See inside £1.45m Grade II-listed country house in Hoxne, near Eye and Diss, with rich history and ancient moat
A six-bedroom Grade II-listed house with an ancient moat in a Suffolk village is now on the market.
The Old Vicarage, set in the heart of Hoxne, near Eye and Diss, has a rich history interwoven with the ecclesiastical heritage of East Anglia.
Principally dating from 1470, the property, which is now on sale with Savills with a guide price of £1,450,000, is thought to stand on the site of a former bishop's palace.
The Domesday Book of 1086 refers to Hoxne as the seat of a bishopric and it is believed that bishops of East Anglia had an official residence as early as the 10th century, during the late Anglo-Saxon period.
In the The Buildings of England series, in which The Old Vicarage is listed, Sir Nikolaus Pevsner has highlighted the large moat that encompasses the property
Property agent Peter Ogilvie, head of residential sales at Savills in Suffolk, said: ”The Old Vicarage is one of the most delightful and impressive properties of its age.
“Later additions include a striking two-tier roof featuring queenposts and kingposts and distinctive studwork and brick nogging to the façade.
“Today it has been meticulously restored and enhanced to create a comfortable family home, seamlessly blending historical charm with modern practicality.
Mr Ogilvie added: “I particularly love the ancient moat – I can just imagine rowing a boat along its clear waters, while the beautifully proportioned interiors, enchanting gardens and spectacular views over the Waveney Valley make it truly special.”
Constructed as a hall house with a gabled and jettied cross-wing, The Old Vicarage has seen centuries of evolution.
Its late 15th or early 16th-century reconstruction introduced a striking two-tier roof featuring queenposts and kingposts, while renovations completed in 1870, under the direction of Edward Heneage Paget (vicar of Hoxne) added the distinctive studwork and brick nogging to the façade.
Retaining many of its period features, the Grade II-listed building has been meticulously restored and enhanced to create a comfortable family home, blending historical charm with modern practicality.
The gardens around the property extend to about 4.3 acres and are framed by the ancient moat that predates the house.
The moat's substantial size and clarity lend weight to the theory that this was once the site of the original Bishops of East Anglia's palace.
Its waters, which are teeming with fish, are crossed by a footbridge and complemented by a jetty.
To the back of the house lies a large pond with a terrace which presents an idyllic spot for feeding the fish or enjoying al fresco dining, while two additional terraces provide further opportunities for outdoor entertaining.
The grounds are home to a Wellingtonia tree, an ancient mulberry tree and an array of verdant lawns and well-tended borders.
There are two substantial summer houses also within the grounds, one presently used as a gym and the other, which benefits from mains electricity and lighting, as a hobby or crafts room.