Hopton House, Hopton, Norfolk

This handsome five-bedroom Georgian country house extends over 4,830 sq ft in the rolling fens between Norfolk and Suffolk. Contemporary updates have reframed this historic building with the utmost respect for its period charm. Its finely-tuned interiors make use of a bright and neutral palette that emphasises the light that enters through an impressive number of historic windows. Generous gardens of half an acre surround the house and are filled with mature trees that provide shaded spots to sit beneath. London Liverpool Street can be reached via train from nearby Stowmarket Station in 80 minutes.

Setting the Scene

The house’s frontage testifies to the 18th-century inclination for simplicity, with emphasis on grand proportions in the neoclassical style. Banks of lawn undulate on each side of the doorcase, accessing the front door housed in a gable porch. Hewn from a gentle-hued sandstone, the house saw a later Victorian extension, at which point the two back rooms, bedrooms and snug were added. Inside, a wealth of period features from both its earlier and its 19th-century iterations have been retained: these include beautiful floor tiles, tall windows and pockets of intricate cornicing.

The Grand Tour

In the entrance hall, Victorian cornicing and an exquisite ceiling rose have been gilded to impressive effect. Black, red and white chequerboard tiles lead to the wide formal staircase, where light streams through casement windows on the first-floor landing.

The drawing room is terrifically light. Shutters can be opened to tall windows that stretch from almost floor to ceiling within a bay, ensuring visual communication between the house and its grounds. A glazed door can be opened to the garden to ease the flow between indoors and out when the weather is warmer; when it’s colder, a wood-burning stove set within an exposed brick fireplace fosters a cosy ambiance.

Across the hall is the intimate sitting room. Pared-back in design, its preeminent focal points are the neat cornicing above and the marble fireplace that emphasises the room’s symmetry. The snug is accessed through the sitting room, perfect for use as a library, playroom or study.

The kitchen and dining room has been reimagined with the tenets of open-plan living in mind. Shaker-style cabinetry is appointed in dark tones and houses an Aga range cooker. This colour accent is continued on the wall panelling in the long dining area; here, skylights traverse the ceiling, giving the illusion of weaving light between the rafters.

On the first floor, five large bedrooms command views of the grounds through sash windows. The primary has seen a coral colour wash, looking out through two windows on the southerly side. A bedroom on the other side of the hall has been painted in a navy paint, with an inlet providing the perfect space for a desk. There are two bathrooms; the first has a shower, fitted with shining green kit-kat tiles, while the second also has a shower as well as a freestanding bath.

Above is the attic floor, where the landing provides plenty of space for use as a playroom or study, evocatively positioned beneath the eaves of the gable roof. There are two bedrooms on either side, encompassed by the roof’s gentle slope.

The Great Outdoors

The house is approached via a sweeping gravel drive with room for parking several cars.

Grounds of around half an acre surround the house. Lovingly maintained by the current owners, they are filled with a huge variety of grasses and flowers that sit harmoniously alongside each other. Mature trees, including acacia and fruit trees, dot the grounds. There is also plenty of lawn space for a kick-about or for a long summertime lunch with friends and family.

Out and About

Hopton is a charming rural hamlet between Bury St Edmunds and Diss. While the surrounding rolling fens are suitable for all kinds of country ramble, the house sits within easy distance of the larger towns for day-to-day amenities.

Around an 11-minute drive out of the village, the Wyken Vineyard is a 1,200-acre farm with a flock of Shetland sheep, a small herd of cattle and a seven-acre vineyard producing award-winning sparkling wines. A weekly farmer’s market runs alongside the formal gardens.

The bustling and historic market town of Bury St Edmunds is a 26-minute drive away. With streets of ancient pretty cottages and a renowned abbey, the town provides for all day-to-day needs and is chock full of independent shops, such as Woosters for award-winning sourdough loaves, Javelin for boutique clothing and Parsley Pot for unique gifts. It is also home to two independent cinemas, Abbeygate and The Everyman. A range of fine restaurants is scattered throughout the town, including the acclaimed Pea Porridge and 1921 Angel Hill. There is also an abundance of relaxed eateries such as The One Bull and Mowgli Street Food and Britain’s smallest pub, The Nutshell.

There are also Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty nearby, with nature reserves at Minsmere and Redgrave and Lopham Fenns. The stunning Suffolk coastline with vast tracts of reedbed, heath and beach is around half an hour by car. Likewise, Sutton Hoo, one of the most important archaeological discoveries of the 20th century, is close too.

There are several excellent schools in the area. Wortham CofE Primary School, Elveden CofE Primary School, Hartismere Secondary School, Abbeygate Sixth Form College and Culford School are all well-regarded by Ofsted.

The nearest mainline rail services run from Stowmarket and Diss. London Liverpool Street can be reached from Stowmarket in 80 minutes.

Council Tax Band: G