Swan House, Mistley, Essex

Built in the 18th century, this proud Grade II-listed four-bedroom house rests in the peaceful estuary village of Mistley, Essex, part of the Suffolk and Essex Coast and Heaths Natural Landscape. It retains many of its period features, including windows that, from the upper floors, capture elevated views across the River Stour. Beautifully realised rooms extend over four storeys, with accommodation added to by a self-contained annexe. Despite its sense of remove, the area is well connected; Mistley rail station and Manningtree stations are both close and have regular services to London Liverpool Street in a little under an hour.



Setting the Scene



Mistley is renowned for being part of a planned 18th-century saltwater spa development by Richard Rigby. A prominent politician at the time, Rigby enlisted neoclassical architect Robert Adam for some of the designs, including the Mistley Towers and the renowned Swan Basin. Sitting just opposite the house’s front door, this fountain was designed in 1779, and its original drawing now resides within Sir John Soane’s collection.



Standing at the corner of a pretty terrace of Georgian cottages, with its frontage facing uniquely eastwards and at 90 degrees to the High Street, Swan House feels slightly apart and pleasantly private. Set back from the street behind a lovingly tended garden, the house is fronted by a cream-hued façade finished with neat ashlar rendering and a red-tiled roof. A central four-panel, two-light door sits within a moulded surround replete with a decorative frieze and leaded flat canopy. Leafy climbers trace their way around it, providing colour and scent throughout the seasons.



The Grand Tour



On entry, two generous reception rooms are found on either side of the welcoming entrance hall. Each space is bathed in an ethereal light courtesy of bay and sash windows, complete with full-height timber shutters. Dark-stained floorboards run underfoot.



The room to the left, currently used as a sitting room, has dado-height panelling, an original timber beam overhead and a picture rail. The cast-iron fireplace with intricate detailing is perfect for hunkering down on cooler evenings.



Across the hall lies the second exquisite reception room, finished with full-height timber panelling washed in a gentle cream tone. Built-in corner shelving is perfect for displaying favourite ornaments, and a door leads to an enclosed porch. From there, steps descend to the rear courtyard garden.



The kitchen and dining room occupy the lower ground floor. Here, warm red quarry tiles complement pine cabinetry and work surfaces, and tongue-and-groove panelling lines the walls and ceiling. There is room for appliances, and a generous separate pantry provides storage space. A glass-panelled door opens onto the garden, facilitating an easy flow and outdoor dining in the summer months. A guest WC is also found on this floor.



Two peaceful bedrooms sit on the first floor, both illuminated by a series of shuttered sash windows. In the principal bedroom, an original fireplace is adorned with ornate Delft tiles.



A generous bathroom also has half-height timber-panelled detailing, a claw-foot bathtub and a separate shower. An imposing sash window looks out toward the river, and there is an original fireplace and a marble-topped washbasin surround.



Two additional bedrooms are found on the second floor, tucked in the eaves of the house. Both have vaulted ceilings and dormer windows, one with far-reaching views across the river.



At the bottom of the garden, an annexe with its own shower room can be used as guest accommodation or a home office.



The Great Outdoors



A pretty walled garden sits at the rear of the house. Recently landscaped, a large gravelled area is perfect for outdoor dining. On the house’s exterior wall, vines wave within a trellis. At the front of the house, a wrought-iron fence embraces broad-leafed trees and shrubbery.



Out and About



Mistley is a thriving village contiguous with the small town of Manningtree, in the Suffolk and Essex Coast and Heaths Natural Landscape. Set along the High Street, the house is close to an excellent section of shops, restaurants and cafés.



Just across the street and a local favourite, The Mistley Thorn is a hotel and restaurant – and former residence of the witch-finder Matthew Hopkins – serving a seasonal menu with a focus on seafood. The beloved Mistley Kitchen is also near and sells a curated collection of objects for the home, fresh sourdough, and a selection of baked goods and fresh produce by local suppliers. Lucca Enoteca is the go-to for wood-fired Neapolitan pizza and an excellent Italian list of wines. North House Gallery is a short walk from the house and hosts monthly shows of contemporary art, both from international and East Anglian artists.



The region offers plenty of opportunities for outdoor activities. The Dedham Vale National Landscape, celebrated by landscape painter John Constable and is renowned for its diverse fauna and flora, is traversed by scenic walking and cycling routes. The Stour estuary and surrounding area are great for birdwatching, sailing, and canoeing.



Garden enthusiasts will find endless inspiration at the fantastic Beth Chatto’s gardens at Elmstead Market and The Place for Plants nursery in Bergholt Place, both within easy reach by car. Benton End, the home of the plantsman and 20th-century artist Cedric Morris, is another local institution, soon to be reopened as a centre for artistic and horticultural study.



Balancing its Roman history with vibrant newer openings, the buoyant centre of Colchester is 30 minutes away by car. Firstsite, a spectacular Rafael Vinoly-designed building, showcases artworks from both local and internationally recognised artists; it also has an in-house cinema, café and a shop, and runs a programme of free talks. The city is also home to a Curzon cinema and the Mercury Theatre.



In more recent times, the city has welcomed several lovely restaurants: Church Street Tavern is great for an evening meal or a Sunday roast, while Kintsu offers seasonal tasting menus. Koryu is a much-loved Japanese fine dining restaurant, and authentic Italian spot Favoloso is an excellent family-friendly option.



The surrounding area offers excellent state-run and private schools. The well-regarded Highfields Primary School is nearby. A little further afield in Colchester are excellent opportunities for older pupils, including The Gilberd School, The Sixth Form College, Colchester Preparatory and High School and Colchester County High School for Girls.



Manningtree station is a five-minute drive from the house, offering railway connections to London Liverpool Street in just under an hour and Colchester in 20 minutes. Stansted Airport can be reached in around an hour by car.



Council Tax Band: E