The Old School House

Built in 1863, Old School House occupies a discreet location in the rural hamlet of Bower House Tye. As the name suggests, the property once served the parish as the village school, which subsequently became a domestic dwelling many decades ago. The eastern end of the house is a later two-storey addition, which forms the kitchen, utility room, cloakroom and bedrooms two and three.

The original part of the house chiefly consists of the two, twin aspect reception rooms, each with respective working fireplaces. The main sitting room also provides bi-fold doors onto the immediate south facing garden.

To the opposite end of the house is the kitchen which offers extensive worksurfaces, numerous base and eye level units together with integral appliances. To one corner is a wood burner which was installed around 2010. The adjacent utility room offers additional storage and houses the oil-fired combination boiler.

The first floor provides a large welcoming landing with three double bedrooms that all provide delightful views over various parts of the gardens and countryside to the west.

Outside, the property is approached via the A1071 to the west, where the main parking area is set between the house and a detached double garage. Beyond a pedestrian gate is a patio with a range of stores to one side. A shingle path meanders through formal areas of secluded gardens with an extensive pergola walkway leading through to an orchard of numerous established fruit trees located to the northern part of the property. An expanse of lawn immediately to the south of the house with a cluster of silver birch trees gives access to numerous outbuildings including a range of stables and an open-sided four bay store. A further area of lawn with numerous raised planters abuts the main central paddock which is suitable for small scale grazing.

The remaining 4.5 acres to the south consists of a deciduous wood with a circular walkway through a mix of mature trees species of predominately oak, cherry, ash and hornbeam.

Agents note

The property is granted a vehicular right of way over the neighbouring property’s driveway to the north (Cobwebs) which gives access to the forementioned orchard.

The woodland to the south of the property has a ‘blanket’ Tree Preservation Order viz. the species of oak and gean (native cherry).

The solar panels were installed to the south side of the main roof of the house in 2014.

Location
Bower House Tye is situated just north of the village of Polstead, providing access onto the A1071 connecting to the market towns of Hadleigh and Sudbury, which offer excellent amenities. There are many local off-road bridleways offering easy hacking.

Services
Mains water, electricity and drainage are connected. Fibre optic broadband. Oil-fired heating. Solar panels with outstanding contract E-on.

Local Authority and Council Tax
Babergh with Mid Suffolk District Council
Band F (2023) A former Victorian school with numerous outbuildings all set in over 7 acres of grounds and woodland
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