Rectory Road, Great Bromley, Colchester, CO7

Copley Dene offers total privacy and timeless charm, a short distance from Colchester and the coast. With top schools, fast London links and endless countryside adventures, it’s the perfect blend of rural ease and everyday convenience.

ABOUT THIS HOUSE
Copley Dene is a striking Grade II* listed country house, set at the end of a long lime tree avenue and surrounded by five acres of mature gardens and grounds. Built in the Queen Anne period, its red brick elevations, tall sash windows and balanced proportions embody the quiet grandeur of classic English architecture.
At the heart of the house is a handmade Devol kitchen, beautifully crafted, understated and effortlessly cool. With a walk-in larder and pantry, it’s as practical as it is stylish. A newly built terrace leads directly from the kitchen, creating a natural flow into the garden and making the most of the west-facing aspect, ideal for entertaining and family life.
Inside, period features have been carefully preserved and restored, panelled walls, deep skirting boards, original floorboards, decorative architraves and open fireplaces. The front reception rooms overlook the tree-lined drive, while the drawing room at the back opens onto the garden through floor-to-ceiling windows and is perfectly placed for sunset light.
Upstairs, six bedrooms and three bathrooms sit off a central galleried landing, with extensive attic rooms above. The principal suite is exceptional, a vast, light-filled space with high ceilings, restored floorboards and a sleek, perfectly finished en suite. Throughout, a thoughtful colour palette brings depth, warmth and a real sense of style.
Some works remain unfinished – an opportunity to put your own stamp on a house full of character, elegance and potential. Outside, Beth Chatto’s early influence lives on in gardens full of colour, sent and structure.

ABOUT THIS AREA
Copley Dene sits quietly at the end of a long, tree-lined drive, surrounded by its own private grounds. Though wonderfully tucked away, it’s brilliantly connected, just 5 miles to Manningtree and 6 to Colchester, both with direct trains into London Liverpool Street (from 48 minutes). The A120 is only two miles away, linking seamlessly to the A12 and M25.
Colchester, offers excellent shopping, a thriving restaurant scene, theatre and a cinema, ideal for family outings. For little explorers and big imaginations, the local area brims with activity: beach days at Frinton-on-Sea, crabbing and oysters at West Mersea, horse riding, woodland walks and sailing on the Stour and Orwell.
Garden lovers will adore Beth Chatto’s world-famous gardens at Elmstead Market—celebrated for their ecological design and intimate pop-up evenings with award-winning chefs.
Education here is a major draw. Colchester Royal Grammar School (for boys, with girls in sixth form) and Colchester County High School for Girls rank among the best in the UK. Ipswich High and Orwell Park offer outstanding private options.