Narside Narborough | Norfolk
NARSIDE AS CALM AS A MILLPOND
A Georgian residence by a quiet riverside Has elegant rooms that span far and wide; Its Regency style, full of class and grace, Provides a chic home with masses of space, The arches and curves which are such a theme Give a stunning look of which you might dream.
AS CALM AS A MILLPOND •
A Fine Grade II Listed Georgian Village Residence with Magnificent Circular Gravelled Carriage Driveway
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Set in Approximately 1.5 Acres (stms) of Gardens and Grounds
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Offering Classic Period Living with Elegantly Proportioned Rooms
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Drawing Room, Reception Room ,Study, Dining Room & Sun Room
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Five Double Bedrooms, Two En-Suites and a Large Family Bathroom
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A Range of Good Attic Storage Rooms with Potential for Further Bedrooms
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Coach House with Annex Potential (stp) currently used as Garage & Workshop
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The Accommodation extends to 4,542 sq. ft.
Standing in a heavenly spot beside the leat, or millstream, of an old watermill on the River Nar, in West Norfolk, is a beautiful and majestic regency property. With five bedrooms, and five reception rooms, all filled with natural light from the magnificent tall Georgian sash windows, and with a pretty garden sheltered by mature trees, yet filled with sunshine, this is a place for those seduced by the combination of classical architecture and a waterside haven of peace and tranquility.
Regency Elegance Approached down a circular gravel drive, the front facade is completely captivating with its arched windows down to the ground, either side of the semi-circular Romanesque porch supported, typically, by two columns, and underneath a central pediment. A wisteria, Virginia creeper and rose are beginning to make their way up the brickwork softening the clean lines of this stately-looking building. The main part of the house was built in 1770 and 1790, and it is assumed that what was an older, more modest and less refined home, makes up much of the rear of the property, and was the miller’s home. “We have lots of old documents showing past ownership, and quite a lot of old photos too, in our possession,” says the current owner, who moved here about five years ago. “We came from London wanting somewhere with more space, happened to see Narside online, and as soon as we came to view the property, fell in love with it straight away. It is such a beautifully proportioned building, but there was a huge amount of work to be done. We largely tried to take things out to restore it to its original Georgian state.”
Symphony of Curves The wide entrance hall, which reaches front to back, is laid with chequerboard tiles, creating a very striking effect immediately as you walk in through the double, solid timber, front door, its pretty fanlight above. In fact, the vista ahead is a symphony of sensuous curves with the graceful staircase sweeping round and up at the far end through a high central arch. Either side, glazed double doors open into the drawing
room and the library, both dual aspect, large, refined rooms drenched in light through the tall, arched, sash windows down to the floor. The drawing room has oak floorboards underfoot and a classic, Georgianstyle fireplace with solid marble surround housing a log-burner, and at the far south-facing end, a large bay with triple arched windows projects into the garden. The library is carpeted and has almost floor to ceiling bookshelves to one side of the impressive Adam-style fireplace incorporating its own mirror with pediment above, reflecting the serene view of water flowing by in the leat outside. Both rooms are simply and tastefully furnished, and each being over twenty feet long and nearly sixteen feet wide, accommodate the owners’ baby grand and boudoir pianos with ease. Double doors from the drawing room, and a door from the hall, lead into the dining room with its white-painted floorboards, and a central arched niche, a repeating element within the house. This leads through to the kitchen either side of the niche, and on the south-facing wall, through to the spacious, timber-framed conservatory with travertine-tiled floor, through a very wide, partially-glazed opening, throwing plenty of light into the room. “The conservatory is used a lot in the summer - we tend to eat all our meals in there. Although the conservatory is heated we prefer the comfort of the dining room during the winter months,” informs the owner. At the back of this room up steps, is a door accessing what would have been the servants’ stairs, as the dining room was thought to have been the kitchen, and the kitchen the scullery.
Funky Contemporary Kitchen The kitchen is an interesting bespoke design created with imagination and flair. Another light and airy room with a pair of windows over the river on one side, and a big south-facing window over the garden on the other. The floor is marble tiles with underfloor heating, the back wall is clad in slate blue metro tiles with recessed shelves and features a black two-oven electric Aga.
”The kitchen was in a bit of a state and had some tired 50s metal cabinets, so we changed it completely. The lighting is quite a feature: it’s all LED including changing colours in the shelving; the children have great fun when getting into disco mode!”
The opposite wall has a bespoke open shelved unit, and the long central island providing a good run of worktop, incorporates numerous drawers, the back and sides papered in a bright yellow Orla Kiely design, injecting interest and bright colour into this funky kitchen. “The kitchen was in a bit of a state and had some tired 50s metal cabinets, so we changed it completely,” says the owner. “The lighting is quite a feature: it’s all LED including changing colours in the shelving;” Two more ways through from the kitchen open into a very useful pantry on one side where the owners’ fridge freezer is situated, and the utility area on the other, with space for a washing machine and tumble dryer. Beyond the utility and past the boiler room (there is oil-fired central heating) are some stairs up to a large area currently used for storage. With a northfacing window, this heated room has been used as a studio in the past and certainly has scope, especially since the ceiling is reasonably high.
modern chrome tap and circular, countertop basin.
Spotting Nature
The second bedroom on the other side of the house is even larger than the master, and is also dual aspect, with the same curved-top niche but with an extremely large window within it overlooking the garden. Three more bedrooms are all of a good size, some with fireplaces, some with built-in wardrobes. The fourth, east-facing, bedroom has a lovely en suite with a fitted modern bath with a shower over, its walls covered in plain taupe tiles, a timber floor, a lavatory, and a washbasin set into a modern vanity unit under an arched niche, with a big sash window looking into the garden below. The fifth bedroom is currently being used as an office, and is next to the master suite.
Back in the main part of the property, across the hallway at the back, and up some steps (as it is located over the cellar), there is a charming study, which could be used as a sixth bedroom or as a playroom. “The study has two windows over the river so has lovely views. It’s quite a good nature-watching spot - you see swans swimming up the water, and sometimes muntjac deer,” enthuses the owner. The room has a Georgian-style fireplace, and pretty, Gothic-arched windows down to the ground. On the way to the study you pass the downstairs lavatory which is papered in a delightful, coral pink wallpaper of oversized poppies, and has a
Impressive Bedrooms Moving up the elegant, carpeted, main staircase with its serpentine mahogany handrail, the upstairs is as much of a treat as downstairs. Again, the rooms are magnificently large and filled with natural light. Under an internal arch, the master bedroom has a gothic-arched window featuring blue glass panels set into a wide curved-top niche perfect for accommodating a big double bed. Built-in wardrobes with panelled doors flank the niche, and a huge Georgian sash window overlooks the front garden to the west. Opposite is a bedroom fireplace, and a door into the en suite which is fitted with a contemporary suite comprising fitted bath with hand-held shower spray, lavatory, and basin in a stylish modern vanity unit, huge mirror panel behind. The walls are clad in sea green metro tiles and the floor is timber boards.
Spectacular Family Bathroom At the back of the house, past the maids’ staircase, is a fantastic, huge, fully-tiled, family bathroom with underfloor heating. With a modern, centrally-positioned bath, there is a massive wetroom shower area, complete with built-in tiled seat, its walls clad in geometrically-patterned tiles, so too the bath panelling. The back wall is mirrored creating a sense of an even bigger space, and eaves storage is along one side. The twin, circular, stone basins sit on bespoke timber shelving under the window with garden views of the river. “As with all the bathrooms, we have completely refitted and refurbished them providing a classic yet up-to-date finish,” says the owner. “The whole house has been redecorated using Farrow & Ball paint, and upstairs all the carpets are brand new.” Still more space is found on a second floor. Stairs lead up to an attic. With large storage areas on one side, the attic room itself is over twenty feet long, with a fireplace at the end, and a window shedding light into the room. This gives great potential for developing into another living space, whether as a bedroom, playroom or studio.
Heavenly Garden Narside sits on a plot just over one and a half acres. The garden has been transformed - following much hard labour - into something very special. Large and private, it has many mature trees, the river - which is mainly fenced off - a beautiful paved area surrounded by well planted beds of perennials and enclosed by box hedging, and an area for growing vegetables. “We own a little bit of land on the other side of the leat,” mentions the owner. “It’s about a twenty-five feet wide strip that runs down the length of the garden.” There is also a sizeable garage within the grounds, built more recently against an old, perhaps stables’ wall, it has timber double doors into two garages which flank a large workshop with windows to the front. “There are many outbuildings here, not only the big garage and workshop, but there is quite an elaborate and big greenhouse built against an old wall, a large woodshed at the back, as well as what we think may have been an orangery. There is interesting potential here: it is slightly Gothic in appearance, adjoining the old watermill and originally had a timber and glass roof, and looks to have old heating pipes,” says the owner.
A Perfect Family Home The property makes an idyllic family home, not only with so much space inside and out, but with the village primary school within walking distance down the road. The local secondary school is The Sacred Heart convent school in the market town of Swaffham just five miles away, which also provides many supermarkets including Waitrose!
Energy Graph
Additional Information LOCAL AUTHORITY Breckland District Council. Council Tax Band - G AGENTS NOTES: Mains Water, Electricity, Oil Fired Central Heating and Septic Tank These particulars, whilst believed to be accurate, are set out as a general outline only for guidance and do not constitute any part of an offer or contract. Intending purchasers should not rely on them as statements of representation of fact, but must satisfy themselves by inspection or otherwise as to their accuracy. No person in the employment of Fine & Country or Norfolk Country Properties has the authority to make or give any representation or warranty in respect of the property. We would also point out that we have not tested any of the appliances and purchasers should make their own enquiries to the relevant authorities regarding the connection of any services.
Norfolk Country Properties. Registered in England and Wales No. 06777456. Registered Office - 15B Regatta Quay, Key Street, Ipswich, IP4 1FH copyright Š 2017 Fine & Country Ltd.
Agents notes: The floor plans are for illustration purposes only. All measurements: walls, doors, window fittings and appliances and their sizes and locations are shown conventionally and are approximate only and cannot be regarded as being a representation either by the seller or his agent. Š Unauthorised reproduction prohibited.
Location
Postcode for satellite navigation: PE32 1TE
On The Doorstep...
How Far Is It To...
Directions
Narborough is situated in the Nar Valley in Norfolk and boasts the Parish Church of All Saints, the Narborough Trout & Coarse Lakes and Narborough Hall with its eighteenth century parkland surrounded by lakes, gardens and woods. The village has a community centre, primary school, post office and a popular Cantonese Restaurant the Ship Inn. The surrounding countryside comprises woodland, arable farmland and grazing/ meadow land.
Narborough lies between King’s Lynn (12.5 miles) and Swaffham (6.5 miles) just off the A47, and so well positioned for road and rail connections into London. King’s Lynn offers all major facilities including hospital with A&E, doctors and dental surgeries, schools, colleges, sports centres and swimming pool, shops and supermarkets, museum, theatre and cinema. The Royal Estate at Sandringham is approximately a 25 minute drive away and from here you can reach the coast and enjoy its seaside towns such as Hunstanton. The historic city of Norwich with its International Airport is just 35 miles away and the picturesque Broads area is only a couple of hours drive.
From King’s Lynn, access the A47 eastbound signposted Norwich and after approx. 8 miles turn right from the A47 onto Main Road towards Narborough. After approx. 0.5 miles you will find Narside on your left.
To arrange a viewing of this property please contact North & West Norfolk King’s Lynn Innovation Centre, Innovation Drive, King’s Lynn, Norfolk PE30 5BY Tel: 01553 769 100 www.fineandcountry.com If you have been thinking of selling and getting nowhere fast then the first move you should make is to contact an agent who can deliver outstanding results. Here at Fine & Country we know that our unique approach to selling houses works. For more information on any of the services Fine & Country can offer, please call 01553 769 100 and speak to Jan von Draczek at our North & West Norfolk office. © All rights reserved by Norfolk Country Properties Ltd for the World outside the UK. Any unauthorised copying or publishing of either the words or photographs contained in this brochure will constitute an infringement of the copyright.
On The Doorstep...
Narborough Hall
Narborough Watermill
Narborough Fishery
Fine & Country Tel: +44 (0) 1553 769 100 kingslynn@fineandcountry.com King’s Lynn Innovation Centre, Innovation Drive, King’s Lynn, Norfolk, PE30 5BY