* Freehold
* A magical coastal home, with the essence of county house and full enjoyment of the coastal lifestyle.
* Wonderful detail throughout, from the dutch gables, to the elegant staircase, the panelling to the pamment floors.
* Charming gardens of half an acre, with delights such as York stone terraces, wildflower areas, medlar & Mulberry trees and even a writers studio at very top of the land.
* Exceptional location, almost opposite the beech road, with all the trappings of coastal living with pubs, deli's, art galleries, walks and sea air in abundance.
* Convenient access to the coastline as whole, together with the market town of Holt.
* EPC Rating = E
Coastal splendour and charm, with direct sea views and private walled gardens.
Description
Umgeni is magical, a house full of surprises with the atmosphere of a timeless
country house combined with a dream coastal home. The house, with its classic
Dutch Gables that are integral to Cley sits high on an unmade track above the
coast road in Cley, veiled by olive trees and roses, pretty much opposite the
Beach Road, with uninterrupted views over the reedbeds and marshland to the
sea. The informal brick and flint front elevation is discreet and belies the
sense of lush garden scents and planting when you step through the wooden
gates and enter over half an acre of wonderfully private south facing walled
garden.
Internally the house continues to surprise. The staircase is a feat of high
quality craftsmanship, and the interior is true to the first impression with
an eclectic mix of colour, design, architectural and decorative features that
brings to mind the creatives of the Bloomsbury Group and Arts & Crafts
movement, while the large windows capture the very best views of the marsh,
and the sea also fill the house with light from the south, connecting you to
the lovely garden and the seaside from within the house.
The front door opens to a half landing in an elegant stairwell, from which you
step down to the ground floor entrance hall with panelled walls and stone
flooring.
Beyond, the kitchen is informally fitted, with a lovely mix of wooden bespoke
units, a unique central island and an oversized Belfast sink backed with
vintage mirrored tiles. Integrated appliances include an electric Aga and a
Miele dishwasher. There is a good - sized pantry cupboard, and a pretty glass
fronted crockery cabinet. Painted wooden floorboards run throughout and a
large sunny window overlooks the coast.
Step up from the kitchen into a sunny south facing dining room with wooden
flooring, gracefully panelled walls and a generous window overlooking the
garden. A glazed door opens from here to a small south facing terrace with
steps into the garden, perfect for alfresco dining. Also, on this floor is a
cosy, half panelled snug with pamment flooring, exposed beams (saved from a
long - ago shipwreck) and views to the garden. There is also a utility and boot
room with a Belfast sink.
Taking the stairs to the second floor where the sunny hall has a large bay
window with a window seat to make the most of the sea views. On this floor the
drawing room is a large, bright, south and west facing room with a marble
mantlepiece and wood burning stove, French windows open to stone steps that
lead down to the more formal part of the garden.
The main bedroom is up a few steps on its own small landing, a beautifully
proportioned room, with a high ceiling, an original cast - iron fireplace and
views to the coast at the front. From the semi open plan en suite bathroom,
French windows open onto a charming semi - circular iron balcony with a
stunning Magnolia Grandiflora growing through it, arguably the best spot in
the house to overlook the garden with your morning cuppa! The bathroom has a
traditional Victorian style suite, an original oversized caste iron bathtub,
which we understand had to be brought in through the window! There is a
further WC on this floor - certainly a loo with a view.
Following on up to the next half landing, the full height arched window gives
incredible evening light as it faces the western end of the house. From here
you can see the tide change on Blakeney Point and enjoy the sunsets.
The third floor has a single bedroom with fitted wardrobes, and a nice double
room with fireplace, both overlook the gardens. There is a family shower room
on this floor.
At either end of the house, further staircases lead to two bedrooms with tent
effect ceilings, both have spectacular window views in the Dutch gables to the
coast side, and then both have verdant beautiful views over the garden and one
has a slit window with a special view to Cley windmill.
The larger room is a spacious double with north and south aspect and a working
fireplace, this room incorporates a bathroom with another original Victorian
cast iron bath. The other top bedroom is another spacious double with triple
aspect windows, and the vendors had considered putting a bathroom on this
floor too.
Outside
The south elevation of the house is pretty and elegant with artistically
pleasing proportions and decorative painted shutters. The mellow brick and
flint elevation is covered with wisteria and roses that complement the painted
windows, lovely old York stone steps and the delicate iron balcony.
Near to the house is a formal area of garden with a Mediterranean/Coastal feel
with palm trees, a tamarisk, mown lawn, and herbaceous borders filled with an
abundance of flowers.
From here the garden steps up and up, meandering via mown paths through a
larger entertaining terrace to a much less formal area where daisy strewn
pathways lead you through a wildflower nature haven that is low maintenance
and so pretty, interspersed with an abundance of tree peonies, bluebells,
shrub roses, hollyhocks, cow parsley, magnolia grandiflora and so much more,
it is truly heavenly. There are also many fruit trees, including apple, plum,
medlar, and pear and even a mulberry tree and a vegetable garden with raised
beds and fruit canes.
But for those who love to look out from their own world, the overriding wonder
of this garden is its amazing privacy combined with the extraordinary views.
Planting and terraces have been structured to artfully reveal evermore
incredible vistas of the coast, the sunset, the creeks and the red sailed
boats that glide in on a high tide to Cley Harbour. From this point, you
really do feel you are on top of the world, or at least the North Norfolk
Coastline, and you can see all the way to Wells - next - the - Sea. Up here is the
wooden writer’s studio that offers so many potential uses. With mains power,
it sits at the very top of the garden with a wooden decked area, there
probably couldn’t be a better place for a sundowner!
Nearer to the house, further outbuildings provide a utility room which houses
an oil - fired boiler, and a radiator and Belfast sink, and washing machines, so
you can get all of the clutter out of the house to a warm functional outhouse.
Adjacent to this, another barn houses the oil tank and wood store and then the
single garage, with a loft area above which could be extended if required and
makes a great office space.
This is a very special house that must be seen to really appreciate all it has
to offer. It is surprisingly rare to find a lovely character house, in such a
location with a generous, private garden with some of Norfolk’s finest views.
Location
The highly sought after village of Cley was formerly an old 18th Century port
and retains many attractive brick and flint cottages alongside grander
merchant’s houses. Today it offers an eclectic range of shops on the doorstop
including the Crab Pot Bookshop, Pinkfoot gallery, Cley Smokehouse, Made in
Cley, and the renowned Picnic Fayre delicatessen. The village benefits from St
Margaret’s Church an architectural delight, two pubs and nearby Wiveton Hall
Cafe.
This is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and a Conservation Area, Cley
has a fabulous shingle beach which is within easy walking distance, perfect
for swimming and family picnics, and offers easy access to the saltmarshes and
Blakeney Point with many ways of whiling away leisure hours including sailing,
seal trips, cycling, golf, amazing coastal walking and fine beaches. The Cley
marshes wildlife reserve dates from 1926 and makes this one of the very best
places for birdwatching. If you want to keep a boat in Cley harbour, (a three -
minute walk) it is free, and whether a canoe, paddleboard or a small
traditional boat, setting out from here through the reeds is a wonderful
experience.
Just 4 miles to the south is the Georgian market town of Holt, renowned for
its attractive street frontages and for its wide and eclectic range of
independent shops. As well as Bakers & Larners department store, there are
boutiques, cafes and bars, doctors’ surgery, dentist, and post office. Holt is
also home to the highly regarded Gresham’s School, pre - prep, prep, and senior.
Square Footage: 2, 703 sq ft
Acreage:
0. 57 Acres
Additional Info
Services
Mains electricity, water and drainage and oil fired central heating.
Local Authority
North Norfolk District Council
Council Tax Band G
Fixtures & Fittings
All fixtures and fittings including fitted carpets and curtains are
specifically excluded from the sale, but may be available in addition, subject
to separate negotiation.
Viewings
Strictly by appointment with Savills. If there is any point which is of
particular importance to you, we invite you to discuss this with us,
especially before you travel to view the property.
Important Notice
Savills, their clients and any joint agents give notice that:
1\. They are not authorised to make or give any representations or warranties
in relation to the property either here or elsewhere, either on their own
behalf or on behalf of their client or otherwise. They assume no
responsibility for any statement that may be made in these particulars. These
particulars do not form part of any offer or contract and must not be relied
upon as statements or representations of fact.
2\. Any areas, measurements or distances are approximate. The text,
photographs and plans are for guidance only and are not necessarily
comprehensive. It should not be assumed that the property has all necessary
planning, building regulation or other consents and Savills have not tested
any services, equipment or facilities. Purchasers must satisfy themselves by
inspection or otherwise.

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