St. Helena, Westleton, Saxmundham, Suffolk, IP17 3ED | Property for sale | Savills
7,071 sq ft(656.92 sq m)
Guide price £1,750,000

St. HelenaWestleton, Saxmundham, Suffolk, IP17 3ED

  • Sold

Key features

  • Sold in November 2022
  • Well proportioned and bright accommodation
  • Spacious timber-framed barn with games/billiards room
  • Spectacular grounds including gardens, courtyards, swimming pool and maze
  • Wonderful location in the Suffolk Coasts and Heath AONB

Fabulous country house and gardens in idyllic setting.

About this property

  • St. Helena House, set in about 3.3 acres (subject to survey), is an extraordinary property, comprising the principal house, numerous outbuildings including a substantial barn, wonderful gardens, a swimming pool and maze.

    Wrought iron gates open to a sweeping drive leading to the house, a handsome, primarily Victorian but believed to have Georgian origins, red-brick building with painted green windows and fasciae.

    The green wooden front door leads to a porch and through to the generous reception hall, off of which are the drawing room, sitting room, kitchen/breakfast room, dining room, and lavatory; stairs lead down to the spacious cellar and up to the first floor.

    The drawing room is a wonderfully bright and stylishly presented room. There is a large window to the south elevation and a bay window to the west – both of which have original shutters. The well-proportioned room has a handsome, marble chimneypiece and a door leading to the timber-framed conservatory.

    Also linking with the conservatory is the sitting room, a vibrant room, ideal for reading or a morning coffee; French windows lead out to the courtyard and a multi-fuel stove completes the room.

    The bespoke kitchen/breakfast room has a wall of windows and a glazed door leading out to the terrace. There is an AGA, integrated appliances including a Neff oven, hob, and fridge; numerous cupboards, and a wine store.

    Beyond the kitchen are a useful utility room and the annexe, which has its own kitchen, sitting room, and bedroom with an en suite bathroom.

    Directly opposite the drawing room is the captivating, double-aspect dining room, with exposed wooden floorboards, a large open fire, shelving, and French windows on to the terrace.

    The first-floor accommodation comprises four well-proportioned bedrooms and the family bathroom. The principal bedroom is especially elegant, with a working fire, balcony, window seat and en suite bathroom with a separate shower.

    The second and third bedrooms also have working fires, with the second bedroom also enjoying a fine bay window and window seat.

    Our clients primarily use the fourth bedroom as an office/home study. A glazed door leads out to a fabulous roof terrace, with far-reaching views over the grounds and out to Dunwich Forest.

    OUTSIDE & OUTBULDINGS
    St Helena House has spectacular grounds of about 3.3 acres (subject to survey). Within the grounds are manifold outbuildings, a swimming pool and pond, courtyards, terraces, various gardens, many mature trees, and a maze.

    The primary outbuilding is a substantial timber framed barn, with plumbing and electricity, presently consisting of a large open space and a generous games/billiards room.

    Off the sitting room is an attractive, south-west facing courtyard and pergola with a water feature, providing a superb area for al fresco dining. Another striking terrace is accessed via the dining room and kitchen.

    Beyond the terrace is a heated swimming pool and pool house, the pond and pond house and another, fascinating, courtyard and relaxation room, inspired by Xanadu and the works of Samuel Taylor Coleridge.

    There are expansive areas of lawn, a croquet lawn, a flint-walled rose garden, a shrub garden, an orchard and kitchen garden. The maze is a particularly special feature of the house.

    View payable Stamp Duty for this property

St. Helena House is an incredibly special house in the most idyllic setting. It is a house of great fun and I especially love the grounds and maze.

Alexander McNabProperty agent

Local information

  • Situated within the Suffolk Coasts and Heaths Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, St. Helena House occupies an idyllic and tranquil position bordering Dunwich Forest, on the outskirts of Dunwich and Westleton.
  • Managed by the Forestry Commission, the surrounding wood links into some fascinating areas of marshlands and wetland and is a wonderful location for walking and riding. Further afield, RSPB Minsmere (5.1 miles) is a world-class nature reserve. Classified as a Site of Special Scientific Interest, its 2,500 acres are habitat to exceptional wildlife.
  • Dunwich (1.4 miles) was formerly an important harbour town and capital of the Kingdom of the East Angles; today, it is best known known for its beautiful sand beach and fine walks. There is a popular public house, The Ship, two cafés, a museum and nature reserve.
  • Westleton (2.6 miles) is a charming and exceptionally pretty village, with delightful period building around an attractive village green. There are two excellent public houses, The White Horse and the Westleton Crown, a late 18th century coaching inn included in the Michelin Guide; a tea room; post office and shop; a traditional garage; and 14th century church.
  • Walberswick (5 miles) is an enchanting coastal village, famous for its Arts and Crafts buildings and its artistic links – notably with Philip Wilson Steer, Charles Rennie Mackintosh and Lucian Freud. There are numerous tea rooms and cafés, two public houses and the highly regarded delicatessen, The Black Dog.
  • Southwold (7.7 miles), is a superb seaside town famed for its painted beach huts, iconic 19th century lighthouse and pier. There is a wonderful selection of boutique stores, cafés, restaurants and public houses. Cultural amenities include an independent cinema and the Southwold Arts Centre. Adnams, Suffolk's most well-known brewery, is based in the town.
  • Along the east coast, to the south is the town of Aldeburgh (11.4 miles) and the villages, Thorpeness (10.1 miles), Snape (12.8 miles) and Orford (18 miles). Among these, there is a great array of restaurants, shops and galleries. Aldebugh is known for its close association with Benjamin Britten, its pebble beach and fish & chops. Snape Maltings is home to an internationally famous concert hall and Thorpeness has an amazing boating lake.
  • St. Helena benefits from easy access to the A12 (2.1 miles). Darsham Railway Station (4.8 miles) has trains to London via Ipswich (from 122 minutes); Saxmundham Railway Station (9.4 miles) provides trains to London via Ipswich (from 115 minutes).
  • Sporting facilities in the area are fantastic, including golf clubs at Southwold, Aldeburgh and Woodbridge; rugby clubs at Southwold and Woodbridge; numerous tennis courts and clubs across the area; and superb sailing along the east coast. Clay pigeon shooting is also available at High Lodge in Darsham.
  • There are excellent local schools in both the state and independent sectors, including St Felix School, Framlingham College, Woodbridge School, and Ipswich School.
  • All distances and times are approximate.

Additional information

  • SERVICES - Mains electricity and water; private drainage; oil fired central heating.
  • LOCAL AUTHORITY - East Suffolk District Council; Band G
  • AGENT NOTE - Please be aware that there are various infrastructure projects proposed for east Suffolk including plans for a new nuclear power station at Sizewell. Wind farm expansion in the North Sea is also taking place and bringing power ashore along with associated cabling & substation works are also being proposed.
  • Directions: What3Words - ///freely.tablet.awaited
  • EPC Rating: E
  • Tenure: Freehold
  • Council Tax Band: G