Properties of the week

Suffolk is proving more popular than ever, so now is the time to explore the property of this rich and storied county

Suffolk, £645,000

Peeking through mature trees in the village of Thorndon is the yellow façade of Laurel Cottage. The four-bedroom home commands a variety of period features typical of the property’s age and status, such as mullioned windows, inglenook fireplaces, exposed beams and brick flooring. The property was originally two cottages, which have since been joined to create a picture-postcard countryside home. Although the property is shaded by mature trees that suggest a fully isolated setting, the many amenities of the village of Thorndon, such as a pub, shop and primary school, are within walking distance. The mainline station of Diss is also only six miles away, offering easy access to central London. Durrants (01379 642233)

Suffolk, £625,000

In a rural setting within the hamlet of Blacksmith’s Green is the attractive Grade Ii-listed Deerbolts Cottage, once a farmhouse, now a thatched four-bedroom home. Dating from the 16th century, this timber-frame building proudly displays its age, with exposed beams throughout, brick floors and mullioned windows. It has been modernised for 21st-century living; a kitchen with Shaker-style cabinetry and a garden room are highlights. Outside, some 1½ acres of gardens include a stream, a lawn and a meadow. Stowmarket, and its high-speed rail to London, is nine miles away. Bedfords (01284 769999)

Suffolk, £725,000

With some 2,000sq ft of living space and priced at less than £1 million, Holy Oak Barn is a divinely proportioned family home at a more than reasonable price. The structure of the property is believed to date from some time in the 18th century and the storied oak beams of the barn are still proudly on display throughout. However, mixed in with the history are all the modern comforts that any family could desire in a four-bedroom home, such as a tasteful kitchen/dining room, complete with island and integrated appliances, and a magnificent vaulted living room that consumes the entire first floor. Mix in a well-planted garden with plenty of spaces for alfresco dining or entertaining, as well as a separate garage that is ripe for conversion, and it’s tricky to imagine what more anyone could need. Perhaps good links to central London? Well that’s easily served by Stowmarket station, from which trains reach Liverpool Street Station in only one hour and 30 minutes. Strutt & Parker (01473 220433)

Suffolk, £735,000

Situated in a plot of just under an acre, and with, you guessed it, a pond, Pond Cottage is a red-brick cottage that barely deserves the name any more, considering that it has been extended and modernised to provide some 1,900sq ft of living space over two floors. With four bedrooms, three reception rooms and ample outdoor space, the property is perfect for entertaining both indoors and out, with a real rustic farmhouse feel. As well as lawned gardens, the grounds also contain a productive vegetable garden and orchard, plus a substantial garage with a wine cellar beneath. The property itself is located in the picturesque hamlet of Ilketshall St Lawrence and benefits from its proximity to market towns such as Bungay, Beccles and Halesworth. Durrants (01502 723292)