Drinkstone, Bury St. Edmunds

BEAUTIFUL PARED BACK INTERIORS DISPLAY MANY PERIOD FEATURES IN THIS STYLISH REFURBISHED 17TH CENTURY COTTAGE, NESTLED IN A DESIRABLE VILLAGE.

Tanwood, the larger of three adjoining cottages, occupies an enviable central position in one of West Suffolk’s most favoured villages. English quintessence in its absolute form with its picture-perfect colour washed elevations and windows finished in a French Grey hue. The three bedroom timber-framed home purportedly dates back to the reign of King Charles I and retains splendid period features and of particular note the Tudor brickwork and exposed studwork.

The practical ground level living space benefits from attractive pamment and brick floors with underfloor heating. Completely re-wired cleverly considered light fittings set the scene throughout and radiate a happy medium of ambient and accent lighting. A sense of cosiness hugs you as you enter the property brought about by the three exposed red brick hearths. The inviting large dual aspect sitting room enjoys the warmth of a newly installed wood burning stove. The sleek kitchen is the hub of the home with its chic black painted handcrafted cabinetry, a blend of granite contrasts with reclaimed locally felled solid Elm wood worktops. A focal point of this space is the black and stainless steel range cooker fitted in the recess of the former fireplace with extraction up the chimney. There is also a useful large separate utility room. The dining room has been fitted with repurposed designer steel shelving system. A mix of latch and stable-style doors lend beauty and function in equal measure.

The upstairs leads to three lovely bedrooms, uniquely each have built-in closets and all area served by a sumptuous bathroom suite fitted with a rain shower. There is a separate cloakroom. Both light sensor enabled. One of the bedrooms has lofty appeal accentuated by its vaulted aspect and a pair of dormer windows look out towards open-countryside views.

LOCATION & THE GREAT OUTDOORS

Conveniently located betwixt Bury St. Edmunds and Stowmarket (8 miles), the latter with its mainline rail connectivity, and south of the A14 to provide excellent access to the University City of Cambridge, heritage coastline and Central London via the A11/M11. Tanwood is quietly situated in the semi-rural village of Drinkstone while nearby Rattlesden offers a celebrated gastropub ‘The Brewers’ and many village amenities. The property is pleasantly set back from the road, in the vicinity of a babbling brook and enveloped by mature front and rear gardens. There is off-road parking for two vehicles and at the foot of the garden far-reaching panoramic countryside views. An additional asset is the calm inducing sanctuary of a garden studio.

PROVENANCE

Tanwood is the centre dwelling in a row of four timber framed cottages built during the reign of King Charles I in the mid 1600s. The chimney is constructed of fine Tudor bricks laid on a mortar bed of clay and the walls are wattle and daub. Originally two homes for a sucession of labouring families, it is now the largest cottage in the terrace. Fo most of the 19th century, the cottages were owned by three generations of the Bull family. In 1838, William Benett and Joseph Mansfield, both farm labourers, paid £3 per annum as tenants. In living memory the cottages shared a white gate and simple cottage gardens of vegetables and an apple tree planted each side of an ash path to their front doors which stood side by side. Two members of the local community were born in the cottage, Doug Bland - b.1920 and David Donaghy b.1942.

Drinkstone has a population of 589 (2021 census), situated in a 2243 acre pastoral parish and is mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086. All Saints’ Church dates from the 14th century with a tower added circa 1760. The village is home to two redundant windmills and 35 listed buildings, the majority being timber-framed houses, farmhouses and barns.