Westgate StreetLong Melford, Sudbury, Suffolk, CO10 9DR

Believed to be the oldest surviving domestic residence in Long Melford, The Thatched House is a property of significant historical importance. Architectural historians date its origins to circa 1425, while luminescence dating undertaken by Durham University suggests the distinctive brick chimney was added around a century later, in approximately 1535. During the 1960s and 1970s, the house underwent an extensive fifteen-year restoration programme, carried out with great care and attention to detail, successfully reinstating much of its original medieval character. Today, the property retains an exceptional wealth of period features, reflecting both its rich heritage and the quality of the restoration undertaken.

The house was built during a remarkable period of English history. Its construction came just ten years after the Battle of Agincourt and only three years after the young Henry VI ascended the throne following the death of Henry V in 1422. Elsewhere in Europe, it was contemporary with the campaigns of Joan of Arc in France and preceded the political instability that would ultimately lead to the Wars of the Roses. This was also before the height of Long Melford's great economic prosperity, which later funded the rebuilding of Holy Trinity Church under the leadership of the influential Clopton family and with support from the wider local community of merchants and villagers.

Originally constructed as a farmhouse in the traditional medieval hall-house style, The Thatched House stood outside the village's commercial centre on glebe land during the rectorship of Magister Thomas Barnsley. Whether the property was held under a tenancy, copyhold lease, or freehold ownership remains unknown, although records suggest it had returned to Church ownership by 1678.

At some stage in its history, the building was divided into six cottages. During this period, a floor was inserted within the original hall to create additional first-floor accommodation.

The magnificent hall, with its open hearth, served as the principal living space for the farmer and his extended family. The original central fire would have burned directly on the floor, and peg holes for the master's bench can still be seen in the east wall. What is now the dining room would originally have formed the solar, the private chamber reserved for the head of the household.

The present kitchen remains something of a mystery. It is thought to pre-date the main house and may originally have served as a barn, a beer house, or possibly an open kitchen, making it one of the few surviving examples of its kind in Suffolk.

The Thatched House is constructed principally of timber frame with colour-washed elevations beneath a traditional thatched roof, the property offers beautifully presented accommodation, enriched by an abundance of original character and architectural detail. The front door opens into a welcoming entrance hall, from which the principal reception rooms can be accessed, including the drawing room, sitting room, snug and dining room. There is also a kitchen/breakfast room, utility room, boot room, shower room and a ground-floor bedroom. Subject to planning an annex could be created using the west wing of the property. On the first floor are three well-proportioned double bedrooms, each accessed via its own staircase, enhancing the individuality and charm of the house. Bedroom 1 benefits from a bathroom.

Set back from the road behind a traditional picket fence and mature trees, The Thatched House enjoys a wonderful sense of privacy and seclusion. The approach sets the tone for the property, with its enchanting gardens and attractive frontage creating a memorable first impression. A driveway to the side of the house provides ample parking and continues through double gates to further parking beyond. To the rear, beautifully established gardens provide a delightful setting and are predominantly laid to lawn, interspersed with mature shrubs, native trees and well-stocked flower beds. A series of terraces offer wonderful spaces for al fresco dining and entertaining, while also providing the perfect vantage point from which to enjoy the peaceful surroundings.

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