The Brook Farm Residence

suffolk, england
4 bedroom - 2 bath
(1 review)
Travel dates:
1
Adults
1
Children (Ages 4-17)
0
Children (Ages 0-3)
0
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£649 per night (GBP)
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Perks for the Parents

This 16th century Elizabethan country house is set up for guests young and old with a playroom in an ancient barn, a 10-person hot tub and a superb rural setting. It sleeps up to 6 + 2. Every generation will enjoy this lovely country residence that is stylish yet homely, practical yet supremely comfortable. On arrival, parents can enjoy an artisan beer from the local brewery or a glass of prosecco. Sit back in the wood-fired hot tub and enjoy the peace and quiet; relax in the roll-top bath in the beamed bathroom with a glass of wine, or cycle 2.4 miles to the friendly local pub, The Black Swan, which has a wonderful garden, roaring fires and good food.

Why Kids Love it

For young children there are cribs, potties, high chair and toys and games and there is a play house on the grounds. For older children, there is Lego, board games, a TV with Netflix for movie nights and the awesome playroom in the barn that has a pool table, table tennis, table football, darts and a basketball hoop, as well as a chill-out area with sofas and a music system. In the barn are 6 bikes of various sizes which you’re welcome to borrow – perfect for exploring the local area. In the grounds there is a 5-aside football pitch, a large garden and an orchard with apples, pears, cherries, plums. Children can spot wildlife including hares muntjac deer, rabbits, ducks, doves, woodpeckers and bats.

Things to Know

Minimum stay: 2 nights, weekly bookings only from June through August with change over on Fridays. There is an unfenced lake on site where children should be supervised. The stairs are fairly narrow. There is parking on site. You can expect a welcome pack of locally-sourced goodies. Babysitting, housekeeping and a private chef / catering are available on request for additional fees. Dogs are welcome but the hosts respectfully request that dogs stay off the sofas and beds and remain out of the sitting room if they have muddy feet. The hot tub is eco-friendly and wood fired, so it’s entirely natural with no chemicals.

About the Location

Brook Farm is situated in the middle of a village known as St Nicholas, one of the beautiful All Saints villages of Suffolk. The village is very quiet with very few vehicles. The only noise you’ll hear is the passing of the odd tractor, the moo of a cow or the hoot of an owl. There are many beautiful walks to be found within minutes of Brook Farm, including those in a nature reserve just 15 minutes’ walk away. The nature reserve has 2 adjoining trout lakes with a log hut in which you can make yourself a cup of tea, sit on the deck and watch the swans swim by. The village of Halesworth is 6 miles away with a quintessential countryside high street filled with independent shops including a bakery, butchers and greengrocers. The village also has several antique shops, galleries and a handful of cafes and restaurants. The coast is only a 20-minute drive away: Southwold is a typical old-style English seaside town, perfect for sandy beaches and colorful beach huts. Walberswick has dunes, crabbing, a quaint ferry (a rowing boat!) and pubs with great food. Dunwich is wilder, with a pebble beach and is renowned for its fish and chips.

Accommodation Details

This Elizabethan farmhouse has 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms on 2 floors. The large lounge has sofas, a woodburning stove and a TV. There is an entertaining room with a dining table which seats up to 12, another woodburner and Sonos speakers. The good-sized farmhouse kitchen has a brick chimney enclosing a large range cooker, dishwasher and microwave and has a table seating up to 6. Beyond the kitchen is an extension which houses a utility room with washing machine and dryer, large fridge and small drinks fridge. There is also wet room with a large modern shower. At the rear of the extension is a heavy wooden door which leads outside to a large patio space overlooking the gardens, with an outside dining table and benches to seat 10 people and a Webber BBQ. Upstairs there are 2 kingsize and 2 full / double bedrooms with wooden floorboards and original beams. The kingsize master bedroom has windows on 3 sides. There are air beds for additional sleeping options. The family bathroom has a deep roll-top bath. Mature gardens surround the house and barns comprising an orchard, a football pitch, a fire pit area, a lake and hot tub.

Style Notes

English country retreat. Brook Farm is a Grade II*-listed Elizabethan Yeoman’s farmhouse built around 1540, with an adjoining Grade II listed barn, set in 2.3 acres of gardens and orchards, surrounded by rural land. The main house, renovated in partnership with English Heritage, retains many of the original features. Whilst the house is centuries old, the interior is an eclectic mix of contemporary, antique and vintage. The host is an interior designer who wanted to give an untraditional British farmhouse look. Working with the beautifully characterful house with original wooden beams throughout, the house has interesting and sustainable furnishings. Vintage treasures include art deco wardrobes, vintage Mcintosh Dunvegan chairs, a church pew, a bronze horse's head and royal stag antlers. We love the modern artworks and sculpture that sit delightfully against original 15th century lathe and plaster walls, the comfortable beds with pure French linen bedding, and the peaceful country setting.

  • Air Conditioning
  • Baby Bath
  • Baby Monitor
  • Babysitter / Nanny
  • Backyard / Garden
  • Balcony
  • Bathtub
  • Bed Rails
  • Bicycles
  • Cabinet Locks
  • Changing Table
  • Chef / Catering
  • Children's Dinnerware
  • Corner Guards
  • DVD Library
  • DVD Player
  • Dishwasher
  • Elevator
  • Fireplace Guards
  • Game Console
  • High Chair
  • Housekeeper
  • Outlet Plugs
  • Parking
  • Pet-friendly
  • Pool
  • Pool Gate
  • Stair Gates
  • Television
  • Toys / Children's Books
  • Washer / Dryer
  • Wifi
  • Window Guards
SLEEPS 6
2 king
1 full / double
sleeps 2
2 travel crib
Payment policy
When a host accepts your booking, we will automatically charge your card 30% of the total cost of the stay on acceptance if the check in date is more than 6 weeks away. We will send you a balance payment reminder at 6 weeks before check in and you will be required to submit your payment to finalise your reservation. If a host accepts your booking and the check in date is 6 weeks away or less, we will charge your card 100% of the total cost of the stay on acceptance.
Cancellation policy
For cancellations notified up to 6 weeks before the check in date, guests will receive a refund of any amount paid less 10% of the total cost of the booking. For cancellations notified at 6 weeks or less before the check in date, no refunds are given unless the host agrees. If a host does agree to a full or partial refund, this amount will be returned to the guest less 10% of the total cost of the booking. Some hosts will also allow a stay to be rescheduled. Guests should contact their host for further information regarding any request to change the dates of a stay.
Mel M.
Member since March 20, 2014
Contact Host
Brook Farm was bought by Mel, an interior designer and husband Simon in July 2019 as a retreat to escape to from the craziness of London, with the view to sharing it as a holiday let. Brook Farm is Mel and Simon's second foray in to holiday rentals, their first in Puglia, Italy. "We loved our trullo in Italy, but wanted to buy somewhere which was easily accessible and that we could visit throughout the year. Door to door Brook Farm is only two hours." Brook Farm is a wonderful 16 century grade II* listed property with a grade II listed barn. As listed properties only make up about 2% of British housing stock and only 5.5% of those deemed listed are grade II* listed, Brook Farm is considered a 'particularly important buildings of more than special interest'. "We completely fell in love with it, the moment we set eyes on it. Its original beams, some of which are adorned with centuries old writing, are over 400 years old and you can find wattle and daub in some of the rooms. " Brook Farm had been lovely restored over seven years by its previous owner so is a wonderful blank canvas for Mel to work her interiors magic. "My style inspiration is about as far away from English country cottage as you can possibly get but I wanted to respect the age and integrity of the house. Also in this age of conspicuous (over)consumption, I wanted to furnish the house as sustainably as possible." From mismatched china sourced on Etsy and eBay Mcintosh Dunvegan dining chairs to a vintage pew and bronze horse's head sourced locally in Halesworth, Mel has created a space which is homely, eclectic and full of joy.

Suffolk, England

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1 review

Kate B.
Visited in October 2022
Beautiful quiet country home in a pretty part of farmland and close to the coast. House is beautifully appointed with excellent kitchen and lots to do in barn play room. Picturesque property.