Beechwood House (main house):
(A virtual tour is available on this link: https://captur3d.io/view/norfolk-coastal/beechwood-house)
The main entrance to the house is accessed through a beautiful pitched open entrance porch. The living room (in F & B Card Room Green) features a central fireplace with wood burning stove, chestnut flooring and a staircase to the first floor. The dining room, currently used as a music room, features Laura Ashley Summer Palace Eau de Nil wallpaper, chestnut floorboards, and decorative wrought iron inset fireplace. The kitchen (in F & B Sudbury Yellow with William Morris patterned curtains) features painted units under oak and granite work tops, tumbled marble flooring and an extremely efficient electric Aga. Off the kitchen there is a separate utility hall area with cupboards housing a washing machine and dryer, as well as a recently refurbished shower room suite with mosaic patterned encaustic ceramic tiles. A fine Amdega conservatory with pamment tiled floors, blending perfectly with the style of the house leads out to the garden. At the other end of the property there is a drawing room (in F & B French Gray) with hessian flooring, exposed timbers, a central fireplace with wood-burning stove and access to the wine cellar/storeroom with ceramic tiled floors (this room forms the inter-communication link to Old School Cottage).
The first floor of the main house is accessed either from the bespoke chestnut staircase in the living room or by the original wooden staircase off the entrance hallway. First floor accommodation comprises four bedrooms, with one en-suite bathroom, one shower room and one family bathroom.
Old School Cottage:
Old School Cottage adjoins Beechwood House and can be accessed from the wine cellar/storeroom, externally from its own main entrance or from its own private garden. Currently used as a successful holiday let (https://old-school-cottage.co.uk/) Old School Cottage makes a perfect annexe or could simply be used as additional accommodation for Beechwood House. The accommodation comprises a rear entrance hall with staircase to the first floor. The sitting room has a central brick fireplace with a log burning stove and exposed timbers. There is a dining room with an external door (leading out to a gravelled parking area), and an inner hall (with stairs up to the first floor), a well-fitted kitchen and bathroom. The first floor comprises two bedrooms.
Outside:
Outside the stunning landscaped gardens extend to approximately 0.75 acre with lawns, a terraced area with feature pond, well-stocked mature beds and borders, and a variety of shrubs, mature trees and topiary of yew, holly, and box, under-planted with a mass of spring bulbs, which ensure year-round appeal. A secret courtyard is tucked away between the house and cottage.
There is also a vegetable/herb garden, leading to a woodland area, under-planted with snowdrops and cyclamen. Two large brick and flint outbuildings (28' x 9' and 41' x 11') provide flexible use as a studio/workshop/storage space, with power and light, skylights and pamment floors.
Services:
Mains electricity, water and drainage are connected to the property. Oil fired central heating boilers in both Beechwood House and Old School Cottage provide domestic hot water and heating. Recent works in the property include installation in the main house of new 300 litre unvented hot water cylinder, all associated pipework to connect all bathrooms and thermostatic radiator valves. Old School Cottage recent installation of new Grant external oil fired condensing boiler, 200 litre unvented hot water cylinder and pipework to separate cottage and house plumbing and replacement of thermostatic radiator valves and radiator. Sonata wired alarm security system with sensors in house and cottage.
Distances:
East Harling - 5 miles (Doctors Surgery, Supermarket, P.O. & Take Away)
Watton - 6 miles (Vet, P.O. & all shops)
Attleborough - 7 miles (Dentist, Vet, P.O. & all shops)
Thetford - 7 miles (Dentist, P.O. & all shops)
Wymondham - 13 miles
Swaffham - 15 miles
Diss - 15 miles (Train Station - direct train to London Liverpool Street)
Dereham - 17 miles
Bury St Edmunds - 20 miles
Norwich - 21 miles (Hospital)
Downham Market - 26 miles
Directions:
Leaving Wymondham on the A11 (Attleborough), after 4 miles take the B1111 exit towards Watton/Garboldisham/East Harling and turn right onto Watton Road/B1111. Follow this road for 2 miles and turn left. Continue onto Harling Road until you enter the village, and the property will be found on the left hand side on Wretham Road.
Tenure:
Freehold
Guide Price: £795,000 subject to contract
Council Tax:
Beechwood House - Band D
Old School Cottage - Zero-rated when used as holiday accommodation.
Agents Note:
There is a pedestrian right of access to the east of Old School Cottage (gravelled driveway) to a store/garage belonging to the neighbouring property.
Owner’s comments:
Nestled in the oldest part of this beautiful conservation village, Beechwood House is a former Hall House with a fascinating history. Houses are often described as being havens of tranquillity, but this is the first time we have truly experienced it for ourselves. The centuries-old walls give off an air of permanence and security and as soon as you step inside the hectic world outside simply disappears. The childhood-heaven-like grounds filled with ancient trees and brilliant blooms have been a constant source of wonder and the absolutely perfect sanctuary, especially during the past year.
The house has a slightly unconventional layout, which adds to its character and offers a myriad of possibilities, both for couples and families. While Beechwood House strikes the perfect balance between traditional character and modern practicality, Old School Cottage can be used as holiday accommodation to generate income or incorporated into the house for multi-generational living or a self-contained home office. The beautiful outbuildings could also be easily converted to serve all manner of functions, from a home office or studio to a gym or games room.
The magical garden has separate areas which include a more formal topiary garden and lawn in the front, a secluded woodland area at the back, with many smaller cottage-style sections in between. There is also a large, newly cleared area to the side of the garden which would be perfect as a picnic area or simply filled with wildflowers to create a pretty meadow.
Great Hockham is a wonderful village with a good old-fashioned community spirit which found new ways to shine during lockdown. The Hockham Good Neighbour Scheme, the monthly In-Touch magazine, our friendly village postman and the fantastic village pub have all proved invaluable during this difficult time. There are also many small businesses in Great Hockham ensuring a constant supply of homemade jam & preserves, free range eggs, local honey, sourdough bread and handmade crafts & gifts, which can be delivered to your door or collected while you are out for a stroll.
Surrounded by countryside and woodland, but with so many towns just a short drive away you get the best of both worlds living here - its perfectly rural without feeling cut-off. The nearby village of East Harling has a supermarket, doctors' surgery, pharmacy, post office, butcher, hardware store, hairdresser, and fantastic take away. There are also several good schools for all ages in the local area, including Great Hockham's own Primary School and Nursery.
