Noël Coward may have described Norfolk as ‘very flat’, but the property market in East Anglia is anything but.
Spring has come early in Norfolk, although I’m told that it may be a month or two before this year’s star country properties find their way into the pages of Country Life. Nevertheless, ‘despite a tendency for vendors to test the water by going for an initial off-market launch, we’ve done half a dozen deals at around the £1.5 million market during the winter months – a time when we often find ourselves twiddling our thumbs in this part of the world,’ says a relaxed Ben Marchbank of Bedfords in Burnham Market.
He’s happy to go public on Grade II-listed The Grange in the historic market town of Aylsham – 11 miles from Cromer and 13 miles from Norwich – adjoining the 4,500-acre Blickling estate, which, since 1940, has been run by the National Trust. Bedfords quote a guide price of £1.45 million for The Grange, a fine, late-Georgian house built on the site of an earlier dwelling in about 1810 and set in 1.69 acres of charming, part-walled gardens and grounds.
It stands well back from the road behind a high red-brick wall and comes with a cottage, stabling and outbuildings. The house has been beautifully renovated by the well-respected craftsmen of A. J. Cooper of Calthorpe for the present owners, who bought the property in 2013.
It now offers 6,623sq ft of ideal family living space, including four reception rooms, a study, a splendid kitchen/breakfast room, master and guest suites, five further bedrooms and two bathrooms.
The cottage is in need of refurbishment and hasn't been used by the current owners, but once it has been updated, the one-bedroom with kitchen and sitting room will become a perfect guest house. The outbuildings include a garage and a workshop, as well as two stables.
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18 magnificent homes for sale from £550k to £20 million, as seen in Country LifeFrom a charming thatched cottage to a 300-acre estate with its own vineyard, here's our pick of places to come to the market via Country Life of late.
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If heaven is on earth, it might be in this home with a converted chapel that is now a swimming pool5 Wood Barton Town House is part of an exclusive 80-acre development in Devon that also comes with fishing rights on the River Avon and four bedrooms.
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The sounds of spring and stained glass in an Arts-and-Crafts masterpiece in DorsetWith 35 acres, more than 10 bedrooms, a swimming pool and tennis court, Winterfield has it all.
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An eight-bedroom wonder in East Sussex where the outdoors are an adventureThe interiors of Old Middleton are pretty good too.
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A lakeside farmhouse on the market in the beautiful heart of PembrokeshireA lake, streams, 15 acres and five bedrooms. Rogershook might have it all.
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An idyllic countryside home that's light, spacious and comes with a Grade II-listed follyHagg House is a gorgeous family home that just happens to have a miniature castle in the gardens. Annabel Dixon explains more.
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A historic villa for sale on the Via Nomentana worthy of Rome's rich historyThree floors, lots of balconies, and a private garden in one of Rome's loveliest neighbourhoods.
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Eight bedrooms of unlisted Edwardian elegance with sweeping views of SomersetAshton House sits near the market town of Chard and comes with a wealth of amenities both inside and out.
