East Tuddenham | Norfolk | NR20 3AH HISTORY in the MAKING

Vassars Common Road | East Tuddenham | Norfolk | NR20 3AH HISTORY IN THE MAKING

“With a Jacobean heart and elegant Georgian frontage, this home has abundant character and period style. A historic place with fascinating associations, it’s a home with a real sense of times gone by. Yet it’s comfortable and welcoming, perfect for modern lifestyles, with generous rooms that are filled with light. Gardens wrap around with fruit cage and pond, whilst mature trees and planting catch the eye and delight.”

• A handsome Grade II Listed Georgian Farmhouse standing in 1 acre of Formal Gardens • Four Bedrooms; Two Bathrooms; Three Receptions • Character has been retained throughout including Fireplaces, Exposed Beams, Original Windows and Pamments • The Home has been Sympathetically Extended to the Rear • A Range of Outbuildings; Rear Terracing; Pond • The Rear of the Home provides Outstanding Views over Farmland • The Accommodation extends to 1,962sq.ft • Energy Rating: D A Grade II listed former farmhouse, this home dates back to around 1620 in its oldest parts. It was ‘modernised’ and gentrified roughly 100 years later and has been altered and extended in more recent years to provide superb family- friendly accommodation that’s ideal for entertaining. Mathew Vassar, who in 1861 founded Vassar College at the Poughkeepsie in the state of New York, USA was born here on the 29th April 1792, thus the property’s name. Set in the heart of a popular village, it’s nevertheless incredibly private, perfectly placed to enjoy views over the gardens to the front and side and over the sunny terraced courtyard leading to open fields at the rear. Changing Through The Ages When it was originally built around 1620, this attractive home would have been 1.5 storeys – a ground floor with space in the steeply pitched roof. When the Georgian façade was added, the roof was raised too, so the ceiling height is excellent throughout and there are several storage lofts as well. The front of the house faces east and the back faces west, so it’s always lovely and light, with most of the principal rooms being dual aspect. You see amazing sunsets over the fields to the rear – particularly from the first-floor bedrooms. Thick walls hold the heat well in winter and ensure the house is refreshingly cool on hot summer days. There’s plenty of character here too, with a wealth of features, including two wonderful inglenooks. One has a marvellous wood burner that opens right up to give the sense of an open fire, while the other retains an old bread oven. There are ceiling roses and decorative cornicing in some of the rooms, with large oak beams in others, while oak, pamment and tiled floors add further character. The study (which would make a great family room) and guest bedroom above showcase the brickwork of the original external wall – another attractive feature. A Warm Welcome Awaits The current owners have spent 19 happy years here. Well cared for when they arrived, they didn’t need to do any work, but over the years have put their own stamp on the property and have continued to upgrade it, fitting a beautiful Kestrel kitchen with extra deep cupboards, extra thick granite worktops and a boiling water tap, plus replacing the bathrooms. “We’ve made so many memories here,” the owners smile, “And we love having people over, whether friends from church, people from the village or our family. We’ve had as many as 50 people at once!” They’ve hosted family parties, Christmas gatherings (they confirm this is a fabulous place all decorated out for the festive season), barbecues, birthdays and even a silver wedding celebration for friends. When the family visit, they tend to congregate around the kitchen table, but the owners also enjoy formal dining and can seat a good number comfortably, with a large opening between the two rooms meaning both are well connected. A Breath Of Fresh Air Make your way from the kitchen through the utility and out to the sheltered courtyard, bathed in sunlight from late morning, and you’ll find a lovely and productive vine climbing the whitewashed wall and adding to the relaxed, holiday feel of this sunny spot. Beyond the rear garden you have open fields, so there’s no nosy neighbours or noisy traffic, just peace, quiet and wide open space. The front garden has a large pond, home to moorhens for many years, and if you cross over the stone bridge, you can walk through a pretty woodland area where daffodils herald the arrival of spring each year, followed by a carpet of bluebells. The main part of the garden faces south and has a number of mature trees dotted about providing shade, as well as several seating areas. Then you’ll find a large fruit cage with blueberries, blackcurrants, strawberries, raspberries, gooseberries, an asparagus bed, salad vegetables and more, plus an adjacent greenhouse for your tomatoes and peppers. There’s plenty of outside storage too, including a spacious summerhouse currently used as a workshop. It’s well insulated so you could even use it as a home office. As the house is set so well back from the road, you’re very secluded and private and it’s easy to forget you’re in the village itself. There are dog walks through farmland and you have a strong connection to the countryside but you’re just down the road from Mattishall and five minutes from the retail park at Longwater, for shopping, supermarkets and more. “We love being so very private but never having to go far for anything. It’s only 20 minutes to the Theatre Royal in the city of an evening.”

Summary Steeped in history, you take in the stunning front elevation of the listed Georgian farmhouse, before moving through the attractive blue front door. The ground floor consists of the two original formal receptions, being the sitting and dining rooms. Both these rooms are dominated by their wonderful fireplaces, whilst the flooring is a combination of oak and pamments. Additionally there are exposed beams in both these rooms, as well as original windows with shutters, which offer light and views of the front of the garden. From the sitting room, French doors afford access out to the rear terrace. Also located to the ground floor is a generous study, once again with French doors out to the rear terrace, a ground floor WC, and a recently renovated breakfast kitchen, which can be found to the rear of the farmhouse. Oak cabinets can be found to four aspects contrasting beautifully with the darker work surfaces. A range of appliances can be found integrated throughout, with the current owners incorporating a large table to the centre of the room. You move up the original staircase, pausing at the landing to take in the best views from the house out over the adjoining farmland found to the rear. Four bedrooms can be found on the first floor, the largest of which has access to its own recently renovated, en-suite shower room. The remaining three bedrooms are serviced by the main bathroom, which comes complete with a separate WC. Further original character can be found on the first floor, with exposed beams, timber floors, original windows and fireplaces. Agents Note There is a large loft access found above bedroom two, ideal for storage.

Agents notes: All measurements are approximate and quoted in metric with imperial equivalents and for general guidance only and whilst every attempt has been made to ensure accuracy, they must not be relied on. The fixtures, fittings and appliances referred to have not been tested and therefore no guarantee can be given that they are in working order. Internal photographs are reproduced for general information and it must not be inferred that any item shown is included with the property. For a free valuation, contact the numbers listed on the brochure. * These comments are the personal views of the current owner and are included as an insight into life at the property. They have not been independently verified, should not be relied on without verification and do not necessarily reflect the views of the agent. Printed On Your Doorstep… The vibrant bustling, rural village of Mattishall is nearby, surrounded by beautiful, unspoilt countryside with the benefits of its own church, village shops / post office, surgery, pubs and schooling. East Tuddenham is positioned just 10 miles from Norwich and sits between Dereham and Norwich, with Dereham being 6 miles distant. Higher education is available at Norwich and Dereham High Schools. Wymondham College is also nearby and is the largest boarding school in Europe, offering education for children from the ages of 11 to 18. Nearby market towns of Wymondham and Dereham provide four medical centres between them whilst the new Norfolk & Norwich University Hospital is only 8 miles from East Tuddenham. Local attractions include the Abbey and Historic Railway Museum at Wymondham. Barnham Broom Golf and Country Club is just 2 minutes from the property and The Royal Norwich Golf Club is 10 minutes away. How Far Is It To… With the recent improvements to the A11, Thetford Forest, Newmarket and Cambridge are now commutable in under one hour with London just beyond. Heading north, the Norfolk coastline is an easy and rewarding excursion with its quaint villages and pretty sandy beaches. The Norfolk Broads can be found to the east of Norwich, the cathedral city and East Anglian Capital of Norfolk with its exciting shopping opportunities afforded to it by the Chapelfields Development. Directions Leave Norwich heading west on the A47. Upon reaching the Honingham and Mattishall roundabout take your first exit. Continue along this road into the village of East Tuddenham and take a left hand turning into Common Road. Whereby after a further 300 yards the property will be found on your right hand side clearly signposted with a Fine and Country For Sale Board. Services Oil Central Heating, Mains Water, Mains Drainage Breckland District Council

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