Pentlow Tower, Pentlow, Sudbury

LOCATION: Pentlow is an attractive rural village situated on the Suffolk/Essex border and the river Stour. The village is characterised by a diverse range of architecture, the pinnacle of which is unquestionably Pentlow Tower House with the Revend Edward Bull's 19th Century tower folly. The market town of Sudbury with its commuter rail link to Liverpool Street is about 5 miles away, whilst Cambridge is about 35 minutes' drive to the west. A range of local amenities including shops, schools and restaurants can also be found in nearby villages of Clare and Long Melford, each with a range of schooling options. The Cathedral town of Bury St Edmunds lies approximately 17 miles to the north with a further substantial host of amenities and likewise the medieval market town of Saffron Walden lies 20 miles to the west, once the headquarters for Oliver Cromwell during the English Civil War in 1647. Various footpaths with open countryside views surround Pentlow and conveniently lead back towards both Clare, Cavendish and Long Melford, all quintessential English villages widely-regarded as some of the finest in East Anglia.  

THE HOUSE: The house itself is a stunning country home of considerable character and standing. Dating back to 1888, the house has remained in the current owner's family for the past 45 years and is now coming to the market for only the third time in its history. The house is the former Rectory for the village and exudes grandeur with elegant accommodation which suits a variety of needs with extensive living accommodation and numerous well-served bedrooms. Pentlow Tower is a magnificent example of Victorian architecture with an impressive façade and unique and intricate brickwork and is situated in an idyllic and peaceful countryside setting, centrally within its own plot offering the utmost privacy and seclusion. Fine original features include a moulded brick gable cornicing, stone framed stained-glass windows and a stone porch with panelled parapet and ball finials with fluted pilasters and a heavy oak front door. Extensive accommodation is arranged primarily over three levels with the further benefit of a cellar.

A magnificent stone porch leads into an impressive entrance hall with stone fire place, beautiful stained glass windows and a sweeping oak staircase and further onto a wonderful formal drawing room and dining room as well as an impressive orangery which opens onto the ha-ha and which enjoys a view over the fountain and towards woodland across the formal gardens. An AGA kitchen stands adjacent to a sitting/breakfast room and also benefits from a utility/pantry and further generous storage. A ground floor bedroom could equally be utilised as a space to work from home and has a cloakroom/shower room adjacent. A rear hall has a staircase leading down to a useful wine cellar with original slate bins. A rear door opens into a courtyard, from which a self-contained one bedroom apartment can be accessed.

Over the first and second floors are a total of 7 bedrooms, 3 of which enjoy en-suite bathrooms and two further bathrooms. Two apartments also benefit from a kitchen/kitchenette and there is further generous loft storage space accessible from the second floor.

The house makes for a spectacular all-encompassing family residence or allows for a more self-contained multi-generational living arrangement.  

THE TOWER: A remarkable achievement and now one of very few remaining follies in the entire county and standing proudly at around 95 feet tall. Originally constructed in 1859 as a monument to his wife and parents by the Reverend Edward Bull, the Tower has been painstakingly renovated and restored by the current owners. Made from a stunning gault red brick and with a crenelated turret. A beautiful chamfered brick doorway with ornate heavy door with traditional ironmongery opens onto an oak spiral staircase with centre post and some 114 steps to the top viewing platform. Providing a magnificent vantage point and the most outstanding panoramic view, it is reputed that 48 churches can be seen from the top of the tower on a clear day.  

THE GARDENS: The property is approached through a gated entrance and via a long driveway which opens into a substantial area of parking both in front, and to the rear of, the house itself. The driveway leads past a picturesque natural pond and an orchard full of cherry trees.

Various expanses of lawn surround the house with a lovely raised terrace and ha-ha accessible from the garden room with an ornamental fountain and a croquet lawn and area of wildflowers/meadow grass with mown pathways throughout. There is a further oval shaped rose garden with lavender border offering a variety of colour.

Of particular note is a well-maintained tennis court (hard court) with elegant decorative finials around its perimeter, adjacent to which sits an octagonal summer house beneath a slate roof with power and light connected and a decked terrace from which to watch the match!

The gardens continue to the rear of the plot where a detached outbuilding offers a number of potential uses. A high-quality studio with exposed timbers and a wood burning stove would function well as a home gymnasium, artists studio, music studio or a substantial study. A further reception room leads onto a kitchen/utility and a bathroom.

A swathe of mature woodland contains a number of impressive specimen trees and nicely shields the house from the lane providing a high degree of privacy. A mature kitchen garden contains a superb variety of fruit and vegetables and lies next to a substantial orchard and a brick well house with original windlass. 

ACCOMMODATION SCHEDULE GROUND FLOOR

Entrance hall

Drawing room

Sitting room/breakfast room

Dining room

Orangery

Aga kitchen

Utility/pantry

Store

Boiler room

Study/bedroom/library

Cloakroom/shower room

Cellar

FIRST FLOOR

Landing

Master bedroom

En-suite

bedroom 2

en-suite

Bedroom 3

Kitchenette

Bedroom 4

Shower room

Bedroom 5

En-suite

SECOND FLOOR

Landing

Sitting room

Kitchen/dining room

Bedroom 6

Bedroom 7

Bathroom

Loft space

REAR WING

Entrance hall

Sitting/breakfast room

Bedroom

Utility

Bathroom

STUDIO/POTENTIAL ANNEXE

Studio

Reception area

Kitchen

Bathroom

Mezzanine level

OUTBUILDINGS

Garage

Well house

Summer house

GARDENS

Rose garden

Natural pond

Extensive parking and driveway

Croquet lawn

Mature woodland

Tennis court

Kitchen garden

Orchard
 

In all about 8 acres (sts)  

SERVICES: Main water and private drainage. Main electricity connected. Combination of oil fired and electric heating by radiators. LPG to studio/annexe.. NOTE: None of these services have been tested by the agent. 

COUNCIL: Braintree District - Council tax band G

Agent's Notes: The property is Grade II listed.