Mill Common, Blaxhall, IP12

Nestled on Mill Common at the edge of the highly desirable village of Blaxhall, this charming, deceptively spacious two-bedroom single-story cottage with studio annex offers an idyllic retreat. Dating from 1810, the property has been meticulously extended and remodeled by the current owners. The Willows is tucked away down a private track, occupying a substantial plot with a stunning rear garden with the rather wonderful art studio/craft room annex boasting uninterrupted field views. The house at the front has heathland views, providing a serene and picturesque setting.

The cottage features ample parking, double glazing, Calor gas central heating, and mains drainage, and is being sold with no onward chain. We highly recommend an early internal viewing to fully appreciate the quality and size of the accommodation on offer, which includes a front porch, a cozy sitting room, two bedrooms (one with an en-suite shower room), a spacious 23-foot open-plan kitchen/dining/living room, a garden room, and a recently refitted four-piece bathroom.

Blaxhall is a tranquil village surrounded by beautiful heathland and forests, offering numerous walking trails. It is just 2 minutes from the renowned Snape Maltings concert hall, which features scenic river walks and an array of art galleries, restaurants, cafés, and shops. The village has a lively community spirit, with regular events held at the village hall and public house. The Ship Inn, a traditional country pub, is famous for its live folk music events and serves as the hub of village life. Blaxhall Common, part of the Suffolk Coast and Heaths Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, is one of the few remaining areas of lowland dry heathland in the Suffolk Sandlings. An RSPB wetland reserve is a short walk away, and in spring, nightingales can be heard from the cottage.

Blaxhall is conveniently located just 15 minutes from the charming coastal town of Aldeburgh, 8 minutes from Saxmundham with its amenities including Waitrose and Tesco, near the historic towns of Framlingham and Orford with their 12th-century castles, and 18 minutes from the riverside market town of Woodbridge. The A12 is 3 minutes away, and Wickham Market railway station is just 8 minutes away, offering frequent trains to Ipswich for connections to London.

Council tax band: B

EPC rating: C

Outside – front:

The front garden is extensively laid to lawn and well-stocked with an abundance of flowerbeds and shrub borders. It features a pond, a greenhouse, a pedestrian gate, double gates, and a pathway leading to the front door.

Front porch:

Features two double-glazed windows and a stable latch door leading to:

Sitting room:

14' 4" x 11' 2"

A cozy reception room with a double-glazed window offering lovely views across the Common. It includes custom-made oak shelving, solid oak flooring, two radiators, and doors to both bedrooms and the kitchen/dining/living room.

Bedroom one:

14' 4" x 9' 6"

This bedroom features a double-glazed window with beautiful views across the Common, original Suffolk brick flooring, a radiator, loft access, and a concertina door to:

En-suite shower room:

Includes a three-piece suite with a corner shower cubicle with Mira shower, low-level WC, pedestal hand wash basin, heated towel rail, tiled walls, ceramic tiled flooring, and an electrically operated Velux window with automatic rain sensor.

Bedroom two:

10' 10" x 7' 2"

This bedroom has a double-glazed window with lovely views across the Common, a radiator, and carpet flooring.

Kitchen/dining/family room:

23' 11" x 16' 2"

Kitchen:

Refitted with modern eye and base level units, Iroko wood surfaces, an inset sink and drainer, an integrated fridge freezer, a Neff oven, and an AEG induction hob with extractor hood and patina copper splashback. It also includes space and plumbing for a washing machine, a substantial breakfast bar with cupboards, display units, shelving, a fantastic vaulted ceiling, a radiator, a double-glazed window to the rear aspect, and a double-glazed door opening to the rear garden. This space is open-plan into:

Dining/family Room:

Features a vaulted ceiling, a double-glazed window to the side aspect, two radiators, laminate flooring, and double multi-pane doors opening to:

Garden room:

10' 0" x 9' 11"

Includes multiple windows, double doors opening to the terrace, oak flooring, an electric heater, and a vaulted ceiling with a warm roof. The current owners use this garden room as a guest bedroom, with all windows and doors featuring built-in blinds.

Bathroom:

Recently refitted with a modern four-piece suite comprising a bath, a separate corner shower cubicle, a low-level WC, and a vanity hand wash basin with storage beneath. It also includes a heated towel rail, half-height Travertine tiled walls, natural cork flooring, a cupboard housing a five-year-old boiler, loft access, inset spotlights, and an obscure double-glazed window to the side aspect.

Outside – rear:

The beautiful rear garden is predominantly laid to lawn and well-stocked with flowerbeds, shrub borders, and mature trees. It features a large terrace with an electric remote-controlled awning with wind sensor, three sheds (two with power and one with light), a purpose-built studio, and is fully enclosed by panel fencing and hedges with gated side access.

Art studio / craft room:

19' 6" x 16' 7"

This studio features a vaulted roof and a wall of windows providing fantastic views overlooking the fields to the rear. It includes a sliding glazed door opening towards the fields, double doors opening to the garden, power and light connections, and fully insulated floors, roof, and walls. This space is currently used for painting and sculpture but is perfect for running a small business or working from home.

Parking:

There is parking for four cars adjacent to the cottage, with additional hardstanding for one car or campervan.

Owner's comment:

The Willows is tucked away down a track on Mill Common, on the edge of the village of Blaxhall.  The original squatters’ cottage was initially established in 1810, when the law allowed for anyone to build a home on common land so long as there was smoke coming out of the chimney within 24 hours. The original cottage has since been extended several times, but it still boasts uninterrupted field views to the rear and lovely heathland views to the front. When we first drew up on the Common and discovered the cottage, we instantly fell in love with the idyllic location, and realised this was “the one” before even viewing inside.

 

We both work from home and could see the potential to make the spacious living area with its fabulous vaulted ceilings and skylights into an ideal living and working environment for Samira, but there was no studio for Jim, who is a well-known local bronze sculptor.  Finding studio space in this part of Suffolk is almost impossible and had complicated our house hunt, so we had resorted to looking for properties with enough land to build one.  The generous back garden was perfect for this and Jim’s artist studio was purpose-built for him by a professional local carpenter and friend. The structure houses a painting studio on one side, with good north-light from the large window-wall to minimize shadows, while the other side is perfect for sculpture with its skylight, power points and easy access. The fabulous views across the fields to the woodland are perfect for watching boxing hare, deer and the entertaining rookery. The studio is fully insulated and would also be the perfect self-contained space to run a business from home, or for a gym or games room.

 

The Willows strikes the perfect balance between traditional character and modern practicality. The original squatter’s cottage is now the guest bedroom, while the main bedroom, with its en-suite shower room, still has the original Suffolk brick flooring. The cosy sitting room is in the heart of the old part of the house, with solid oak flooring and Jim’s custom-made oak shelving lining one wall with our favourite tomes. Visiting guests are always surprised to discover how such an enchanting cottage opens up into a fabulous, light and airy living environment with wonderful views. We love it when our house is full of friends and the open-plan living area is fantastic for entertaining, while the garden is absolutely perfect for hosting barbeque parties, watching the setting sun and sitting out under the stars with friends.

 

The previous owners live nearby and we all became great friends.  They watched our transformation of the property with delight, especially our bold but balanced colour choices, both inside and out. We decided to paint the cottage blue to ensure it stands out and is easy to find. We have used colour inside the house to create different moods and ambiances, without detracting from the lovely views, which are always the star of the show. We both love cooking and really enjoyed updating the kitchen to make it perfect for entertaining.  The generous Iroko wood surface has become the heart of our home, perfect for rolling out pastry and pasta while guests enjoy drinks and nibbles.  We have also remodelled the main bathroom, with natural stone tiling and a generous bathtub for relaxation. The garden room, with its fully insulated roof and oak flooring, can now be used all year round and is our favourite spot for watching the sunset.

 

Blaxhall is in the heart of the Suffolk Coastal region, which is rich in cultural activities.  We moved here to be closer to nearby Butley Mills Studios to further Jim’s bronze sculpture casting career there. The village is very much alive and has several artists, writers, crafts people and musicians in residence, and is home to those who appreciate the arts. For an artist it’s important to be at the heart of a supportive and vibrant creative region which is also laid back and acceptant of different modes of life.

 

Blaxhall is also renowned for its lively community spirit, with a newsletter, a Facebook group and regular events organised at the village hall and public house. On Sunday afternoons we often meet up with other locals for games and drinks on the playing field or in the village hall, before heading to the pub for the evening. The Ship Inn is a traditional country pub that is the hub of village life. It is famous for its live folk music events, open-mic nights and first-rate quiz team.

 

The village is surrounded by beautiful heathland and forests providing plentiful walks and cycle rides. When working from home it’s great to take a break for a walk on Blaxhall Common, which is literally on our doorstep. The Common is one of the few remaining areas of lowland dry heathland in the Suffolk Sandlings and hare and herds of deer are daily sightings from the cottage.  We often have to disturb the family of Roe deer that sleeps under the Oak tree where we park our cars. An RSPB wetland reserve is a short walk away and in spring the nightingales and bittern can be heard from the cottage. One of our favourite local cycle rides takes us to Iken Cliff for a swim or a canoe ride in the estuary while the seals watch on.

 

Surrounded by countryside and woodland, but with so many towns just a short drive away you get the best of both worlds living here - it’s perfectly rural without feeling cut-off. The renowned Snape Maltings Concert Hall is just one mile away, with beautiful estuary walks and an array of art galleries, restaurants, cafés, shops and a farmers’ market. Snape also has a primary school and post office. We are also conveniently located for the pretty coastal town of Aldeburgh, and the market town of Saxmundham with all amenities, including a Waitrose and Tesco. Framlingham and Orford with their medieval castles, and the riverside market town of Woodbridge are also nearby for recreational shopping trips.  Wickham Market railway station is just 8 minutes away, with frequent trains to Ipswich for London.

 

Terms:

Tenure: freehold

Guide price: £425,000 subject to contract.