Location

Linstead Hall is set amidst rolling countryside and surrounded by its own land in the parish of Linstead Magna - twinned with Chediston. The small market town of Halesworth is 6 miles to the east and provides a comprehensive range of educational, commercial and recreational facilities, together with a rail service north to Lowestoft and Norwich and south to Ipswich and London's Liverpool Street. Alternatively there is access to Diss (about 17.5 miles) with a 90 minute service into London Liverpool Street. The market towns of Saxmundham and Framlingham are also within reach and offer a range of shopping, recreational and schooling facilities. The sought-after Suffolk Heritage Coastline is about 13 miles away at Southwold with other popular villages such as Dunwich, Walberswick & Aldeburgh within reach also providing superb recreational facilities including music sailing and fishing. There are also a number of 18-hole golf courses in the area. The Waveney Valley and the Norfolk Broads are easily accessible to the north.

Description

Linstead Hall is a Grade II Listed house of Special Architectural and Historic Interest. The rear of the house is timber framed under a pantiled roof and believed to have been constructed in the 17th century an early 19th century Georgian front of red brick under a peg tiled roof. There are a wealth of original features throughout the house including open fireplaces (an inglenook fireplace with wood burner in the drawing room), original stone and brick flooring on the ground floor and exposed timbers and beams. The house also benefits from large windows and light-filled rooms.

Outside
The house is set well back from a country lane and approached by a right of way over a long driveway through fields to a gateway. From there the drive is gravelled with a sweep to the front of the house or straight on leading to a parking area adjacent to the west end gable. The older moated site is to the front of the property. On the west side of the house are a range of outbuildings constructed of part brick and timber frame under a pantiled roof measuring overall about 38' x 15' and providing 2 large loose boxes and a tack room. Adjoining is a double garage (former cart shed). There is a hard tennis court to the south/west of the house and next to it an orchard with walnuts, mulberry, quinces, crab apples, apples, pears and cherries. Beyond the tennis court is a part moated former vegetable/formal garden with some box hedged borders and to the back of the house is a terrace which overlooks the lawns, a pond and to the far northern boundary a much larger pond.

The garden and grounds give a magical setting for the Hall and the moats, ponds and woods provide a natural haven for bird-life, including owls, coot, duck and heron. A much older timber-framed manor house used to stand on a moated island to the front of the Hall. The old manor is now lost in time, but the island, now grassed over, only serves to enhance the atmosphere and character of this truly special property.

Directions

From Ipswich take the A12 north. Exit onto A144 signposted Halesworth. Turn right at the T junction towards town centre and then left onto Roman Way (B1123) signposted Metfield. After the sign to Linstead turn left onto Godfrey's Hill. Bear left. Continue forward onto Linstead Road. Turn right onto Mary's Lane. The farm track to Linstead Hall will be on the right hand side of the road. There is a small post box to the side of the entrance.

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