Mount Pleasant, Lower Raydon, Suffolk

This wonderful six-bedroom home lies in the quiet countryside village of Lower Raydon, Suffolk. Originally built in 1887, the house was sensitively added to when the original brick-built house was joined by more contemporary additions such as oak cladding, a zinc roof and vast sheets of glass - all to a design by award winning architect Paul Hammond. A double-height garden room at the rear is perfect for entertaining, while a comfortable sitting room is found in the Victorian part of the house. Sitting in 1.7 acres of carefully maintained gardens the house is immersed in the Dedham Vale National Landscape that provides endless opportunities for outdoor excursions.

The Tour

A private, tree-lined driveway forms the approach to the house. Entry is to a magnificent double-height hall, its glass frontage flooding the space with light. To one side lies a vast kitchen and dining area with two sets of bifold doors onto the garden. Sleek black kitchen cabinetry runs the length of one wall, while an island is topped with Zebrano woodblock. Appliances include an electric 4-oven electric Aga and a separate pantry opens onto a herb garden. An expansive double-height garden room lies to the side, its floor-to-ceiling glazing capturing views of the garden and beyond across the beautiful Brett Vale, known locally as 'Happy Valley'.

The sitting room lies in the Victorian part of the house, and has engineered oak flooring, a sash window and an integrated log burner. This part of the house also has a double bedroom – currently used as an office, it has French doors onto the front garden. There is an adjacent dressing room and a shower room, while a study lies across the hall.

An open-tread staircase rises to the first floor, where there are four light-filled bedrooms. The principal has a pitched, double-height ceiling and arresting views of the countryside beyond. It has an attached dressing room and an en suite bathroom has a rainfall shower, a large bathtub and dual washbasins.

There are three additional bedrooms on this floor. One has an en suite shower room, while the other two share a Jack-and-Jill shower room.

The lower ground floor is an expansive space, often used for parties and movie evenings. It is home to a large gym, an additional bedroom with an en suite shower room and a utility room. A void under the floor was incorporated to accommodate the future addition of an exercise pool. This could also make a handy wine cellar space.

The house has a range of energy saving and convenient technology, with a ground-source heat pump linked to underfloor heating throughout, heat recovery ventilation, central vacuuming and an app-accessible building management system controlling lights, blackout blinds and ventilation.

Outdoor Space

The house sits in 1.7 acres of land, beautifully planted with a variety of mature trees and pretty cottage garden type shrubbery. There are raised beds for growing vegetables, and plenty of pretty spots to sit and enjoy the views of the surrounding countryside. A paved terrace is perfect for outdoor entertaining, and there is a separate barbecue area.

A walled garden on the lower ground floor is accessed from the gym.

At the side of the house there is a two-storey garage and cart lodge, while a gravelled driveway provides parking for several cars.

The gardens open to the wider beautiful countryside beyond with its enticing footpaths and bridleways.

The Area

Lower Raydon is a quiet Suffolk hamlet within the Dedham Vale National Landscape. The Marquis is a sophisticated local hotel and restaurant, situated less than a mile from the house; there are also two pubs within a one-mile radius. The house lies adjacent the popular Brett Vale Golf Club that has its own restaurant and bar open to the public.

Hadleigh, one of the 51 UK 'Gem Towns', is a short drive away. It has a thriving market and a picturesque high street is full of historic buildings. The town is home to a range of independent shops, including an excellent butcher, and pubs including The King's Head and The George. There is also a leisure centre and swimming pool.

Colchester and Ipswich are both around a 20-minute drive away, offering theatres, galleries and museums, alongside plenty of terrific restaurants. Slightly further afield is Snape Maltings, an internationally regarded cultural centre, a mix of malthouses and granaries dating from the mid-19th century.

The home’s proximity to Dedham Vale National Landscape provides plenty of walking and cycling routes. The Suffolk coastline is also easily reached by car and is home to perennially popular towns including Woodbridge and Aldeburgh. The beaches of the Frinton, renowned for its colourful beach huts, are around a 45-minute drive, while Flatford Mill, subject of many of Constable’s paintings, is nearby, as is the picturesque village of Dedham with its popular boating and walking opportunities along the River Stour.

Hadleigh has very good primary and secondary schools and there are a range of highly regarded Independent schools in Colchester and Ipswich; Colchester also has boys' and girls' grammar schools.

The house is situated between Ipswich and Colchester, with Manningtree station just 15 minutes away, providing direct access to Liverpool Street station in an hour.

Council Tax Band: E