Peeping from under its eyebrow dormers, this pretty thatched cottage sits on the outskirts of the village of Great Henny, on the county boundary with Suffolk in the rolling Stour Valley.
Old Fenners — currently on the market via Winkworth at a guide price of £950,000 — has an acre of south-facing mature gardens that are lovingly cared for and in bloom throughout the year — currently scattered with phlox, Michaelmas daisies and delicious greengages; quince will be ready for jellying in about a month and there are cherries in the summer.
Elsewhere, rambling roses, wisteria, clematis and honeysuckle combine to fill the air with their sweet, floral notes. The garden benefits from mature hedging to create a private, sunny oasis.
Grade II-listed and dating from the 15th century, this former hall house was once two cottages and now contains five bedrooms and lots of character, with attractive fireplaces and walls and ceilings so criss-crossed with beams you could almost call them striped.
All the bedrooms are surprisingly bright, and flooded with natural daylight, no least the principal suite, which has double aspect windows, with far-reaching rear views out over the surrounding rolling countryside, and the garden to the front.
Old Fenners is currently on the market via Winkworth at a guide price of £950,000 — see more pictures, or enquire with the agent for further details.
Great Henny: What you need to know
Location: Near Sudbury, in the Baintree district of Essex on the west of the Stour valley. The market town of Sudbury is approximately 4 miles away, which has a rail station offering Great Eastern mainline services to London Liverpool Street.
Atmosphere: 'Charming and tranquil,' the hamlet has a picturesque riverside pub and restaurant with further amenities found in Sudbury and Bures.
Things to do: Enjoy the fabulous country walks on offer in the surrounding countryside — the inspiration behind many of Constable's and Gainsborough's paintings. Paddle boarding and rowing is also available on the River Stour.
Schools: Pot Kiln Primary School and Thomas Gainsborough School are both rated 'good' by Ofsted.
See more property for sale in the area.
Credit: Strutt and Parker
Best country houses for sale this week
An irresistible West Country cottage and a magnificent Cumbrian country house make our pick of the finest country houses for
-
If the future of Ferrari is electric vehicles, then it is our future tooIt's widely believed that Ferrari will unveil its first electric car this year. It's the signal that the internal combustion era is coming to an end.
-
Gaze over Cap Ferrat in this four-bedroom French villaIgnore the wind and the rain. Imagine yourself in this hillside home with some of the best views the Mediterranean can offer.
-
Gaze over Cap Ferrat in this four-bedroom French villa
Ignore the wind and the rain. Imagine yourself in this hillside home with some of the best views the Mediterranean can offer.
-
Classical style meets fun and flair in a seven-bedroom manor in CornwallAt Polstrong Manor, the current owners have combined period charm and elegant modern interiors to create a flamboyant country home 10-minutes from the beach.
-
Two halves make a sublime four-bedroom home in Kent's North DownsA contemporary extension to a traditional clapboard house brings light and life to Lavington House.
-
The week in property statistics: Service charges reach record highPlus, how first-time buyers prop up the mortgage market, why you need to move north if you want to live by yourself, and house-price growth slows
-
A seven-bedroom oast house for sale in East Sussex, where your dreams can run riotUnlisted, yet full of character, this property in the High Weald National Landscape is an eccentrically furnished family home that screams fun.
-
Character, history and comfort combine in a four-bedroom farmhouse in NorfolkWillow Farm near Southburgh is that rarest of things — a perfect combination of period charm and modern elegance in some of England's best countryside.
-
A Grade I-listed Georgian townhouse that's part of the fabric of Bath's historyWith 5,500sq ft set over six floors in the centre of Britain's most architecturally rich city, there is much to love here.
-
17 delightful homes for sale, as seen in Country LifeOur round-up of some of the best houses to come to the market via Country Life this week includes a wonderful Cotswolds home and a happily affordable cottage in the West Country.
