Homes with original period features are the very bread and butter of Country Life. That and homes that are just a bit weird. But mostly homes with period features.
You know the ones. Exposed beams, pleasing windows, fireplaces, ornate plasterwork. If you’ve spent any time on this website, or indeed reading the magazine, you’ll be well acquainted with such properties. You probably want to live in one (or already do).
So it seems a little silly to describe this home in Horsham St Faith, Norfolk, as having period features. I mean it does: there are exposed beams, and fireplaces, and bricks, and windows with mullions and transoms. But this property goes a bit further, by also being a former Benedictine monastery that dates from the 12th century. It is for sale with Abbotts for £1.25 million.
For starters, the property is a large one. Probably not big enough these days to house a bunch of monks, but it does have seven bedrooms. It also comes with six acres of ‘serene’ land surrounding it.
The heart of the home on the ground floor, where you will find a dining room, sitting room, large kitchen, study and, of course, a snooker room. There’s also a small conservatory to the rear of the home and an attached coach house and barn.
Those are all very interesting rooms, but not as interesting as the in-house chapel, which features an underground cellar. If that was not enough, there remains a 13th-century monastic painting on the walls. Period features indeed.
Outside, the gardens feature a pond, the aforementioned barn and coach house, and plenty of lawn. There’s also a patio to the rear of the property to enjoy some al fresco dining.
The property is located on Church Street, because of course it is, in the heart of Horsham St Faith. Local amenities include, but are not limited to, a pub, garage, post office, store and doctors surgery. Norwich itself is very close to the south.
-
380 acres and 90 bedrooms on the £25m private island being sold by one of Britain's top music producersStormzy, Rihanna and the Rolling Stones are just a part of the story at Osea Island, a dot on the map in the seas off Essex.
-
'A delicious chance to step back in time and bask in the best of Britain': An insider's guide to The SeasonHere's how to navigate this summer's top events in style, from those who know best.
-
380 acres and 90 bedrooms on the £25m private island being sold by one of Britain's top music producers
Stormzy, Rihanna and the Rolling Stones are just a part of the story at Osea Island, a dot on the map in the seas off Essex.
-
A home cinema, tasteful interiors and 65 acres of private parkland hidden in an unassuming lodge in KentNorth Lodge near Tonbridge may seem relatively simple, but there is a lot more than what meets the eye.
-
A rare opportunity to own a family home on Vanbrugh Terrace, one of London's finest streetsThis six-bedroom Victorian home sits right on the start line of the London Marathon, with easy access to Blackheath and Greenwich Park.
-
A tale of everyday life as lived on Britain's most expensive streetWinnington Road in Hampstead has an average house price of £11.9 million. But what's it really like? Lotte Brundle went to find out.
-
Damon Hill's former home in Marbella is the perfect place to slow downThe glorious Andalusian-style villa is found within the Lomas de Marbella Club and just a short walk from the beach.
-
A 327-acre estate in the heart of 'England’s Côte d’Or', with a 26,000sq ft Georgian style home at its heartStokes Hall in the Crouch Valley is an inspiring property looking for a new owner.
-
Schreiber House, 'the most significant London townhouse of the second half of the 20th century', is up for saleThe five-bedroom Modernist masterpiece sits on the edge of Hampstead Heath.
-
Is the 'race for space' officially over?During the lockdowns, many thought the countryside was the place to be. It seems many are now changing their minds.
