Haverhill: 19th century playwright's home for sale for £1.1m

Suffolk House in Kedington, near Haverhill, dates back to the late 19th century and was once home to the poet and playwright Herman Charles Merivale.

During his career, Merivale, who sometimes wrote under the pseudonym Felix Dale, penned several farces and burlesques - a form of parody and drama popularised in Victorian England - including The Lady of Lyons Married and Settled and The Don.

He was also a contemporary and friend of several literary figures, including William Makepeace Thackeray, Anthony Trollope and Charles Dickens, who had his own connections to Suffolk.

The property is well-proportioned, with large reception rooms and several feature fireplaces (Image: Cheffins)

The kitchen features lots of storage space and some appliances, including a range cooker (Image: Cheffins)

The property dates back to the 19th century and is Grade II listed (Image: Cheffins)

The property was originally a farmhouse and in Victorian and Georgian times, part of it was used to sell cheese to the local villagers.

It is now for sale with Cheffins for £1.1m, with the original cheese room still in use - although now it's used for wine instead.

READ MORE: ‘Superb’ cottage in Suffolk’s Harry Potter village goes on sale

Elsewhere, accommodation includes four good-sized reception rooms, including the sitting room, which has an imposing fireplace and doors to the garden, plus a utility room and cellar.

The kitchen is well-fitted with bespoke wooden units in a farmhouse-style, with granite work surfaces, a Belfast sink and full-height pantry cupboard. Appliances such as an integrated dishwasher, fridge and Rangemaster cooker are also included.

The main property offers five bedrooms, including the master which has an en suite shower room (Image: Cheffins)

One of the bedrooms also has access to its own roof terrace and lovely views over the gardens (Image: Cheffins)

The bedrooms are light and airy and many include feature fireplaces too (Image: Cheffins)

Upstairs, there are five bedrooms. The master has access to its own en suite shower room, as well as a lovely bay window with garden views, and the second bedroom has a balcony with access to a roof terrace.

The remaining bedrooms are served by a good-sized family bathroom with a bath and a walk-in shower and there’s a separate cloakroom downstairs.

Outside, Suffolk House is surrounded by mature gardens, including a ‘secret’ garden with a patio and pergola. 

Included within the grounds are two annexes, which could be used as holiday lets generating additional income of up to £20,000 a year.

At the rear there are lovely gardens (Image: Cheffins)

The property also comes with two annexes, including a converted two-bedroom barn (Image: Cheffins)

There is plenty of off-road parking (Image: Cheffins)

The first annexe is created out of a converted barn and includes an open-plan kitchen and dining room, separate sitting room, two bedrooms, shower and utility.

The other annexe, known as The Creamery, offers one bedroom, a sitting room, kitchen and shower room.

There is also plenty of off-road parking and a cart lodge.

For more information, contact Cheffins.

PROPERTY FACTS
Rectory Road, Kedington
Guide price: £1,100,000
Cheffins, 01440 707076
www.cheffins.co.uk

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