5 bedroom detached house

The peace and tranquillity was tangible, then they cast their eyes on The Old Laundry; a period house they instantly knew they wanted to call home.

A decade on and there is still a calming effect as you step out of the car in Didlington. The face of this period home is much the same, but inside many stories can be told, having been remodelled to a delighting standard.

As the names suggest, this property previously served as the laundry for the grand Didlington Hall, which once stood a short distance away. Today, The Old Laundry is one of few lasting reminders of the historic house; in World War II the hall was requisitioned by the army and so badly damaged beyond repair, it was demolished. Many claim this as one of the most serious losses not only to Norfolk - but to England.

It's thought, if Dildlington Hall still stood, with its fabulous collection of art and books, it would be regarded as one of the great treasured houses of England. Its connections were as far-reaching as King Tutankhamun and his tomb.

You only need to look upon The Old Laundry to see that its DNA runs tight with Didlington Hall. Although a little way off the abundance of bedrooms that once stood down the road, the property is a thing of beauty and with its 7 ornate Tudor style Chimney stacks it is hard to believe this was at one time in essence a workers building for the main estate.

Proudly, the current owners have filled The Old Laundry with love. Restoration has included a new kitchen, refurbishment of all rooms including a balcony to the primary bedroom and extensive works to the roof and chimneys.

Step through the front door and you are greeted by a warm hallway, the perfect welcome for family and visiting friends.

Off which, the formal dining room, study and opulent utility stem from. This side of the house can conveniently be separated, making a perfect space for multi-generational living or a working from home environment.

But it is in the double height living room where history has been maintained; previously the main working floor for the laundry, hidden underneath the engineered oak floor you will discover the original tracks for the laundry carts. Today light fills this space through floor to ceiling windows and double doors, both south facing, opening onto the private courtyard. Perfect for a summer's evening, while a feature fireplace turns this room into a cosy retreat on long winter nights.

A real 'cook's kitchen' with convenient island, tempts you to whip up a feast or entertain guests. This spacious room naturally gravitates towards an area designed to sit, chat, eat and drink. With the added teppanyaki hot plate there is an extra draw to the area and gives the chef another tool to showcase some amazing meals.

Upstairs, there are five double bedrooms for a family or guests to fill. The primary bedroom not only has a stunning en-suite with twin sinks and a fully fitted dressing room, but a fabulous balcony where the current owners love to sit out on in the warmer months.

To the left and surrounding the garden is the original brick-built wall of The Walled Garden, which would have sat next door to the property. Outside not only is there more than an acre (stms) but a large pond that helps attract all manner of wildlife to the area, a double garage, a double cart shed and a home gym that could easily be changed to a study, play room or even extra accommodation.
 

DIDLINGTON A haven for wildlife, offering endless miles of walks, Thetford forest is one of the largest pine forests in England. With activities including Go Ape, bike paths and picnic areas, it is also a popular location for performances by international music acts. The small hamlet of Didlington, is located right in the heart of it all.

The sought-after market town of Thetford provides a good range of everyday shopping facilities, a twice weekly market and has a well-regarded grammar school. There are a number of leisure facilities nearby including Breckland Waterworld, which is the largest swimming complex in the area, boasting three swimming pools and a gym. Thetford boasts well-connected transport links with trains to Norwich, London, Cambridge and Peterborough. It's location by the A11 means Norwich is just 25 miles way by car and Bury St Edmunds just 15 miles, while the dual carriageway all the way to the A14 means Newmarket and Cambridge are an easy commute.
 

SERVICES CONNECTED Mains water, electricity, private drainage and oil fired central heating. 

COUNCIL TAX Band G. 

ENERGY EFFICIENCY RATING E. Ref:- 6332-4325-4100-0843-6292
To retrieve the Energy Performance Certificate for this property please visit and enter in the reference number above. Alternatively, the full certificate can be obtained through Sowerbys.  

TENURE This is a freehold property. 

PROPERTY REFERENCE 23489