In Summary
KEY FEATURES
A fabulous forever home
As soon as you arrive at Willow Lodge, you begin to appreciate the substance and character of this individual property. Located prominently in the centre of the village and overlooking the playing fields, Willow Lodge is a superb late Victorian detached residence, standing squarely in its plot behind well-stocked borders and mature trees which separate the in-and-out gravel driveway from the road beyond.
The architecture is typical of the period, with a symmetrical red brick façade, large sash windows which admit plenty of natural light into the high-ceilinged rooms beyond, and twin chimney stacks standing proudly at each end of the pitched roof. Two delightful flowerbeds, packed with flowers and shrubs, and bounded by neatly-clipped box hedging, enhance the traditional aspect of the property, flanking the original timber front door which provides a suitably impressive entryway into this 130-year-old family home.
Look beyond the original Victorian structure though, and you will find an extensive and sympathetic renovation, carried out by the current owners, which has transformed Willow Lodge into a modern and energy-efficient property – including vastly improved insulation and photovoltaic solar panels with feed-in tariff.
From the moment you walk into the bright and spacious entrance hall, you can feel the warm welcome offered by this much-loved family home. From the diamond-patterned tiling on the floor, past the timber staircase leading to the first-floor bedrooms, and up to the high coved ceiling, this is a property which invites you in, and immediately makes you feel at home.
The hallway runs from the front of the property to the back, with all the principal rooms accessed from it. To the left, the living room is the perfect place to welcome guests during the day or spend long evenings relaxing in front of the wood-burning stove. Double doors lead from here into the snug, which is a more informal lounge area, and which gives access to the impressive hardwood conservatory, offering fantastic views of the garden beyond, and usable all year round thanks to underfloor heating.
On the right of the hallway, the formal dining room will seat 10 in comfort, with plenty of space for additional furnishings. Beyond here, the extended kitchen is the heart of this home, with a gas-fired AGA, ample space for a generous kitchen table, and more wonderful garden views.
Off the kitchen, a utility room leads through to the garage/workshop, whilst towards the back of the property, a rear lobby and cloakroom complete the ground floor accommodation.
Walking up the staircase to the first floor, the sense of space and substance continues. From the galleried landing, the four original bedrooms in the property can be accessed. Two of these are generous doubles, whilst the smaller single bedroom is currently in use as a first-floor study. In the master suite, the owners have created a spacious sanctuary, with a large double bedroom to the front of the property, a well-equipped en-suite shower room, and through this, a dressing room, which provides ample clothes storage.
To the rear of the first floor is a newer part of the property, which incorporates the family bathroom, and a further en-suite bedroom which enjoys superb views of the rear garden.
The garden is beautifully maintained, with a well-tended lawn at its centre, surrounded by lushly-planted beds with a huge variety of plants and shrubs, interspersed with mature trees offering dappled shade and structure. There are seating areas positioned carefully to maximise the benefit of the sun as it moves across the garden during the day, and this private space includes an arbour and a gazebo, as well as a paved patio area, providing ample opportunities for outdoor relaxation.
At the rear of the property, there is access to a further gravel driveway, which provides hardstanding for a boat or caravan, as well as further off-road parking, and which is screened by the well-stocked borders as it leads back to the house towards a timber shed and the barn doors of the garage beyond.
Homes of this type are immensely sought-after in Blofield, and Willow Lodge is sure to prove popular with buyers seeking a substantial home in a thriving Norfolk village. Viewing is strictly by appointment through Pendefords – The Individual Property Specialists.
Location
The village of Blofield has long been a popular place to live in Norfolk, thanks to its location approximately six miles East of the City of Norwich, along the main route between Norwich and Great Yarmouth on the East Coast. It became a prosperous village during the 15th Century and continued this development up to the early 20th Century, with an Edwardian courthouse, several inns, and the large parish Church of St. Andrew and St. Peter reflecting Blofield’s importance in the wool trade at the time.
The economy may have changed, but Blofield still remains a vibrant and active village with a strong community feel. The village centre contains a local Post Office and convenience store, several independent local businesses, and the well-regarded King’s Head public house. The church occupies a prominent position along a leafy lane to the south of the village centre, while to the north, a medical centre, OFSTED Outstanding-rated primary school and fish and chip shop may be found.
There’s a choice of local leisure activities; the courthouse offers a regular community cinema, and Blofield benefits from a tennis club, golf course and football club based in the village, whilst the local farm shop and camping stores provide the perfect source of supplies to pack up a picnic and head out to the nearby Broads National Park or the wide skies and expansive beaches of the Norfolk Coast, only 30 minutes’ drive away.
The village is well-located, with good road transport links via the adjacent A47 and by rail from the neighbouring village of Brundall, which offers a direct service into Norwich and, from there, connections to London Liverpool Street in 90 minutes. Homes here are popular, and the character properties such as Willow Lodge, with its enviable position in the village and generous established gardens, are always highly sought after.
Inside the property
On the ground floor:
Entrance Hall
Original timber door to front aspect with leaded light over, coved textured ceiling. Staircase to first floor with understairs storage cupboard, tiled floor, radiator, dado rail, doors to:
Living Room
4.46m x 4.36m
Dual aspect window with double-glazed timber sash window to front aspect and double-glazed timber casement window to side. Smooth plastered ceiling with ceiling rose, cornice and picture rail. Feature exposed brick fireplace incorporating wood-burner on granite hearth with wooden mantel and surround, radiator, fitted carpets. Part-glazed double doors to:
Snug
3.83m x 3.51m
Double-glazed timber casement window to side aspect, smooth plastered coved ceiling. Feature fireplace incorporating decorative cast iron open fire with ornate tiled surround and timber mantel onto tiled hearth, fitted storage cupboard, fitted carpets, door to:
Conservatory
3.74m x 3.96m
Double-glazed hardwood conservatory with glazing to three sides and pitched roof. French doors to rear garden, side door to garden, ceramic tiled floor with underfloor heating.
Dining Room
4.48m x 4.36m
Double-glazed timber sash window to front aspect, smooth plastered ceiling with ceiling rose, cornice and picture rail. Chimney breast featuring open fire onto marble hearth with wooden mantle and sandstone surround, and with fitted cabinets and shelving to either side. Timber floorboards, radiator, door to:
Kitchen/Breakfast Room
4.42m x 6.17m max
Dual aspect room with double-glazed timber casement windows to rear and side aspects. Smooth plastered ceiling with recessed ceiling lights and pendant light over table. Comprehensive range of fitted units incorporating one-and-a-half bowl ceramic sink with mixer tap over, glass display units, plumbing for dishwasher, gas AGA range cooker with vent over, built-in pantry cupboard, ceramic tiled floor, door to:
Utility Room
2.63m x 1.83m
Smooth plastered ceiling, fitted storage cupboards matching kitchen units with space for American-style fridge freezer, space for freestanding electric cooker, door to:
Garage/Workshop
2.77m x 6.25m
Obscure glazed timber sash window to front aspect, barn doors to rear aspect. Wall shelving and worktops with stainless steel sink unit with mixer tap, space for American-style fridge freezer, plumbing for washing machine, wall-mounted gas-fired boiler, light and power.
Rear Lobby
Smooth plastered ceiling, door to rear garden, ceramic tiled floor, radiator, door to:
Cloakroom
Smooth plastered ceiling, glazed brick window to rear aspect, extractor fan, W.C., washbasin, ceramic tiled floor, half-panelled walls with dado.
On the First Floor:
First floor landing
Smooth plastered coved ceiling with ceiling rose, fitted carpets, doors to:
Bedroom One
4.48m x 4.36m
Double-glazed timber sash window to front aspect, smooth plastered ceiling with picture rail, decorative cast iron feature fireplace onto tiled hearth, fitted carpets, radiator, door to:
En-suite Shower Room
1.87m x 2.00m
Obscure glazed timber casement window to side aspect, smooth plastered ceiling with recessed ceiling lights and loft access hatch, double shower cubicle with rainfall shower, dual flush W.C., vanity washbasin, wall-mounted heated towel rail, door to:
Dressing Room
Smooth plastered ceiling with loft access hatch, wardrobe shelving.
Bedroom Two
4.00m x 4.34m
Double-glazed timber sash window to front aspect, smooth plastered ceiling with picture rail, decorative cast iron feature fireplace onto tiled hearth, fitted carpets, radiator, fitted wardrobe storage and fitted shelving.
Bedroom Three
3.85m x 3.57m
Double-glazed timber casement window to side aspect, smooth plastered ceiling, fitted carpets, radiator.
Bedroom Five / Study
2.34m x 2.57m
Double-glazed timber casement window to front aspect, smooth plastered ceiling with loft access hatch, fitted shelving, radiator, fitted carpets.
Rear hallway
Steps down from first floor landing, smooth plastered ceiling, dado rail, fitted carpets, radiator. Built-in airing cupboard housing hot water cylinder, Velux window. Doors to:
Bathroom
3.23m max x 1.68m
Smooth plastered ceiling, obscure glazed timber casement window to rear aspect, panelled bath, pedestal wash basin. W.C., built-in shower cubicle with electric shower over, vinyl flooring, wall-mounted heated towel rail.
Bedroom Four
3.45m x 3.34m
Double-glazed timber casement window to rear aspect, smooth plastered ceiling with recessed ceiling lights and picture rail, fitted carpets, radiator, door to:
En-suite Shower Room
Smooth plastered ceiling with recessed ceiling lights, glazed brick window to side aspect, shower cubicle with electric shower over, W.C., washbasin, radiator, vinyl flooring.
Outside the property
To the front of the property is a shingled in-and-out driveway which provides parking for several vehicles. Two large, well-stocked beds with semi-formal planting and low-level box hedging are positioned directly in front of the property, whilst a further border closer to the boundary which is stocked with mature shrubs and trees provides shade and privacy.
To the rear of the property the rear garden is predominantly laid to lawn, surrounded by well-stocked beds containing a variety of flowers and shrubs including magnolia and camellia. There is a paved patio area directly to the rear of the house, and other seating areas throughout the garden including a timber arbour and a timber gazebo. A shingled driveway which provides ample further off-street parking or hardstanding for a caravan is accessed from the rear of the property, and this leads in turn to the rear of the garage/workshop.
Tenure: Freehold
Council Tax Rating: E
Disclaimer: These particulars do not constitute part or all of an offer or contract. The measurements indicated are supplied for guidance only. Potential buyers are advised to recheck measurements before committing to any expense. We have not tested any apparatus, equipment, fixtures or services and it is in the buyers interest to check the working condition of any appliances. A buyer should ensure that their legal representative confirms as soon as possible all matters relating to title including the extent and boundaries of the property and other important matters before exchange of contracts.