Described by the poet Matthew Arnold as ‘deeply rural’, the small rustic village of Easthorpe, three miles from Marks Tey and seven miles from Colchester, Essex, lies within the farmlands of south-west Colchester in a landscape that’s a mix of small pasture and large arable fields traversed by the gentle slopes of the Roman River valley. Previously a separate parish, Easthorpe amalgamated with nearby Copford in 1949.
It is here that the Grade II-listed St Mary’s Grange lies, which is listed for sale with Strutt & Parker at a guide price of £2.5 million.
St Mary’s Grange is described in its Historic England listing as an ‘early 15th-century house, extended in the late 15th and late 16th centuries and altered in the 18th century… [its] extensive original frame is exposed with cambered tie beams, jowled storey posts, some 16th-century doors and panelling, with 18th-century panelling, doors and architraves in the east wing’.
The imposing, 8,700sq ft house stands in some 12 acres of secluded gardens and grounds on the eastern edge of Easthorpe, surrounded by open farmland, yet within easy reach of the main A12 and commuter stations at Marks Tey and Kelvedon.
According to Mark Rimell of Strutt & Parker’s country department, the current owners, who are set to move overseas, have spared no expense in their bid to retain the essence of a Grade II*-listed building throughout an ambitious renovation and refurbishment of the house, its secondary buildings, gardens and grounds.
Period features in the main house include tall mullioned windows, ancient exposed timbers, intricate wood carving, panelling and restored medieval fireplaces.
Five versatile reception rooms include an elegant drawing room, a beamed dining room, a snooker room with a part-vaulted ceiling and French doors to the garden. A new Smallbone kitchen/breakfast room is fitted with high-quality cabinetry, stone worktops and an island unit. An ornate timber stairway leads to the first floor and the principal bedroom suite, five further bedrooms and two family bathrooms.
Additional accommodation is available in the charming, two-bedroom, converted coach house. Outbuildings include a gym, stable, wood store, triple garage and double car port.
The gardens at St Mary’s Grange are impeccably landscaped, interspersed with mature trees, and include an ornamental lake stocked with carp, an orchard, tennis court and outdoor pool.
Closest to the house is a formal garden with clipped hedging, rows of specimen trees and planted beds. A paved courtyard garden with rose beds and pergola provides a relaxing space for outdoor dining.
St Mary’s Grange is listed with Strutt & Parker at a guide price of £2.5 million.
The Country Life Podcast
Listen to all the episodes of the Country Life Podcast.
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
Credit: Hamptons
'The second cosiest cottage in Britain' is on the market in Wiltshire
With its attractive period features and impeccable styling, this chocolate box home has already caught plenty of media attention. It’s
A gem in West Sussex where the graceful Georgian hallway alone will be enough to sell the house
The Grange at Crawley Down is nestled in a village tucked away in the north-west corner of West Sussex.
Spectacular Scottish castles and estates for sale
A look at the finest castles, country houses and estates for sale in Scotland today.
-
Six rural properties with space, charm and endless views, as seen in Country LifeWe take a look at some of the best houses to come to the market via Country Life in the past week.
-
Exploring the countryside is essential for our wellbeing, but Right to Roam is going backwardsCampaigners in England often point to Scotland as an example of how brilliantly Right to Roam works, but it's not all it's cracked up to be, says Patrick Galbraith.
-
Six rural properties with space, charm and endless views, as seen in Country Life
We take a look at some of the best houses to come to the market via Country Life in the past week.
-
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 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.
