A magnificent Georgian town house which has featured on the Channel 4 programme George Clarke's Remarkable Renovations is now up for sale at a guide price of £1 million.
Located right in the centre of Harleston, the eight-bedroom property was built circa 1790 and originally operated as a bank, while at other times serving as a post office and a community centre.
The Old Post Office was most recently run as a luxury guest house and has been lovingly updated and renovated over the years whilst keeping its heritage intact.
READ MORE: Norfolk flint cottage in Broads National Park for sale for over £800,000
Period features are found throughout the approximately 5,000 sq ft of living space, including Georgian sash windows with internal shutters, lofty ceilings, fireplaces, polished floorboards, and a grand sweeping staircase.
It also benefits from more recently additions, including a modern, well-equipped kitchen and a hammam spa in the bank’s former vault.
Selling agents Fine & Country said of the property: “Everything is in place and ready to go - nine bedrooms, seven bathrooms, four reception rooms - all beautifully finished, perhaps a boutique hotel or B&B, subject to planning. Alternatively, it will accommodate a multi-generational family. There´s more than one way to deploy this extraordinary home.”
A central hallway, typical of the period, welcomes you into the property. Twin double aspect reception rooms sit on either side of the hall, one of which is currently used as a dining room including a baby grand piano (available by separate negotiation), and the other as a sitting room with a woodburning stove.
A panelled dining room that’s perfect for large celebrations sits behind the hallway and beyond this is a modern kitchen equipped with everything you need to cater for family, friends and yourself, including a large pantry and a cold store inside the former bank’s cash repository.
A separate hall with attached WC is home to the impressive hanging staircase with scrolled handrail and wrought-iron balusters. This leads to the first floor where the rooms are currently set up for commercial use. There are three well-decorated bedrooms, each with en suite bathrooms, and a fourth smaller bedroom.
Fine & Country notes that the two front bedrooms are a particular highlight; one with a slipper bath and a four-poster bed, and the other with a set of beautifully constructed bunkbeds which can sleep up to eight people. This floor also has a spacious landing which could be used as an extra seating area or homeworking space.
Completing the first floor is a “highly unusual” hammam spa, which has been constructed inside the bank’s vault with the original exposed bricks still overhead. Stone benches on either side of the space offer plenty of room to sit and soak up the steam.
Five further bedrooms are located on the second floor along with three bathrooms, two of which are en suites. There is also a kitchenette here, as this floor is currently used as family accommodation, but could be developed into further guest accommodation if desired.
In addition to the main accommodation, there is also a large, boarded loft, several storerooms, and a cellar.
READ MORE: Three-bed terraced house in former Aylsham Maltings for sale
Fine & Country describes The Old Post Office as a “lock up and leave” type of home, as its lack of an outdoor space means there is no need to worry about maintenance. The current owners have explored the potential option of a roof garden, so this could be considered if you’re keen to incorporate an outdoor area into this already impressive home.
The property is conveniently located just minutes away from Harleston’s recreation ground, which is ideal for a summer picnic, and there is sprawling countryside within easy reach of the property too.
For more information, please contact Fine & Country.
PROPERTY FACTS
The Old Post Office, Old Market Place
Guide price: £1 million
Fine & Country, 01379 777312
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here