The Old Bear and Crown is an impressive home, Grade II* listed and in the centre of the market town of Clare.
It is a fine, timber-framed and plastered 16th Century building in a landmark position in the west Suffolk medieval wool town.
Formerly the Bear and Crown Inn, the house had been re-fronted in the early 19th Century.
It is reputated to have been a Wool Hall from the medieval days when Suffolk was at the heart of the wealth-creating wool and cloth trade when many fine buildings were built. Today it is a substantial home of around 5,881 sq ft.
Clare has wide range of local amenities and is about 16.5 miles from Newmarket, the home of racing, and also Bury St Edmunds.Attractive, historic Cavendish, Long Melford and Lavenham are also close at hand.
Inside the house both front wings display superb Dragon Beams, and the crosswings were orginally jettied at the first floor and at some point the ground floor was enlarged to gain more space.
There are some superb period features throughout - remains of corner posts with small carved animals (understood to have come from Clare Priory), exposed timbers, moulded ceiling beams, a crown post and a variety of sash and casement windows.
A substantial timber in the reception hall is thought to have been part of Clare’s Nether Gate - hence Nethergate Street.
This fascinating house provides very spacious, comfortable and versatile accommodation.
The property also extends to the rear along Station Road.
The main entrance doors, with pilasters, friezes and cornice, lead from Market Hill to a wide reception hall which has a tall ceiling with moulded beams and arches.
Glazed doors lead to the double aspect drawing room with its exposed dragon beam and ceiling timbers.
Opposite is the dining room, also having a dragon beam and ceiling timbers.
There is also a morning room, a family room, and study on this floor and the orangery, to the rear of the house, overlooks the courtyard and outbuildings.
Beyond is the morning room, and a spacious vaulted kitchen/breakfast room has exposed timbers and brickwork and a central island fitted with a double bowl, single drainer sink, a variety of wall and base units, a range style oven with a gas hob and extractor hood, and plumbing and space for a dishwasher.
There is a door to the courtyard.
The utility room provides usual space for appliances and there are also extensive cellars, for storage.
The first floor has an elegant master suite - incorporating a bedroom, dressing area and cloaks and there is a separate shower room.
The guest suite comprises a bedroom and a bath/dressing room which has a roll-top bath.
In addition there are three further double bedrooms and two more bathrooms.
The shingle courtyard is approached by tall electric wooden gates with parking for space for several cars and a garage/storage building.
The walled garden is mainly laid to lawn edged by box hedging and with borders and beds.
An outbuilding is presently used as a games room, workshop and an open covered area.
Guide price; £795,000
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