See inside St Mary's Square townhouse in Bury St Edmunds where Francis Sandys, architect of Ickworth's Rotunda used to live

A Suffolk townhouse that was extended by Francis Sandys, architect of the Rotunda at Ickworth, is now on the market.

Dating back to the 16th century, 6 St Mary's Square in Bury St Edmunds, has evolved over time.

The property is now on sale with Savills with a guide price of £1,950,000.

Listed as a Grade II* building, 6 St Mary's Square is an elegant Georgian townhouse with large reception rooms and deep sash windows.

The Irish-born architect Francis Sandys, who built Earl-Bishop's Palace at Ickworth in 1796 which consisted of a Pantheon-domed elliptical rotunda, lived in the property and expanded it in the early 19th century.

Sandys lived in Bury St Edmunds where he also designed the Assembly Rooms (now The Athenaeum) as well as Finborough Hall near Stowmarket.

Property agent Katy Stephenson said: "6 St Mary's Square provides stylishly comfortable 21st century living within a stunningly beautiful house.

"It's an absolute architectural gem, placed within the medieval grid."

When entering the ground floor, the principal reception rooms are an impressive scale, with high ceilings, sash windows, internal shutters, deep skirtings and decorative cornicing, which are features that you would expect to find in a property dating from this period.

The dining room, drawing room and kitchen all have double doors enabling the rooms to be completely open plan which is perfect for entertaining or alternatively they can be closed to use the rooms individually.

The dining room has beautiful panelling, oak flooring and great views out across St Mary's Square.

An open fireplace as well as fitted book shelves and cupboards make up the the drawing room with an oak flooring.

The kitchen has a range of bespoke wooden wall and base mounted units with granite worktops as well as a large wooden island unit with a granite work top and storage beneath.

French doors lead directly out of the kitchen onto the terrace which is perfect for al fresco dining.

Below the sitting room and dining room and reached by stairs leading down from the inner hall, is a spacious cellar containing 19th century wine bins.

A fine early 18th century dog-leg stair rises through two storeys and is decoratively carved with barley-sugar twist balusters, closed strings, moulded handrail and panelled dado. A dado is a slot or trench cut into the surface of a piece of machinable material, normally wood.

On the first floor, the principal bedroom offers more views across St Mary's Square and also benefits from a walk in wardrobe and expansive en suite bathroom.

There is a second bedroom with en suite shower room on the first floor. The second floor provides a further three bedrooms, one with an en suite shower room and a family bathroom.

The gardens feature a wide sandstone terrace, large central lawn and extensive parking, and the Coach House provides garaging and workshop space.