Station Road, Framlingham, Suffolk

Charming and double-fronted, this 19th-century house sits within the Framlingham Conservation Area. Abutted by a verdant garden of substantial proportions, the home is connected to an adjacent shop space with class E commercial status, currently used as an antiques showroom. There are several ancillary buildings at the rear, including a barn with a workshop below and living space above, as well as a potting shed. Colourful accents woven through the interior are brought to life by the light that enters through exceptionally large sash windows. The house has off-street parking for two cars and is close to Woodbridge and Wickham Market stations, for hourly railway connections to London Liverpool Street.

Setting the Scene

Framlingham is an outstanding example of an English market town, with many of its pretty period houses exceptionally well-preserved. Mentioned in the Domesday Book, the town came to prominence during the reign of Mary Tudor, who was declared Queen Regent in Framlingham’s 12th-century Norman castle. She fled to the town to evade capture after the death of her brother, King Edward VI, in 1553.

The town’s growth accelerated with the arrival of the railway in the mid-19th century. In line with this flurry of Victorian development, the house was built in the handsome local vernacular of the time, with a villa-style, red-brick façade and gault brick detailing. A pantile roof with two chimney stacks crowns the house’s neat, symmetric profile. Adjoining the house is a single-storey shop, which is a long-established antiques showroom, complete with a candy-striped awning.

The Grand Tour

Blue-and-white-painted floorboards in the front hallway make for a cheery entrance, setting the tone for the playful interiors beyond. The ground floor has four large rooms, with a music room at the front. Original arches make ideal inlets for bookshelves, with attractive, built-in shelving areas throughout. A combination of brickwork and tile line inglenook fireplaces. In one reception room, there is space for two armchairs on either side of a wood-burning stove.

The two southerly reception rooms open out onto what is used by the current owners as an antiques workshop. The room to the front of the plan is a charming sitting room; to the rear is a room used as a library/office. The large showroom is lined on both sides with original Crittall shop-style windows, filling the room with sunlight. The pitched roof is adorned with slender timber panels, and exposed beams and rafters create a barn-like feel. The ‘shop’ has its own doorway and could house any number of uses in its 590 sq ft.

The kitchen and dining area is arranged in an L-shape at the rear of the home, with a wide sightline through to one of the lounges. This openness allows for a relaxed flow and ensures that the chef never feels left out. Terracotta tiles run underfoot, pairing beautifully with cream-coloured shaker-style cabinetry with integrated appliances. The stove area is particularly striking, with antique French tiles lining the space around it. A handy pantry and utility/laundry room lie alongside.

In front of the kitchen are two garden doors opposite each other, allowing for easy passage in and out, or for the sound of the kettle boiling to be heard while pottering outside. A Belfast sink stands beside one of the doors, ideal for washing off muddy hands after an afternoon of gardening.

Upstairs, a large sash stretches to almost full height, an atmospheric reading spot in rainy weather. The four bedrooms have been beautifully maintained by the current owners and are appointed in a palette complementary to the floorboards, skirting and walls. The primary bedroom has an en suite bathroom with a shower. A family bathroom sits at the end of the hall and has a free-standing bathtub and two adjacent sinks.

The outbuilding is a red-brick building with two stories and a pale blue-painted stable door. The building is ideal for overflow accommodation, a home studio or simply as a place to unwind and relax.

The Great Outdoors

A striking weeping ash tree is arguably the most prominent of the many jewels in the spacious garden’s crown, with a canopy that casts dappled shade along the terrace. Climbing white roses ramble across the shop/workshop’s pale blue, timber-clad rear edge.

Bounded at the far end by a tinkling chalk brook, the garden has been thoughtfully landscaped; some areas have been laid to lawn, wonderful for sun-lounging, ball games and dining in the summer months. A section has been given over to a wildflower meadow, with apple, pear cherry and fig trees bearing fruit with the harvest. Bamboo has been used to fence off an allotment area with raised beds. To the rear of the shop, a rose bush climbs the wall; there is also a generous here terraced area to place an al fresco dining table.

Out and About

Framlingham has just about everything expected of a pretty countryside town, including a supermarket, post office and some excellent independent shops and cafés. As far as restaurants go, The Station at Framlingham is a local favourite, as is the Michelin-recommended Italian restaurant Watson and Walpole. The local produce market takes place every Tuesday and Saturday.

The house is also close to Suffolk’s county town of Ipswich, with its theatre, galleries and museums. It has plenty of shops and terrific restaurants, and Butterworth and Son and Applaud Coffee are great spots for coffee.

Snape Maltings is a 20-minute drive away; a mix of malthouses and granaries dating from the mid-19th century, several exhibitions occur here throughout the year. It also hosts Aldeburgh Festival, a 24-day event celebrating music & the arts, opera, comedy and film.

Aldeburgh and its famous beach are just over 20 minutes from the house, where you can find The Lighthouse Restaurant and a lovely independent bookshop. The beach is backed by a promenade with pretty pastel-coloured villas and is just a short walk from the high street. Predominantly shingle, the beach is filled with old fishing boats and many a pitstop for a pint of prawns or an ice cream.

Several highly-rated state and private schools in the area also cater to all ages. Woodbridge and Framlingham College are nearby, plus Ofsted “Outstanding”-rated state schools, Thomas Mills and Farlingaye.

Mainline rail services run to London Liverpool Street from Ipswich in about 70 minutes, with a branch line connecting services from Woodbridge.

Council Tax Band: D