A delighful Italiante mansion on the beach at the price of an Essex commuter house
South Beach Mansion is a truly beautiful eight-bedroom house with glorious views from the Suffolk coast.

For commuters wishing to live in the commuter heartlands which stretch out from London towards Essex, £1.4 million goes quite a long way. You could have this rather nice place in Chigwell, for example, or a home like this in Chelmsford.
But head out a little further in the same direction, and it's hard to believe how much more is on offer. Take as an example this beautiful house, South Beach Mansion, which is on the market at £1.375m and occupies pride of place on the beach at Felixstowe, just a short stroll from the shops.
The house was originally built by Charles Eley – a man who, along with his brother William, made his fortune manufacturing .22 cartridges – after he bought this plot of land in 1865.
Sitting atop Bent Hill it was a tall building visible far and wide across the town, and was quickly dubbed 'Eley Cathedral' by local wags.
The Eleys didn't stay long. The house was sold on a decade later to one Frederick Bugg, an Ipswich merchant who, rather fantastically, ended up leasing it to Empress Augusta Viktoria of Germany in the summer of 1891.
The Empress spent the entire summer of 1891 in the house with her children. No doubt she made the odd visit to London to visit her husband's grandmother – who just so happened to be Queen Victoria herself. (Though perhaps they met closer, at Sandringham.)
Since those days the house has been through all manner of incarnations: it was a hotel between the wars, and was used as a Food ministry and then a council building for many years.
Sign up for the Country Life Newsletter
Exquisite houses, the beauty of Nature, and how to get the most from your life, straight to your inbox.
Then, in 1975, it became the local DHSS office – for younger readers, that's the Job Centre and benefits office. What a comedown from the days of royal visits.
So dilapidated was the building by 1992 that the council considered demolishing it entirely. Thankfully, after a local campaign, they decided to sell it instead and owners since then have done a fabulous job of restoration.
Those years of neglect had one positive aspect: there is a wealth of original features which have were retained and have now been restored: corniced ceilings, original fireplaces and a stained glass panel showing the coat of arms of the Tollemache family, who owned the mansion for a while at the start of the 20th century.
Inside, as Savills agent Tom Orford says, the overwhelming sensation on walking inside is of the huge amount of light, helped by 11ft ceilings and huge windows in a house with 7,881 sq ft of space.
In total there are four bedrooms and eight bedrooms, plus four reception rooms – among the features are a conservatory, cinema room, study, kitchen/breakfast room, playroom and cellars. The gardens extend to a third of an acre and have some secluded spots, despite being in the heart of the town.
And as for getting back into London? The direct train from Felixstowe takes just over a couple of hours, but the trains from Ipswich (which is only eight miles away) make it to Liverpool St in just over an hour.
Yes, the commute would be much easier from Chigwell; but for those who don't have to be in town every day, moving out to the coast will be a tempting prospect.
South Beach Mansion is on the market via Savills at £1.375m – see more details and pictures.
Credit: Lambert Smith
The home of the Queen Mother’s uncle goes on the market
You’ll be able to buy a substantial historic property in Northumberland – and increase your disposable income.
Credit: Knight Frank
For sale: The country house which helped win the Battle of Britain
Toby Keel is Country Life's Digital Director, and has been running the website and social media channels since 2016. A former sports journalist, he writes about property, cars, lifestyle, travel, nature.
-
Merlins: Britain's smallest bird of prey is a 'swerving, zigzagging, 240mph weighted missile' that's gutsy enough to chase off a golden eagle
Size doesn’t matter when it comes to the fighting spirit of the tiny merlin, a fierce parent and favoured hunting accessory of Mary, Queen of Scots.
By Mark Cocker Published
-
The greatest moment in the life of Jessie Owens: Country Life Quiz of the Day, June 13, 2025
Breathtaking athleticism and Shakespeare's birthday are among the questions in the final quiz of the week.
By Country Life Published
-
Soft tones and a sense of place: A Mayfair duplex that breaks the modern mould
A new designer-led residence at 60 Curzon in Mayfair reminds us that everything new doesn't necessarily have to look it.
By James Fisher Published
-
'The very best North Yorkshire has to offer': The £25 million Kirkham Estate
With 1,103 acres and on the market for the first time in a century, we've got a new frontrunner for the sale of the year.
By Penny Churchill Published
-
The reality of 20 years of house price rises in Britain, from the places that have had a charmed life to the spots where it's a struggle to move back home
At first glance the ups and downs of the property market seem to even out over time — but dig in to the numbers and you'll see wild regional variations which paint a very difference picture. Annabel Dixon analyses new research which tells the story.
By Annabel Dixon Published
-
A historic Yorkshire hall, meticulously restored to its former 18th-century magnificence
Womersley Park is a masterpiece and one of Yorkshire's great historic houses. And it could be yours.
By Penny Churchill Published
-
Rowing past dreams: An idyllic riverside home with a boathouse, croquet pitch and Olympic pedigree
The Manor in Long Wittenham is a perfect Thames-side getaway. Comes with a free boat.
By James Fisher Published
-
A bucolic Sussex home that's 'like stepping into a fairytale', yet just 30 minutes from central London
Felmere House is a playground for nature and only 30 minutes from London.
By James Fisher Last updated
-
Magnificent mansions across the Home Counties, from £3 million to £14 million, as seen in Country Life
A waterside dream home and a house and estate with over 1,100 years of history make our round-up this week.
By Toby Keel Last updated
-
Vibrant colours and exquisite taste make this three-bedroom London townhouse sing
On Kennington's West Square, this Grade II-listed home is a monument to the discerning eye.
By James Fisher Published