Cratfield Road, Fressingfield, Eye, Suffolk, IP21

Period house in a tranquil setting.

Description

The Farmhouse
Occupying the most enchanting and secluded position, surrounded by gently undulating fields and down a half-mile private drive, Gissings Farm is an exceptional period country house, with numerous outbuildings; delightful grounds, providing a haven for wildlife; and a fabulous tree house.

Believed to have been built between the late 16th and early 17th century, with 19th century additions including the white brick façade, the building is Grade II listed for special architectural and historic interest, retaining many superb historical features.

The attractive timber framed house has mullion and casement windows, part white brick and part plastered elevations under a plaintile roof, with dormers; the handsome, partially glazed, 19th century front door opens into the reception hall.

The substantial accommodation is arranged over three floors and flows remarkably well, comprising elegantly proportioned and light filled rooms, with a wealth of period charm including exposed timbers and studwork.

At the heart of the house is the delightful farmhouse kitchen, with a brick floor and ancient timbers; one of the oldest AGAs in the country, dating from 1936, within an inglenook fireplace; hand built cabinetry; and a former bread oven, now used for additional storage. There is a generous pantry off the sitting room, which flows from the kitchen. Stable doors open out to the courtyard garden.

The double aspect and wonderfully proportioned drawing room has striking studwork, an inglenook fireplace with an inset wood burning stove and south-facing French windows out to the garden. There are various reception rooms on the ground floor including the sitting room; a large dining room, which also has an inglenook fireplace with a wood burning stove; family room and study - completing the ground floor is a bathroom and utility/boot room.

The bedroom accommodation is arranged over the first and second floors with the principal bedroom suite occupying the entirety of the second floor. This magnificent space boasts superb views over the gardens and surrounding fields, comprising bedroom, dressing area and sitting room. The adjoining bathroom features a bath and separate shower/steam cabinet.

There are a further four double bedrooms on the first floor - one of which enjoys a triple aspect and another a double aspect. The family bathroom offers a bath and separate shower.

Outbuildings & Parking
Gissings Farm has various capacious outbuildings arranged in a quadrangle around the principal farmhouse. Adjacent to the house is a red brick building, used by our clients as an office/music room and gym; the gym leads to a vestibule and bathroom. A glazed door off the vaulted, double aspect office/music room leads to a decked terrace, ideal for al fresco dining and entertaining. Subject to necessary consents, there is scope for this building to be used as an annexe or holiday let.

The adjoining barn is divided into four useful stores, including 33’3" x 30’3" room with double doors and a further 32’6" x 20’3" room, providing extensive storage. This building has water and electricity supply connected.

Completing the quadrangle is a triple garage and cart lodge, with two further garden and machinery stores. Within the cartlodge are EV charging points for electric cars.

Gissings Farm is approached via a half-mile private drive, which leads to extensive parking for numerous cars.

Grounds
Gissings Farm sits within over seven acres of magical and particularly tranquil grounds, a haven for wildlife with diverse native and rare flora and fauna, including bee and pyramid orchids, little and barn owls, and various species of song birds.

The courtyard garden, within the quadrangle of buildings, has lawns divided by shingle paths, with hollyhocks bordering the buildings. There is a decked terrace beyond the music room and further seating areas by the drawing room and to the front of the house.

Steps down from the decked terrace lead to the principal lawn, which is bordered by mature woodland and flows down to a wildflower area with mown paths leading into the woodland.

Gissings Farm has the most fabulous "tree house", within a glade of oak trees and built of English timber. The tree house comprises a partially glazed room, which provides spectacular field views; a balcony and hammock.

There is a large and particularly pretty pond to the front of the house, bordered with irises and wild garlic, with a fountain.

Location

Fressingfield is a delightful and historic village within an area known as High Suffolk, characterised by gently undulating fields and unspoilt rural green spaces. Fressingfield was included in the Domesday Book and retains many historic buildings including the medieval church, and popular 16th century Fox and Goose Restaurant. There is a further public house, The Swan Inn, and various clubs and facilities including tennis, croquet and bowls.

Halesworth is a market town, built upon the remains of a Roman settlement, with a selection of shops, including a Co-op supermarket, a weekly farmers market and a number of cafés, restuarants and public houses.

Renowned for its magnificent 12th century castle, Framlingham is a thriving market town which provides a great range of amenities including the Michelin and Good Food Guide recommended Watson and Walpole, a number of public houses, independent shops and a twice weekly market.

There are excellent schools locally in both the state and independent sectors - Fressingfield has a primary school; Thomas Mills and Debenham High School are both included in the Good Schools Guide, as are the independent Framlingham College and Woodbridge School.

Square Footage: 9,304 sq ft


Acreage: 7.2 Acres

Additional Info

Services:mains electricity and water; private drainage; oil-fired central heating.

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