abbotFox Bespoke presents The Old Carpenters, a five-bedroom home originally built as a carpenter’s workshop on the Quidenham Estate and sitting in a plot of over an acre and a half (stms).
From our sellers
“It sits beautifully in the centre of its plot, which means it gets loads of lovely sunshine all day.”
Introduction
This five-bedroom home was originally built as a carpenter’s workshop on the Quidenham Estate and sits in a plot of over an acre and a half.
It was converted and later extended to create a comfortable family home. It could do with further updating, may even be extended, and offers income potential thanks to a self-contained cabin in the garden.
Inside
The main living spaces are located on the ground floor and include an open-plan kitchen and living space, as well as a snug and more private living room which has an exposed brick fireplace with a bressummer beam above.
Upstairs, there are five bedrooms, including two with extensive fitted wardrobes and two with en suites. Two family bathrooms are accessed off a central landing.
Outside
The Old Carpenters is located in a conservation area and was once part of the Quidenham Estate which covers 3,600 acres of beautiful Norfolk countryside and includes 500 acres of mature woodland.
The surrounding woodland is still very much a part of the property’s story. Previously used by the property’s original owner, the former estate carpenter, it now provides a spectacular backdrop to the home, along with over 1.6 acres of private gardens and far-reaching field views.
The property also comes with a double garage, large driveway with a turning circle and a modern, self-contained one-bedroom cabin. This could be used as a holiday let or Airbnb in the future and includes a bedroom, sitting room, kitchen and utility space.
Reception rooms
While some of the fixtures and fittings could do with some updating and cosmetic TLC, the house’s layout and sense of space offers great potential.
There is a large open-plan kitchen and living room at the rear, which features a wall of good-sized kitchen cabinets and worktops, space for a sofa and dining table and another bright and light living area, which somehow also feels tucked away.
The separate living room is much cosier, with an exposed brick fireplace dominating one of its walls and a set of sliding doors letting in loads of natural light. Elsewhere, a small snug provides an even cosier space in which to relax and unwind.
Bedrooms and bathrooms
Five bedrooms are accessed off a central landing on the first floor, along with two family bathrooms, and four of the bedrooms have air conditioning. One of the bathrooms has already been refurbished to create a stylish and
contemporary shower room. There are en suite facilities to two of the bedrooms, both of which are doubles, and two bedrooms benefit from extensive fitted wardrobes, while the remaining bedrooms are all served by a family bathroom with a P-shaped panelled bath and separate shower cubicle.
Features
The grounds around The Old Carpenters are particularly lovely, offering over an acre and a half of private gardens surrounded by field views and secluded woodland.
The main property is of a good size and offers lots of flexibility. It’s ripe for cosmetic renovation, with many of the fixtures and fittings in need of a bit of an update.
The one-bedroom cabin in the garden is a great addition and provides a potential income stream, particularly for those wanting to holiday nearby and enjoy the many attractions the area has to offer. Inside, it’s fully panelled with modern living spaces and a private kitchen, bedroom which has air conditioning, and living area with log burner, as well as a bathroom and a separate toilet off the utility room. The cabin also benefits from underfloor heating in the kitchen/utility room and en-suite shower room. Outside, there is a private patio area off the lounge.
Practicalities
The kitchen is large and well-fitted and includes a good range of worktop and storage space, although it would benefit from some work to update it. It merges with a dining and seating area to create one large, sociable living space, while more private reception areas can be found in the separate living room and a former snug (now a clinic) there is also a study.
At the very rear of the property, there are boot and utility rooms and a further utility area can also be found in the cabin.
Off-road parking is provided by a large driveway and double garage. Access is via electrically operated gates with a live video feed to the main house and cabin. There is CCTV installed.
Location
The Old Carpenters is located in Quidenham, a small rural village which has a traditional green in the centre. It used to be part of the bigger Quidenham Estate and retains much of its original countryside charm, with rolling fields and woodland nearby.
Despite its rural location, however, it offers easy access to the A11, connecting the village to Norwich, Newmarket and the A14. The closest railway station is Attleborough, which runs direct services to Cambridge, and there is also a mainline station in Diss.
Families
With five-bedrooms, sociable living spaces and separate, self-contained accommodation, The Old Carpenters is well-suited to families, including those which span the generations.
The grounds and gardens are of a good size but still very manageable and there is a lot of countryside to enjoy nearby, as well as nearby attractions which include Banham Zoo, Snetterton Circuit and Thetford Forest. The village also has a thriving and active community, with several sociable gatherings and events held throughout the year.
The nearby villages of Kenninghall and East Harling have local shops, post offices and pubs and local primary and secondary schools can also be found in the neighbouring villages and towns of Banham, Old Buckenham and Attleborough.
Our agent's view
“The Old Carpenters has an interesting history, having once been part of the Quidenham Estate, but what I’m really interested in is what it could be to new owners.
It offers lots of space, an idyllic location and loads of character, but it’s fair to say it really could do with some updating. It’s a bit of a project, in that regard - but it would only be building on what’s already there.
I love the sense of seclusion it offers and the size of the rooms. With a bit of care, a sympathetic eye and a lick of paint and restyling, it could be a truly lovely family home.” Samuel Le Good I Partner