Nestled in glorious grounds at Bawburgh, between the River Yare and the pretty round towered church of St Mary and St Walstan, Church Farmhouse sits in splendid seclusion.
Currently on the market with Savills at a guide price of £1.3 million, with options to buy other lots by separate negotiation, the beautiful and substantial country home has an intriguing past, a history which is entwined with the fascinating story of St Walstan, patron saint of agriculture.
St Walstan is thought to have been born of noble parents in Bawburgh in 960AD but at the age of 12 gave up his possessions to work as a farm labourer and heal sick animals.
MORE: Take a look around The Old Rectory, Hedenham, on the market for £1,300,000In 1016, he is said to have prophesied his own death, asking for his body to be tied to a cart pulled by roaming oxen and buried wherever it stopped.
Before finally making its way up to the church at Bawburgh, the cart apparently stopped in the grounds of what is now Church Farmhouse and a spring is said to have gushed forth. The well can still be seen at the property.
The current owners believe Church Farmhouse itself was first built in 1278 and occupied by chancery monks. It was rebuilt around 1630, when the front brickwork was added, but it is thought the rear flint wall could be from the original building.
They moved to the Grade II * red-brick property in 1989, having been enticed by its beautiful architecture and enchanting setting.
Since then they have carried out major renovation and refurbishment on the exquisite three-storey house, carefully bringing it back to its former glory while also enhancing it to ensure it is now a magnificent home for a modern family.
Among its many fabulous features is a wonderful oak and glass garden room – with a beautiful stone fireplace and roaring wood-burning stove – designed to sit sympathetically beside the house and within the attractive grounds.
To one side of the property is a great conservatory, which also captures the stunning views across the gardens.
The kitchen is spacious and inviting, with a reclaimed pamment floor and a range, and access to a generous utility room and breathtaking walk-in pantry, complete with its original arches.
There is also a splendid dining room, with exposed timberwork and a great inglenook fireplace, an elegant drawing room, with a marble fireplace, and a series of beautiful bedrooms – including an impressive master bedroom – and bathrooms.
The top floor of the house, which would be ideal for older children or teenagers, has been arranged to create two additional bedrooms and an open bedroom, study or sitting room area, as well as a shower room.
Former stables and cart sheds have been converted to create a separate, self-contained annexe. This two-storey building could be ideal for a relative or holiday guests. Currently, it is enjoyed for leisure purposes, with the entire upper floor room housing a fabulous full-size snooker table, which will come with the house.
MORE: Take a look inside High Common Cottage on the market for £850,000Additional cart lodges provide further storage and workshop space but could (subject to the relevant planning permissions) possibly have other uses.
The current owners have taken great pride in cultivating and maintaining their exquisite gardens and grounds. Here they have created pretty corners for sitting out and soaking up the sunshine and serenity, as well as beautiful beds, hedges and borders, and great swathes of verdant lawn to the front and back, which provide a picture postcard backdrop all year round.
Certainly, sitting out at the property and gazing either down towards the river, over to the wildflower and water meadows or up towards the church, it is hard to imagine you are just 10 to 15 minutes' drive from the centre of Norwich – and with such easy access to the university, hospital and science research park.
This is a house that has stood in this landscape for centuries and will forever be part of local history.
But, above all, it is an outstanding family home, an attractive and spacious house, with the flexibility and architecture to ensure it remains a wonderful place to live for years to come.
Church Farmhouse at Bawburgh is on the market with Savills at a guide price of £1.35 million. There is also a paddock of approximately 5.55 acres (guide price £55,000) and water meadows of approximately 10.78 acres (guide price £95,000) available by separate negotiation, as well as four barn conversions, all of which have separate planning consent to be sold as individual properties. These are all of different designs, offering varying layouts and accommodation, and they range in price from £350,000 to £475,000. For more information call Savills on 01603 229229.
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