Immaculately presented and extended country house in stunning park land setting.

Description

Ruffins House, which was formerly part of the Marquis of Bristol’s Ickworth Estate, is a substantial country property set back in a parkland setting with a long winding drive, which culminates in a wide gravel forecourt and then through ornate brick piers to the clock house courtyard. The property is believed to have been constructed circa 1840 and is of brick and flint construction under a peg tile roof with five octagonal chimneys. Ruffins House combines many of the qualities of an outstanding country house: a handsome facade, parkland setting, elegant reception rooms and an impressive sweeping approach. The house is reached through brick pillars with electronically operated gates and wing walled entrance. There is a ha ha and a further automated gate with the drive passing a large parking area to the east of the house. In recent years the house has undergone an extensive modernisation, extension and refurbishment programme. Period features have been sympathetically retained along side providing state of the art 21st century living such as underfloor heating, air conditioning, Sonos system, CAT 6 along with Toto sanitary ware, a Reko lighting system and CCTV. The accommodation, which is arranged over three floors is well presented throughout and incorporates many decorative features associated with the period including arched decorative cornicing, oak panelling, open fireplaces and an impressive oak staircase.

On the ground floor there is a spacious, light filled reception hall, elegant double aspect drawing room, a very comfortable sitting room with double doors out on to the mature, landscaped gardens and a large study/office. Of particular note is the stunning bespoke, luxury open plan kitchen entered through the rear entrance hall with utility and cloakroom off. The kitchen has been built to the highest specification with high-end appliances including Wolf ovens and a Sub-Zero built in fridge. The island is a sight to behold with built in Bora Tapinaki and induction hob. In addition to the kitchen, through pocket doors lies a pantry fitted out with a commercial walk in fridge and separate walk in freezer. The kitchen opens out in to the garden/family room which benefits from a coffee station, walls of glass either side of the room with bi-fold doors out on to the terrace affording views out across the surrounding south facing gardens and parkland. The dining room lies beyond and has two sets of double doors out on the the west facing garden. A second office can be accessed from the dining room and externally via the internal courtyard.

On the first floor the principal bedroom lies along the western elevation with en suite shower room and walk in wardrobe. A further guest suite affords a large bedroom, en suite bathroom and dressing room with doors out on to the balcony. There are a further two double bedrooms, one with an en suite bathroom and balcony, and a family bathroom. The second floor offers two further bedrooms, sitting/store room and games room/bedroom, as well as a bathroom. The second floor could easily be used as a self contained flat.

Outside
The grounds are very much a feature of Ruffins and have been vastly improved by the current owners with the planting of over 400 specimen trees and the creation of a formal garden to the west of the house with a wide sand stone terrace. There is also a striking avenue of pleached hornbeam trees running south from the sitting room bay window. The entire 27.2 acres are fully fenced throughout with stock proof fencing and are predominantly given to parkland but also feature a six acre post and rail paddock with water laid on, woodland belt and orchard featuring dessert and cider apples as well as pear and cherry. There is an outbuilding with “lean to” providing storage and an adjoining four bay open barn (40’ x 16’4” external) providing implement and material storage.

Annexe, Old School House and outbuildings
A separate annexe which features a sitting room with kitchenette, two bedrooms and a bathroom is located within the courtyard along with the detached former school house and a range of garages, which lie along the northern side of the courtyard.

Location

Ruffins House is set within the heart of mature parkland close to the villages of Horringer, Chedburgh and Chevington. The cathedral town of Bury St Edmunds is about four miles to the north east, which provides a full range of schooling, recreational and shopping facilities. Other centres within easy reach are Newmarket (11 miles), Cambridge (29 miles) and Ipswich (30 miles). The property is conveniently located for road communications, with the A14 3 miles to the north. There are fast and frequent trains to London Kings Cross from Cambridge (about 60 minutes) and from Stowmarket to London Liverpool Street Station (about 85 minutes). Stansted Airport is about 40 miles distant and London about 85 miles. There is a broad selection of schools in the area, including Culford School, Barnardiston, Old Buckenham Hall and Riddlesworth. Sporting amenities include racing at Newmarket and local point to points. Golf at Flempton, Stowmarket and Bury St Edmunds.

Square Footage: 10,552 sq ft


Acreage: 27.4 Acres

Additional Info

Mains water and electricity. Oil fired central heating. Private drainage.