Porteus Cottage - Elegant Victorian home in cathedral town of Bury St Edmunds.

Porteus Cottage, Bury St Edmunds (Image: Archant)

Porteus Cottage is a surprise - an elegant Victorian home, on green fringe of the town on its southern side.

This elegant Victorian home is a surprise, a rare home of its type on the south side of Bury St Edmunds, and between Victory Sports Ground and Nowton Park - for cricket, tennis and much more for sports lovers.

Porteus Cottage was built for the Oakes family, for family and staff members, Porteus being an old family name, and was completed in 1900.

It provides three storey, character accommodation, cleverly extended to provide a fine family home with all the modern conviences.

There is a converted former coach house, behind, which is currently used as holiday letting accommodation, but could also be used as a granny annexe or guest accommodation.

The present owners, of 20 years, are downsizing having brought up their three children here, and they are now following their own careers.

Dr Jonathan Masters and wife Amanda came to Bury St Edmunds 30 years ago, originally for him to work at Angel Hill Surgery and they fell in love with the town and area.

“We have been in Bury 30 years, and 20 years here. We have loved living here, You can walk into the town centre in about 25 minutes.”

“We are downsizing now. It would be nice to have it go to a family,” added Amanda.

“It is great for children. We are almost opposite South Lees private school too.

“You have got Bury Cricket Club, with the new indoor sports hall, And when the Glasswells tennis tournament used to take place at Nowton Park our children used to take part. All their friends came back here and we had a running buffet while it was on.”

“You can walk the dog into the countryside from here,” added Jonathan.

They hope to stay in the area.

The previous owner had extended the house to the side and added the conservatory at the back.

The Coach House at the rear had proved popular with visitors over the past seven years, and is four star rated holiday accommodation.

Amanda said: “We have some people who have come back several times. One couple have come for the 12th time.

“The new owners could continue with it.”

Porteus Cottage is set back from the road and is approached by a sweeping carriage driveway with a turning circle, with mature hedges, magnolia, cherry and wisteria.

A five bar gate leads to the side of the property, with further turning and parking space, and leading to the coach house.

Within this area are raised vegetable beds and a herb

garden.

The main garden lies to the rear and side of the house on the southern side, with hedges, flowers, herbaceous borders, specimen trees and shrubs.

There is an orchard area, two garden shed and and a wood store.

The house has original features including skirting and architraves and pitch pine four panel doors, windows and fireplaces.

There is a reception hall,

with stairs rising to the first floor.

A double aspect dining room

has a moulded ceiling rose, cornicing and picture rail, a plate shelf and a Victorian carved oak fire surround and mantelpiece with a cast iron grate and decorative tiled inserts.

The elegant drawing room is also double aspect. There is a moulded fire surround and mantelpiece on the chimney breast and a fitted woodburning stove on a marble hearth.

French doors lead into the conservatory, which has exposed brickwork, two wall light points and French doors into the terrace and garden. There is also a sitting room which has an oak floor, an open red brick fireplace with a fitted woodburning stove and decorative moulded surround and mantelpiece, and a built-in corner cabinet. French doors also lead to the conservatory.

There is a fully-fitted kitchen/breakfast room, an outdoor covered loggia, and a useful cellar.

On the first floor bedroom one is en suite. There are four more bedrooms and two further bathrooms.