From the Norman Conquest to the present day, almost 1,000 years of English history line the walls of Grade I-listed Crepping Hall, on the outskirts of dreamy Wakes Colne, on the Essex/Suffolk border. Once part of a 15,000-acre estate held by the powerful de Vere family, who were Earls of Oxford, in the late 12th century, the house was a timber-framed and plastered open hall with aisles, of which 2½ bays remain, with many later additions. A cross-wing was added in about 1512, with signs of an original attic floor and an Elizabethan first floor.
Although impressive, the de Vere family’s long association with the house is not its only claim to fame. Distinguished owners since the Victorian era include writers, industrialists and aristocrats, all of whom have left their mark on the building in one way or another.
In the Victorian period, a red-brick extension was added to the north, followed by a double-bay Edwardian west wing housing the original billiard room, now an impressive formal drawing room. The most recent addition is a spectacular orangery/break-fast room, which connects the kitchen to the main drawing room to create a wonderful open-plan space.
Currently on the market through Savills at a guide price of £3m, Crepping Hall stands in almost 10 acres of formal gardens, orchard and paddocks, filled with mature shrubs and ancient trees. A knot garden to the south comes complete with box balls and stunning roses, an elegant pond is traversable by a picturesque wooden bridge.
The main house boasts some 6,200sq ft of light and airy living space, including five reception rooms, six bedrooms and four bath/shower rooms. Amenities include a tennis court, swimming pool, verandah and terrace – perfect for idle days and lazy summer dining.
Credit: Strutt & Parker
The country retreat where JM Barrie dreamed up Peter Pan to entertain three young houseguests
Set on 1.5 acres of land on the edge of Bourne Wood, Lobswood House has been sympathetically renovated to retain
Credit: Knight Frank
A palatial Jacobean-style mansion with rooms by the man who renovated Buckingham Palace
With a 24 carat gold drawing room, an extraordinary indoor spa complex and a £150,000 playhouse, the only thing Pinewood
The devastatingly pretty home where Sir Walter Scott became a literary superstar
Within the splendid walls of Ashiestiel House, Sir Walter Scott enjoyed the happiest years of his life as he wrote
Credit: Strutt & Parker
The Cotswolds home of the writer who penned the definitive account of Edward and Mrs Simpson
The former home of Frances Donaldson is up for sale, a beautiful old Gloucestershire farmhouse where she chronicled Edward VIII's
Credit: Savills - fine for reuse
A vast 17th century home full of original features, with gardens and orchards over 400 years old
Hall Court was built by a crusading politician who tried to clean up corruption in the Navy – and who, in
-
Graham Norton's elegant East London home hits the market, and it's just as wonderful as you would expectThe four-bedroom home in Wapping should be studied for how well it uses two separate spaces to create a home of immense character and utility.
-
Sign of the times: In the age of the selfie, what’s happening to the humble autograph?When Ringo Starr announced that he was no longer going to sign anything, he kickstarted a celebrity movement that coincided with the advent of the camera phone and selfie. Rob Crossan asks whether, in today’s world, the selfie holds more clout than an autograph?
-
Graham Norton's elegant East London home hits the market, and it's just as wonderful as you would expect
The four-bedroom home in Wapping should be studied for how well it uses two separate spaces to create a home of immense character and utility.
-
About time: The fastest and slowest moving housing markets revealedNew research by Zoopla has shown where it's easy to sell and where it will take quite a while to find a buyer.
-
A wisteria clad hall built by one of the founders of the Bank of EnglandCome for the history of Old Hall. Stay for the interesting interiors.
-
A gorgeous Scottish cottage with contemporary interiors on the bonny banks of the River TayCarnliath on the edge of Strathtay is a delightful family home set in sensational scenery.
-
Six rural properties with space, charm and endless views, as seen in Country LifeWe take a look at some of the best houses to come to the market via Country Life in the past week.
-
380 acres and 90 bedrooms on the £25m private island being sold by one of Britain's top music producersStormzy, Rihanna and the Rolling Stones are just a part of the story at Osea Island, a dot on the map in the seas off Essex.
-
A home cinema, tasteful interiors and 65 acres of private parkland hidden in an unassuming lodge in KentNorth Lodge near Tonbridge may seem relatively simple, but there is a lot more than what meets the eye.
-
A rare opportunity to own a family home on Vanbrugh Terrace, one of London's finest streetsThis six-bedroom Victorian home sits right on the start line of the London Marathon, with easy access to Blackheath and Greenwich Park.
