodge Farm is an unlisted four-bedroom farmhouse — which the agents state as 'is in need of refurbishment'. Frankly, if this place is, then most of the places which earn that tag are in need of demolition: this is a delightful home that is full of character, not least with the wonderful, stone-floored hallway, which lead on one side to the kitchen and on the other to the living room, utility room, study and a downstairs bedroom.
The kitchen/dining room is a combined 25ft long, with flag stone flooring and french doors opening out onto the gardens.
Upstairs there are three further bedrooms, including a delightful master with en-suite and french windows opening on to a balcony.
Exquisite houses, the beauty of Nature, and how to get the most from your life, straight to your inbox.
Also part of the deal are 4,250sq ft of stores and workshops, including stables and a converted barn that presently serves as both annexe and office, with two main rooms, a cloakroom and a kitchenette.
There are some 141 acres in all, including five acres of grass paddocks and 122 acres of arable land.
Lodge Farm Estate is for sale at £3.5 million via Jackson-Stops and Landbridge — see more details and pictures.
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 Country Life Podcast
Listen to all the episodes of the Country Life Podcast.
Naughty sheep, clever cows and a lifetime of farming: Rosamund Young on the Country Life Podcast
Listen to best-selling author Rosamund Young on the latest edition of the Country Life Podcast.
Credit: Rosie Paterson
An insider's guide to travelling the world: Hot destinations, missing underwear and dodging volcanoes
Country Life's Travel Editor Rosie Paterson joins the podcast to share her wisdom, experience — and a disturbing number of blunders.
Tom Kerridge: 'Fish and chips on Brighton beach can be every bit as magical as a Michelin three-star restaurant'
Tom Kerridge, one of Britain's top chefs, is the guest on this week's Country Life podcast.
-
You’ve got to have a lot of balls: Wimbledon by numbers
How many strawberries are consumed, how many petunias purchased and just how much racket string is required at the world’s oldest tennis championships? Lotte Brundle serves up the numbers.
By Lotte Brundle Published
-
Chatsworth's winning £4 million Lottery ticket means it can restore beloved water feature
The Chatsworth House Trust will use the money from The National Lottery Heritage Fund to restore their Cascade — beloved by Alan Titchmarsh.
By Lotte Brundle Published
-
Embrace off-grid living on this Scottish island for sale, but you'll have to share it with the local seal population
A dot on the map of the west coast of Scotland has come up for sale.
By Toby Keel Published
-
18 beautiful homes, from charming cottages to a Highland mansion with unbeatable views, as seen in Country Life
Our look at some of the best homes to come to the market via Country Life in the past week includes Georgian manor houses, charming commutable homes and the grandest home in Newcastle.
By Toby Keel Published
-
The gorgeous Somerset home of the designer behind one of Glastonbury's chicest spots
The Manor in Hinton Blewitt is a glorious Georgian home that ticks every box.
By Toby Keel Published
-
826 years of history, painstaking restoration and 'a garden like no other' at this former National Trust house which has come to the market in Kent
A blooming property in Kent showcases the original garden of England. Penny Churchill takes a look.
By Penny Churchill Published
-
A wisteria-clad delight with lawns running down to the Thames at the prettiest riverside home for sale in London today
Deodar Road, near Putney High Street, offers unrivalled views of the Thames and is characterful in excess.
By James Fisher Published
-
Five of the most majestic properties for sale in Britain today, from a 1,700-acre estate to a private island, as seen in Country Life
Our look at the best homes to come to the market via Country Life this week includes some genuinely breathtaking places.
By Toby Keel Published
-
Save me: A castle on the Isle of Wight designed by James Wyatt is up for sale
Norris Castle Estate also comes with 225 acres of gardens and grounds, and needs a little TLC
By James Fisher Published
-
The 1,800-acre estate of the man who bought Stonehenge has come up for sale at £25 million
The Bapton Manor Estate, in the beautiful Cranborne Chase National Landscape, seeks a new owner. Penny Churchill takes a look.
By Penny Churchill Published