Mendham, Harleston, Norfolk, IP20

Lot 1: Mendham Priory
An extremely attractive Grade II Listed country house which occupies an elevated but secluded position surrounded by its own land. The house is believed to date from the early 19th Century and is mentioned in Sir Nikolaus Pevsner’s Buildings of England as of historical importance. The house is of white brick elevations under a hipped slate roof with two storeys and five bays. There is a fine Roman Doric porch on two pairs of fluted columns. There are full height sash windows throughout the house and excellent ceiling heights with cornicing, ceiling roses and ornate fireplaces throughout the house.

Mendham Priory has been in the same family for over fifty years and whilst the house has been well maintained it has not been subject to a programme of modernisation and therefore retains the original charm. Leading from the broad reception hall, which has a tiled floor, are the drawing room and study. Both of these rooms have superb views over the Waveney Valley and have working shutters, ornate ceiling roses and with magnificent detailed cornicing. There are open fireplaces in all the formal rooms. At the end of the reception hall is the wonderful staircase which has arched recesses, cornicing and above which houses the superb glass domed oval roof light.

The kitchen has an oil fired Aga and gives access to a generous larder and the large utility/boot room at the rear of the house. Mendham Priory also has a generous cellar with the original wine
bins.

On the southern side of the house is an orangery/conservatory which is accessed via double doors from the study and dining room. This in turn gives access to a private terrace and lawned area.

Upstairs there are six bedrooms, two bathrooms and a separate wc. Two of the rooms have their own basins and one of the bedrooms has a dressing room. There is scope to reconfigure the upstairs layout should it be required.

Historical Note
The original Mendham Priory was founded in the middle of the 12th Century and fell into decay with much of the building material being removed and used in the surrounding parishes. This wasn’t located on the current site. Much of this material however can be found in the walled garden and in the Lodge. The Estate was purchased in 1824 by Alexander Adair and by the mid-1870s Mendham Priory was home to the Dimmock family and formed the centre of a working Estate. The Dimmock family remained at Mendham Priory well into the 20th Century. Mendham Priory also survived a nearby bomb blast during the Second World War which is said to have lifted the entire roof of the conservatory without breaking a single pane of glass.

Lot 2: Mendham Lodge
A Grade II Listed single storey lodge house which is constructed of brick and flint elevations under a slate roof with many materials being from the original Priory. Mendham Lodge has a kitchen, a sitting room with wood burning stove, three bedrooms and a bathroom. Adjacent to the Lodge is a parking area and a large garage. There is also a generous garden which has a summer house and garden stores. The Lodge has undergone a programme of renovation and modernisation throughout. Mendham Lodge is currently let on an Assured Shorthold Tenancy with a short notice period. Please speak to the agent for more details.

Mendham Priory occupies a delightful rural location sitting high above the Waveney Valley with far reaching views. The popular and historic market town of Harleston is about 1.5 miles to the north-west and offers a good range of local amenities with plenty of independent shops. Diss station (9 miles) has a regular mainline train service to London Liverpool Street (90 minutes) and Norwich(19 miles) provides a comprehensive range of amenities and is the regional centre.

Mendham Priory is approached via a long gravel driveway ending in a sweep and turning area at the front of the house overlooking the Waveney Valley. There is also access to the courtyard adjacent to the house which in turn gives access to the garaging. The gardens and grounds at Mendham Priory are of particular note and the property benefits from both formal and informal areas as well as woodland, a valley and walled garden. There is also a 7¼ inch gauge railway which runs round the periphery of the parkland to the front of the house. This railway line includes a tunnel, engine house, sidings and a water tower.

Mendham Priory is suitable for equestrian use with a good amount of grazing along with a substantial range of outbuildings including a large barn which has potential for conversion to residential use subject to the necessary consents. Adjacent to this is a very useful and secure yard with a number of storage buildings all of which will be ideal for equestrian use or conversion if required. Mendham Priory has a superb array of trees, both broadleaf and coniferous with some specimen examples including oak, copper beech, tulip trees, wellingtonia, weeping cedar, horse and sweet chestnut to name but a few. Within the woodland there are some delightful walks and to the south of the property is a valley with woodland and meadow land which is undulating and particularly attractive. Adjacent to the valley is the walled garden which was partly constructed from remnants and building materials from Mendham Priory.

Much of the gardens and grounds are laid to lawn and there is an area within the walled garden which has been a tennis court. There are greenhouses, a number of attractive shrub borders and flower beds. Of particular note is a raised lawn terrace which is accessed from the conservatory and dining room with an outside seating area ideal for alfresco dining.

In all about 27.5 acres