Moor Hall & Meadowside, Stoke By Clare, Suffolk CO10 8HJ

A unique and distinctive property healing offer has arisen to bring together two land parcels first separated over a century ago. Arguably, this would create one of the finest residences in South West Suffolk. We are offering Moor Hall and its neighbouring property Meadowside to create a majestic country dwelling with almost 10 acres of landscaped gardens including further ground ideal for a family looking make their mark on this gem, with potential for equestrian use and /or redevelopment (stpp). 

Moor Hall is, quite simply, one of the most special homes and gardens in the region. This remarkable 16th Century Suffolk manor house is steeped in history and character, once, for a short time, in the 1780's, the home of the renowned landscape designer Humphry Repton. He married a daughter of the Fitch family who had been yeomen at Moor Hall since the mid-1600s, and it was Repton who, in his thirties, planted several of the specimen trees still standing today, including the distinctive Sequoia and Scots Pine.

Meadowside, adjacent, is a 1500 sqft 4 bedroom detached bungalow in need of replacement or renewal set on a plot of about 4.2 acres included within this purchase. Although this acreage is currently unkempt, it could, in our opinion and subject to the necessary permissions, make a superb attached equestrian area. 

Stoke by Clare appears in the Domesday book of 1086 and there is evidence to suggest a dwelling has stood on the site of Moor Hall since around 1200.  Reconstruction of the central timber frame dates back to approximately 1550. Remarkably, many of the beams were recycled ship timbers and thus are now over a thousand years old. By 1770, historic cartography shows Moor Hall farming nearly 4,000 acres of surrounding land, and today the house still retains wonderful period details such as the ancient flagstone floors in the main entrance.

Wealth generated from the wool trade funded the “Georgianising” of the house in the 1780s, when shuttered sash windows were installed and the walls, inside and out, were finished in smooth plaster, creating the elegant uncluttered appearance again seen today.

In the 1860s, the gardens were reduced to approximately five and a half acres when the Cambridge to Sudbury railway line was laid through the landscape. It is believed the compensation received was invested back into the house, resulting in the creation of the striking Victorian oculus stairwell, along with the chequer-tiled morning room, the snug and the cloakroom. Then, a century later, in 1960, the former rail embankment was re-acquired from British Rail following closure of the line and it now forms a natural and private boundary to the property which also extends through the rear boundary of Meadowside.

Significant structural works were carried out in 1961, shortly before the house was Grade II listed. These included partial underpinning of the northwest corner, the installation of a new raised timber sole-plate on brick and concrete foundations, and the replacement of the floors in the drawing room, dining room and morning room, which were believed to have deteriorated. Much of the internal plaster was removed at that time and has since been carefully reinstated, now incorporating insulation.

In 1991, about £600,000 was spent on an impressive Finnish glulam leisure spa as well as £100,000 on a Marston Langinger conservatory. A further £300,000 was invested in raising and attaching the adjacent barn to the buttery, creating the attractive ‘L’-shaped layout seen today.

Over the past four years, more than twenty local craftsmen have been employed to comprehensively restore the structural fabric, interiors and grounds of Moor Hall, ensuring it is fully prepared for the next chapter in its long and distinguished history. Works have included a state-of-the-art three-phase electrical installation and complete rewiring, high-capacity and efficient plumbing and heating infrastructure, the full refurbishment of every sash window with new weights, cords and draught-proofing, a new high-efficiency swimming pool plant room, sauna and steam room, partial re-roofing, new shower rooms, a rebuild of the rear timber frame and the replacement of the conservatory roof.

The result is a rare and exceptional country house that seamlessly blends centuries of history with modern comfort, craftsmanship and infrastructure, set within beautifully private grounds and offering a truly unique lifestyle opportunity, fit for purpose.

The Accommodation for Moor Hall comprises:

The main ‘L’-shaped house of 7,000 sq ft provides beautifully proportioned accommodation blending period character with high-quality modern living. The accommodation includes an elegant Drawing Room, Dining Room, Morning Room, Garden Room, Office/Snug, Buttery, Boot Room and Laundry, along with a superb Mark Wilkinson solid maple kitchen, Marston & Langinger conservatory, cloakrooms and an impressive hallway with original floors.

There are six generous double bedroom suites, all with well-appointed bathrooms (four with shower rooms), making it ideal for family living and entertaining. Further benefits include an integral workshop, large double integral garage, boiler plant and mains electric room containing entirely new installations and infrastructure throughout.

A standout feature is the exceptional leisure complex of approximately 2,600 sq ft, including a 12m x 6m x 3m indoor swimming/diving pool, steam room, larch sauna, upper gym, changing facilities and a high-efficiency plant room with dual heat pump and oil systems.

In addition, there is a fully insulated 400 sq ft craft studio/home office with wood burner and sliding glazed doors, along with a mower shed, and garden store.

Outside, the properties sit in a little under 10 acres of beautiful grounds including meadowland, an acre of spring-fed lakes, a Victorian bathing pond, broadleaf woodland, formal lawns, landscaped gardens and a walled parterre to the front. East and West entrance drives provide excellent access and parking, including space for seven cars with EV charging. A rear gate leads directly under the rail arch onto footpaths into the village, Stoke College prep school and surrounding North Essex countryside along the Stour in Constable country. Meadowside provides a further entrance along a shared private lane.

The house is fully equipped for modern living with fibre-to-the-premises 520mb internet (up to 1gb), mesh WiFi and Google Home monitoring. Despite its private setting, Moor Hall is exceptionally well placed for easy access to Stansted, Cambridge, Bury St Edmunds, Newmarket and London, with fast rail services available from nearby stations.

Where to go when you need:

Milk and essentials: Stoke Stores next to The Lion. Open until 1pm 7/7 community shop ten minute walk from back gate or 1 minute drive by Village Green. Or Co-op Clare 2 miles

Weekly Shop: Lidl, Aldi, Tesco Extra all in Haverhill 10 mins. Huge Sainsbury on Haverhill by- pass 13 mins. M&S & Waitrose(free parking) Bury St Edmunds 25 mins. M&S Braintree.

Dinner & Drinks: The Lion 10 mins walk from the back gate. Lunch most days and Pizza or specialty food some evenings. Real Ales and full selection. Free Wifi.  In Clare The Swan & The Globe and in Cavendish The Five Bells. Special occasions may be the wide selection of restaurants in Cambridge City 30 mins to park and ride e.g. Millworks. Into Essex, Finchingfield has three good restaurants and pubs

Seaside:  Frinton in Essex has a lovely beach and a calm genteel atmosphere 65 minutes drive. Aldeburgh is 90 minutes for Suffolk chic.

Walks: Superb range of glorious local walks by simply going out of the back gate and into the Stour estuary villages of Constable country. The walk into Clare Country Park and castle ruins going east or up to the Ridgewell glider airfield heading south or westward following the river to Sturmer.  All stunning scenery with wildlife and undiscovered!

Golf:  Golfers are particularly well catered for with Clare Park Lake Golf Course just minutes away. Set in attractive parkland around a series of lakes, this 18-hole course is ideal for regular rounds, social golf and enjoying the surrounding countryside in a peaceful setting.  Alternatively Haverhill Golf Club is full of challenges.

School. Stoke College founded in 1415 offers residents of Stoke by Clare a 25% discount on fees for ages 11 - 18. Ten minute safe walk from back gate. 1 minute by car.  Clare Community Primary for younger children is a 5  min drive as is Stour Valley Community has a high reputation for a secondary school. Making Moor Hall a very practical choice for families.

Agents Note: This sale includes Moor Hall and Meadowside being sold as one lot but on three separate titles. Moor Hall Title Number SK203399 - Meadowside Title Number SK337782 & SK337769