Bedfield Road, Earl Soham, Woodbridge, Suffolk, IP13

Outstanding country house in exquisite grounds.

Description

White House Farm is an exceptional country house, with an array of outbuildings and ancillary accommodation, within over twenty acres of magnificent grounds.

The house is believed to principally date from early 19th century and is included in Sir Nikolaus Pevsner’s The Buildings of England Series; alterations and additions were made in the mid-20th century by renowned architect, Raymond Erith.

Raymond Erith RA FRIBA was the preeminent classical architect of the twentieth century, responsible for the restoration of Downing Street in 1958. At White House Farm, he substantially increased and harmonised the accommodation by connecting the principal house with a cottage behind.

The handsome Georgian building has an especially fine white brick façade with pilastered elevations, sash windows and a hipped slate roof; the six-panel front door opens on to a remarkably comfortable house, comprising elegantly proportioned and light filled rooms with high ceilings.

The wide central reception hall leads to the drawing room, sitting room, snug/study, dining room, kitchen/breakfast room, and service rooms; stairs lead to the first floor bedroom accommodation and down to the cellar.

The attractive, double aspect drawing room has a particularly fine panelled ceiling, sprung wooden floor and a wide marble chimneypiece. Flooding the room with natural light are sash windows to the south elevation and French windows, which lead out to the west-facing terrace.

Facing the drawing room is the double aspect snug, which along with the sitting room, provides a cosy and tranquil space for entertaining and relaxing. The dining room is believed to be within the oldest part of the house and provides abundant dining space, with French windows out to the garden.

The delightful, triple aspect kitchen/breakfast room has wide wooden floorboards and ample space for more informal dining; the bespoke kitchen comprises an AGA, a double butler-style sink and separate prep sink, an integrated dishwasher, and pantry. French windows and a glazed door lead out to the terrace and garden.

There are six generous double bedrooms, a single bedroom, two bathrooms, a shower room and two dressing rooms on the first floor. The magnificent principal bedroom has a south-facing sash window, French windows leading to a west-facing balcony, copious wardrobe space and an adjoining bathroom.

Outbuildings
White House Farm has an extensive range of outbuildings and ancillary accommodation, including an annexe; party barn/pool house; a delightful orangery, presently used for lunch and supper parties; wine store; commodious studios, workshops and stores; and garaging.

The annexe consists of an entrance hall; open-plan kitchen/reception room, with French windows out to decking, and a door leading to the swimming pool; shower room; lavatory; and study. Spiral stairs lead to the bedroom, which occupies the entire first floor and has French windows out to a balcony.

The capacious party barn/pool house has a wonderful, vaulted central space, ideal for entertaining, with exposed timbers, a wood-burning stove, underfloor heating, and bi-folding doors out to the swimming pool, and to a raised decking area. There is a catering kitchen, WC and pump room for the swimming pool.

Grounds
White House Farm sits within over twenty acres of exquisite grounds. The front of the house looks over a spectacular vista of parkland, dotted with trees and framed by two mature horse chestnut trees.

To the immediate west of the house is a generous terrace, ideal for al fresco dining and entertaining, the orangery, and formal garden with verdant lawns and herbaceous borders. There are clipped yew hedges and an array of specimen trees.

Further to the west is the enchanting and incredibly tranquil "Seven-Acre Wood"; an area of wonderfully managed woodlands with a great variety of native species, within which is a particularly special, private lawn.

Within a walled courtyard is the heated swimming pool with roman steps, terrace and decking, providing further space for entertaining; also within the grounds is a tennis court and hot tub.

Location

White House Farm occupies a wonderful position, surrounded by undulating fields, on the edge of the charming village of Earl Soham.

This delightful and historic village offers an array of superb facilities, including an award-winning butcher, John Huttons, and a popular public house and brewery, The Victoria. There is a notable medieval church, a village green, tennis club, primary school and doctors’ surgery.

Renowned for its magnificent 12th century castle, Framlingham is a thriving market town which provides a greater range of amenities including the Michelin and Good Food Guide recommended Watson and Walpole, a number of public houses, independent shops and a twice weekly market.

On the banks of the River Deben, Woodbridge is a highly regarded town with a harbour and a rare working tide mill, which traces its roots to the 11th century. There is an excellent selection of independent shops and boutiques. The Unruly Pig in neighbouring Bromeswell is considered one of the top gastropubs in the country. Sutton Hoo is home to Britain’s most important archaeological site, the Anglo Saxon burial ground of King Rædwald.

White House Farm is well placed for the Suffolk Coasts and Heaths Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, comprising delightful seaside towns and pretty villages including Aldeburgh, Thorpeness, Southwold, Walberswick, Dunwich and Orford.

Closely associated with the composer Benjamin Britten, Aldeburgh is famed for the celebrated 'Scallop’ sculpture by Maggi Hambling. There are excellent galleries and boutiques and a superb restaurant scene including the critically acclaimed 'The Suffolk’.

Known for the painted beach huts, Southwold is a popular seaside town with an iconic 19th century lighthouse, and a pier with famously eccentric arcade games and automata. Neighbouring Walberswick is a picturesque coastal village with beautiful beaches and dunes.

Local sporting facilities are superb and numerous, including golf clubs in Woodbridge, Halesworth and Aldeburgh; sailing in Woodbridge and along the coast; tennis and rugby clubs in Woodbridge.

Schools in the area are excellent in both the state and independent sectors, including Thomas Mills High School, Debenham High School, Framlingham College, Woodbridge School and Ipswich School - all of which are included in the Good Schools Guide.

Square Footage: 8,400 sq ft


Acreage: 20.99 Acres

Additional Info

Services:Mains water and electricity; private drainage; oil-fired central heating.

Local Authority: East Suffolk

what3words: ///globe.informer.factored

Agent Note: A footpath crosses part of the property.

Agent Note: Photographs taken Summer 2020