A stunning Grade II listed detached cottage in the heart of the Abbey Gardens in Bury St Edmunds is back on the market after a huge makeover at a guide price of £545,000.
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The Coach House is concealed behind a gated entrance and arched pedestrian doorway in the Great Churchyard at the West Front of the cathedral, and is currently for sale with Whatley Lane estate agents by private treaty on a leasehold basis.
As the name suggests, the two-bedroom property began life as a coach house in the 1850s and is believed to have served the then registry office in the northern section of the West Front during Victorian times.
In 1995, it was converted into a residential dwelling and became home to Sir Eldon Griffiths, who was MP for Bury St Edmunds.
A complete programme of refurbishment has been carried out over the last three years, seeing the Coach House transformed into a picturesque period cottage with timeless, open interiors and incredible views of St Edmundsbury Cathedral and the Abbey Gardens.
Behind the Coach House’s handsome brick and flint façade, a panelled door with fanlight opens into a boot room with handcrafted cabinetry and open display storage. This adjoins an open dining area with a window framed by bookcases overlooking the courtyard and a locally baked ‘Woolpit white’ brick floor, which flows into the dual aspect sitting room and the kitchen.
The sitting room is an inviting and cosy space with solid double doors with bookcases either side allowing you to tuck yourself away for an evening of relaxation. The adjacent cloakroom combines the classic with the contemporary, with black and white chequered floor tiles, a vanity basin with wall lights and a curtain pulling back to reveal a useful utility area.
The kitchen is filled with natural light in part thanks to a newly inserted south-facing window above the hob offering views of a larch tree and a fragment of the abbey ruins. The room is arranged in a u-shape with Portland stone-coloured cabinets and granite worktops. Integrated appliances include a dishwasher, fridge/freezer, combi-oven and grill and five-ring gas burner.
It is open-plan to the dining area, with a glazed partition featuring a decorative trefoil motif creating a characterful room divider, and benefits from a pantry that was created from a hidden room discovered during the refurbishment project.
The bespoke double-height staircase ascends to the first-floor landing, where there is a sculptural niche carved out of one wall, a window overlooking the Abbey gardens, and a pair of mirrored glazed arched doorways which emphasise the high ceiling and carry through to the vaulted bedrooms.
The large principal bedroom has a boutique feel, with a four-poster bed and a study/library area with inspiring views. Bedroom two features handcrafted fitted wardrobes and bookcases and enjoys a dual aspect. These rooms are served by a contemporary bathroom with black and white chequered floor tiles.
While the Coach House does not have its own formal garden, the Abbey Gardens surround the property to the north, east and south and St James Cathedral tower looms to the west, so you can explore the beauty and history of this local landmark with ease.
The courtyard which adjoins the Great Churchyard provides a peaceful sanctuary away from the hustle and bustle of the town centre, which is a two-minute walk away, and a low-level flint wall overlooks the beautiful adjacent rose garden parterre.
To the front of the property, the current owners have used potted planting to create a charming cottage garden, which has become “a fixture in Bury St Edmunds’ Hidden Gardens event”.
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The Coach House has Zone F residents’ parking permits for two cars and vehicle access to the front courtyard is permitted for unloading.
For more information, please contact Whatley Lane.
PROPERTY FACTS
The Coach House, The Great Churchyard
Guide price: £545,000
Whatley Lane, 01284 765 256
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