Stars in the East

Continuing from last week, further East Anglian properties include a moat beloved by wildlife, a Georgian hunting lodge on the site of a Civil War battlefield and a well-restored manor with a Tudor-hall wedding venue

- Penny Churchill

WITH few important country houses being offered for sale in Suffolk so far this year, Mark Rimell of Strutt & Parker (020-7318 5025) has set the ball rolling with the launch onto the market in last week's COUNTRY LIFE of historic Priory Hall, which sits in 21 acres of glorious gardens and grounds on the edge of the ancient market town of Hadleigh, halfway between the larger towns of Sudbury and Ipswich. He quotes a guide price of $3.5 million for the impressive Tudor-style house, once owned by the Priory Church of Canterbury Cathedral, which is described by Historic England as 'a large much-restored building with a probable 16th-century origin... the front has a number of gables and upper storeys projecting [with] all timber framing exposed and all chimney stacks built in 16th-century manner. Previously known as The Manor, Hadleigh, Priory Hall's Grade II listing was awarded for the 'original work' done by restorers and the building's 'general appearance'.

Much excellent work has been carried out by the current owners, who bought Priory Hall in 1993 and have spent the past 30-odd years improving the house and gardens. To this end, they have added an impressive swimming pool and leisure facilities, updated kitchen and bathrooms and established a thriving wedding venue centred on the vaulted Tudor grand hall, the well-timbered drawing and dining rooms, and the magnificent gardens. However, with a maximum of 25 weddings a year and no wedding guests housed on site, the hall remains, above all, a wonderful family home.