Shropham Road, Great Hockham, Norfolk

Resting in the quiet Norfolk village of Great Hockham, this Grade-II listed converted barn has been masterfully transformed into a contemporary five-bedroom house. It lies a little to the east of beautiful Thetford Forest, although its own south-east-facing garden of around a quarter of an acre is even closer to home. With an impressive footprint of over 2,400 sq ft, the house is arranged around a spectacularly pitched open-plan living space framed by the barn's original timber structure.

The Tour

From the approach, the house's blackened brushed tar and timber profile makes an unabashedly contemporary statement. On one side, a gravelled driveway provides parking for several cars. A decked pathway stretches up to glazed double doors that provide entry to the house, where the highest elevation of the roofline draws the eye upwards.

Warmed by a wide fireplace, the open-plan living room is gently delineated with areas demarcated for socialising, relaxing and dining. A remarkable sculptural staircase, crafted from steel and oak spirals towards a bridged walkway at the upper level.

Adjacent to the main living space is the kitchen and dining room, set beneath an array of gnarled trusses. Generous in size and with an abundance of shaker-style cabinetry, there is plenty of space to cook, eat, sit and entertain. The substantial granite-topped island looks towards an enticing south-east-facing terrace and the colourful garden beyond.

Three lofty double bedrooms rest on the ground floor. Two have a south-easterly outlook across the landscaped garden and are bathed in light care of overhead glazing. The third is tucked in a quiet corner of the plan, making it a quiet retreat for sleep or study. A family bathroom, beautifully considered with a free-standing bath and a walk-in shower, has tongue-and-groove panelling providing textured contrast. A handy utility room sits centrally.

The spiral staircase ascends to a bridge on the first floor that connects to two larger en suite bedrooms. Glass balustrades maintain a fluid connection with the living spaces below and leave lines of sight uninterrupted. With similar plans, each bedroom has an en suite bathroom, walk-in wardrobe, pitched ceilings, dual-aspect windows and roof lights that work together to create a restful ambiance.

Outside Space

The garden is peppered with sunny spots and shady patches, perfect for daytime playing or sundowner drinking beneath the big Norfolk skies. Encased by evergreen and deciduous trees plus tall mixed hedging, the garden has a large decked terrace extending from the kitchen and dining space. A screen of birch and bamboo intermingles with two kinds of fragrant honeysuckle and clematis.

There is plenty of space for the green-fingered to thrive. The current owners, who are keen gardeners, have landscaped and carefully tended the grounds, creating raised vegetable beds and a bank of beech hedging. There are a variety of fruit and deciduous trees too including eating and culinary apples, pears and plums together with white stemmed birch, flowering cherry and an unusual hawthorn which has vibrant autumn foliage and large, crimson red haws. Towers of multicoloured sweet peas and bushes of flowering buddleia ensure the garden is filled with fragrance, bees and butterflies. The sweeping Norfolk countryside stretches beyond, expanding the ever-changing seasonal views.

The gated gravel driveway at the side of the house leads to a double garage that provides useful storage for tools and gardening equipment.

The Area

The buoyant and picturesque village of Great Hockham has a lively community spirit with lots of local activities, including cinema and theatre nights as well as a well-supported annual fair. There is a primary school, church, village hall and generous playing fields, together with a much loved pub, The Eagle.

Glorious Thetford Forest lies on the house's doorstep. Within walking distance, it has numerous trails and cycle routes and is even home to an outpost of Go Ape. The Pingos, Cranberry Rough, Thompson Water and Lynford Arboretum are alternative options for an outdoorsy day out nearby. Slightly further afield are The Suffolk Wildlife Reserves at Knettishall Heath, Redgrave and Lopham Fen and Carleton Marshes.

The market town of Attleborough, around eight miles east, has a handy range of amenities, including four schools, a town hall, shops, cafés, bars and restaurants. Diss, 16 miles east, also provides for everyday needs, as well as restaurants and cafés, such as Amandines. The cathedral city of Norwich is also close by, with many cultural offerings, such as The Theatre Royal and Cinema City, as well as The Sainsbury Centre Art Gallery and Museum. 

Idyllically rural, the location is populated with farm shops and sweet cafés, including the much-loved Elveden Courtyard, just 20 minutes away from the house by car. Stocked with excellent local produce, it also has a terrific butchers, as well as a restaurant dishing up tasty local fare.

Schooling options in the area span both the state and independent sector. The Great Hockham Nursery and Primary School is around around a five minute walk from the house, while stellar secondary options include Wymondham College, rated "Outstanding" by Ofsted. The University of East Anglia in Norwich is also easily reached.

Despite its bucolic location, the area has great transport links. Via the A11, Norwich can be reached in around 30 minutes and Cambridge in around an hour. Rail services run to London with a change at Cambridge from Thetford, which lies 20 minutes away from the house, or directly from Diss, a journey of around 30 minutes by car.

Council Tax Band: F