Bale Road, Gunthorpe, Melton Constable, Norfolk, NR24

An exceptional North Norfolk lifestyle home, convenient for the coast and Holt.

Description

The Property
White House Farm is a wonderful lifestyle opportunity. Within a few minutes of the Georgian town of Holt, and the famous coastline at Blakeney, it is brilliantly placed for an ease of enjoying this desired part of Norfolk. Yet, for all that is around you to entice you out, life at home is pretty special. Whether it be hunkering down in the winter by the fire in the cosy sitting room, or throwing open the house to friends and family to come and stay in the self-contained barn and use the indoor swimming pool, there is plenty to enjoy.

Farmhouse
At the heart of it all is the incredibly pretty farmhouse, with the west facing façade welcoming you as soon as you arrive. Grade II listed, and dating back to the 17th century, the farmhouse has the beguiling mix of brick and flint synonymous with the area, and lime render to the main elevation. The house has evolved from a traditional farmstead, to become a comfortable family home retaining charm and period detail throughout.

A wide entrance hall is a great introduction to the house, with pamment floors and a glimpse through to the gardens behind the house. Off this is the sitting room, a formal but inviting room with triple aspect to the east, south and west, and open fire place with attractive stone surround. The farmhouse kitchen has an open feel to it, with obligatory Aga, shaker style cabinetry and the convenience of an adjoining utility room and cellar/larder, it is a functional and active space for everyday living. The same can be said for the next door family room, a joyful room with plenty of glazing and French doors on either side making for a light filled area. This expansive room, with vaulted ceilings, combines a dining area and living area thus perfect for entertaining, hosting the family, or simply to enjoy peacefully.

The bedrooms and bathrooms are cleverly arranged over two floors. The first floor comprises three double bedrooms and the family bathroom. The principal bedroom on this floor, with dual aspect, has a staircase up to a second floor bathroom which is primarily the en suite whilst also having a connecting door to the fourth bedroom, also on the second floor. All bedrooms enjoy great character, with fireplaces and cupboards, with the particularly spacious fourth bedroom, with part vaulted ceiling, enjoying good wardrobe space.

All rooms of the house enjoy lovely views of the gardens, and beyond through to woodland or over water meadows.

The Barn and Indoor Swimming Pool
These are significant assets to White House Farm. The barn is a superb space, and provides another dimension to how the property can be enjoyed. Whether to house elderly members of the family, or for staying guests to have their own domain to relax in, or perhaps as a highly appealing Airbnb, there is tremendous scope. Given the scale, there is in fact plenty of room for a combination of uses that could include art studio, cinema area, pilates studio or games room, whilst also providing the accommodation. The ground floor is impressive, with a 14m length or open plan living, off an entrance hall with glazed roof. The kitchen is off this, and a second entrance hall leads out the barns independent parking area which allows for use without compromising the privacy of the main house and grounds.

The double height vaulted ceiling exaggerates the space, with a central oak staircase leading to two substantial bedrooms at either end of the barn.

The barn links directly to the indoor swimming pool, via a hall with helpful store rooms on either side. The pool room is spectacular, and all the more surprising given the traditional brick and flint exterior giving little away to its existence, very subtle. The vaulted ceilings and room measurements of almost 15m x 7m is impressive, with four sets of French doors spilling out to a south facing paved terrace, ideal for long summer afternoons between the pool and the outside. The pool building includes changing rooms, shower room, former sauna and plant room, and has obvious potential as a fully functioning wellness area.

Gardens and Grounds
Carefully landscaped to compliment the setting, linking the buildings and providing many points of interest, the gardens of White House Farm have been wonderfully crafted. As soon as you drive into the courtyard through the wooden-panelled gates, set within a pretty brick and flint wall, you get a sense of the blend of both the subtle formality from clipped yew hedging, and the comfort of deep herbaceous beds. This continues across the one acre of grounds.

Rooms formed between high beech hedging, sweeping lawns, knot garden, attractive brick weave and yorkstone terracing to enjoy sun throughout the day, and herbaceous beds of roses and lavender are a few of the highlights of this joyful garden. Fine trees including willow, apple and cherry are dotted throughout, with a tributary of the river glaven meandering along the eastern boundary. Newly weaved willow fencing is an impressive boundary to the south, round to the south facing terrace beside the indoor pool.

The main courtyard has plenty of gravelled space for many cars, and boats, and adjoins the four bay garage, three of which are enclosed and one open, with considerable loft space above. An office space is within the same wing of the buildings, an excellent work from home space in what would have originally been a farm office. A further store room houses garden tools and machinery.

Location

White House Farm enjoys an edge of village position, in an unspoilt pocket of North Norfolk with a surprising element of undulation. The village is nestled amongst rolling hills of farmland, with some wonderful walks directly from the house over water meadows, farm tracks and ancient National Trust woodland at Bulfer Grove. The house is under a mile from a BP service station, which doubles as the village shop and post office of the local cluster of sought after villages including Bale, Sharrington, Field Dalling and Hindringham. Further everyday shopping a short drive away at Melton Constable, including the renowned ‘Rutland Butchers’.

The bustling Georgian town of Holt is only 4 miles to the east, famous for its boutique shopping including Bakers & Larners department store, Byfords delicatessen, independent retailers, art galleries, interior shops, antiques and jewellers. The town is fast becoming known for its restaurants too, with Michelin starred ‘Meadowsweet’, and some continental offerings such as the Tapas bar ‘Casa Blancas’ alongside cafes including ‘Two Magpies’, artisan coffee shops such as ‘Cross Street Union’, and popular ‘Erics’ fish and chips. The renowned Gresham’s Preparatory and senior schools are on the edge of the town, with further preparatory education at Beeston Hall School near Sheringham.

The beguiling North Norfolk Coast is approximately 7 miles to the north at Blakeney, with the village and coastline an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and deservedly popular with ornithologists and sailing enthusiasts. There are a plethora of restaurants and pubs in the area, seal trips at both Morston and Blakeney and a network of coastal walks through the marshes and beaches.

Square Footage: 2,391 sq ft


Acreage: 1.5 Acres

Directions

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Additional Info

Services
Mains electricity and water and private drainage.

Local Authority
North Norfolk District Council
Council Tax Band G

Fixtures & Fittings
All fixtures and fittings including fitted carpets and curtains are specifically excluded from the sale, but may be available in addition, subject to separate negotiation.

Viewings
Strictly by appointment with Savills. If there is any point which is of particular importance to you, we invite you to discuss this with us, especially before you travel to view the property.