Walpole, SuffolkSold

The Dormer Cottage

Original decorative finials on the roof have been matched by newly hand-carved ones that sit on the new extension

Call us +44 (0)20 3687 3071

This rosy pink house lies in the centre of the pretty village of Walpole, Suffolk and has been recently restored and extended to create a characterful home suitable for modern living. The extension has a large expanse of glazing which provides brilliant connections to the outdoors. Unfolding over 1,900 sq ft, the house is surrounded by approximately three acres of garden and woodland. Positioned three miles from the popular market town of Halesworth, the house has fantastic transport connections, with trains to Norwich and to London Liverpool Street via Ipswich in less than two hours. The house is also wonderfully placed for access to Suffolk’s coastline; the seaside town of Southwold, with its beach hut-lined promenade, is just 20 minutes away.

Setting the Scene

The house would have been part of the Heveningham Estate until it was sold off by Lord Huntingfield in 1922 – up until around 80 years ago, it was instead known as ‘Bridge House’. More recently, sensitive restorations have been carried out throughout the house; for example, the original finials on the roof have been matched by newly hand-carved ones to sit on the extension. Reclaimed floors have been installed to complement the remaining original floors. The house, which underwent a gut renovation, also has completely new plumbing and electrics, a new roof and has been fitted, as well as insulation, with underfloor heating throughout.

Heveningham Hall, which is found two miles from the house, is Grade I-listed and was built for the politician William Heveningham in 1678. The present house dates from 1778-1780 though, designed by Sir Robert Taylor with interiors by James Wyatt. Commissioned by Sir Gerald Vanneck, it remained in his family until 1981. For more information, please see the History section.

The Grand Tour

A white-painted wooden porch frames the front door, which opens into a wide entrance hall, lined with the original terracotta tiles. To the right is a dining room, which leads into the sitting room through an oak arch. The living space has high vaulted ceilings, supported by oak trusses; from here is a door opening directly to the garden.

The kitchen lies to the rear of the plan, within the new extension. This is a lovely, bright room, with glazed doors that fold all the way back to open the house to the garden beyond. The kitchen comprises dove grey-painted cabinetry, with wooden worktops, a double butler sink and a generous island, all set against a white subway-tiled splashback. Characterful flagstones are found underfoot, heated by underfloor heating. A useful pantry cupboard is tucked behind the kitchen. There is also a brilliant utility room on this floor, with further cabinetry over a poured concrete floor. A door from here leads outside so that the space can double as a boot room, perfect for kicking off muddy shoes. A guest WC sits opposite.

Timber stairs lead to the upper level, lined with a length of impressive floor-to-ceiling bookshelves. Many of the building’s original beams have been left exposed on the first floor. The principal bedroom sits in the extension, with green views over the house’s expansive garden. There are three other bedrooms on this floor, as well as two family bathrooms. Italian micro-plaster has been applied to the walls in one of the bathrooms, where there is also a freestanding bath and a separate walk-in shower that doubles as a steam room. An elegant antique cupboard has been fitted with a porcelain sink. The other bathroom is crowned by original beams and rafters, with a bath clad with redwood panels, and Victorian tiles on the floor.

The Great Outdoors

The cottage stands in gardens and grounds which extend to approximately three acres. Raised beds line the front of the house, complete with roses, cosmos and lilac. The gardens, which lie behind the house, give way to woods with pathways that wind through the trees and lead to a meadow, alongside the River Blyth; this land would be perfect for keeping sheep or horses. A great number of specimen plants and shrubs have been planted over very many years, including those forming a Japanese-inspired garden, with many mature trees, including a sequoia, eucalyptus, weeping birch and liquid amber maple, keep the garden brilliantly private. Historic dykes wind through the land which support a wide variety of nature including kingfishers, newts, owls and hare. The garden is a wonderful blank canvas, with scope for further planting and management, or to completely rewild. A drive provides off-road parking for three cars, alongside a useful double garage with fully renewed electrics.

Out and About

Walpole is a pretty village, around 20 minutes inland from Dunwich on Suffolk’s Heritage Coast (which in turn sits between Southwold and Aldeburgh), and close to the popular market town of Halesworth. Built on a Roman settlement, Halesworth is full of historic buildings, from timber-framed houses to Victorian former almshouses. It has a variety of shops, many independently owned, including Focus Organic, and The Black Dog Delicatessen. There are some fantastic antique shops too, as well as The Cut; a vibrant community Arts Centre in a former 19th century malting building, offering a full programme of exhibitions, dance, theatre, music, workshops and courses. The nearby Blyth Estuary is one of the best spots around for birdwatching in Suffolk.

The wider area has an additional abundance of great hostelries. The Fox Inn at Darsham has delicious fare and The Eel’s Foot Inn at Eastbridge is a great spot for oven-fired pizzas. Local food suppliers include Creasey’s Butchers and Emmett’s Deli, renowned for its delicious cheeses and hams, in nearby Peasenhall. The Station at nearby Framlingham is a local favourite, as is the Michelin-recommended Italian restaurant Watson and Walpole. The Wilderness Reserve, with its 8,000 acres of rolling pasture, woodlands and lakes, also offers an abundance of activities and tempting eateries, including The Griffin, with plans for creating a delicious gastropub. More extensive facilities are available in the nearby towns of Saxmundham (Waitrose & Tesco) and Framlingham (included in The Times’s list of the “10 Best Places in the UK to Live for Families”).

Halesworth Railway Station is on the East Suffolk line, with connections to Norwich and London Liverpool Street. Regular buses connect to other Suffolk towns such as Beccles, Southwold, Lowestoft and to Norwich.

Council Tax Band: D

Please note that all areas, measurements and distances given in these particulars are approximate and rounded. The text, photographs and floor plans are for general guidance only. Inigo has not tested any services, appliances or specific fittings — prospective purchasers are advised to inspect the property themselves. All fixtures, fittings and furniture not specifically itemised within these particulars are deemed removable by the vendor.

History

Walpole is a small village which sits on the River Blyth. The name ‘Walpole’ derives from Old English, meaning ‘Pool of the Britons’. The village appears in the Domesday Book, with a recorded population of 28 households, six villagers, five smallholders and 17 free men. It had six men’s plough teams, and other resources which included a meadow of six acres, 30 woodland pigs and a church. At the time, in 1086, the lord was Count Allan of Brittany.

There is a beautiful, now redundant, chapel which lies on Halesworth Road in Walpole. Originally it would have been two farmhouses, which in the late 16th century were converted for use as a chapel. In 1700, an extension was added to the back. This continued until the 20th century, when it was closed in the 1970s. This striking timber-framed building was designated a Grade II*-listing by English Heritage, which mentions its “good C16 seven-light moulded mullioned window with carved lintel” and “further mullioned window with diamond-leaded glass”, as well as its “tiered gallery on three sides supported on square columns and on one side by two barley sugar wrought iron posts” internally. The chapel is now owned by the Historic Chapels Trust.