Kelsale, Nr. Aldeburgh
Suffolk
Architect: Anne Parker
Register for similar homesThis outstanding Suffolk property is a former agricultural building converted in the 1976 by the pioneering Modern architect Anne Parker. The five-bedroom house sits surrounded by gardens on an attractive and peaceful plot of land in the pretty hamlet of Kelsale, approximately six miles from the coastal town of Aldeburgh.
Accommodation includes a 37′ open plan living / kitchen / dining room on the ground floor and a wonderful vaulted reception room on the first floor with far-reaching, panoramic views across open countryside. Although the spaces are all impressive, some areas would benefit from some updating. There are five bedrooms throughout the house and three bathrooms. The property is heated with zoned underfloor heating and, thanks to the large windows throughout, is a largely light and uplifting place to be. The kitchen is fitted with an Aga.
The house is reached via a private drive, leading to a large parking area and detached red-brick garage. The gardens are largely to the front, which is south-facing, and consist largely of lawn with borders and terrace areas. The plot is set back from the road in an elevated position. The neighbouring field is available by separate negotiation (it is approx 5 acres in size).
Anne Parker designed and converted the house from its former agricultural use as an apple store and cattle barn for the use of her own family. Parker was an important figure in the rise of Modernism in Britain and was also a pioneer in the production of wine in the UK. This property was the site of an award-winning vineyard that she ran with her husband throughout the ’60s and ’70s – an era when British winemakers were few and far between.
Kelsale is a small and attractive hamlet located in the Suffolk countryside, approximately one mile from the main A12 road from London and one mile from the historic market town of Saxmundham. Saxmundham has a range of services including schools, supermarkets (Waitrose), restaurants and a train station that services directly to London Liverpool Street, via Ipswich, in under two hours. The popular Suffolk coastal towns of Aldeburgh and Southwold are a short drive away, both of which offer wonderful beaches and excellent opportunities for dining. Snape Maltings concert hall is also nearby.
Please note that all areas, measurements and distances given in these particulars are approximate and rounded. The text, photographs and floor plans are for general guidance only. The Modern House has not tested any services, appliances or specific fittings — prospective purchasers are advised to inspect the property themselves. All fixtures, fittings and furniture not specifically itemised within these particulars are deemed removable by the vendor.
History
Parker was a pioneer in many ways, firstly as a well-respected female architect in a predominantly male profession. Parker studied at the Architectural Association in London in the 1930s, just as Modernism was taking hold in the UK, with the influences of the Bauhaus and Le Corbusier very much to the fore. During this period women played a significant part in defining and developing this new design style in Britain in a way that had never happened before. Parker, along with other women architects such as Mary Crowley and Justin Blanco White, were amongst the most important innovators of the pre-World War II period. Parker worked extensively with Ernő Goldfinger, with whom she is known to have met many of the great international architects of the era, including Frank Lloyd Wright.
After the War, Parker was by now married and called Anne Edgerley. She also had five children when she moved to Suffolk from London in the 1960s. In Suffolk she and her husband, John, dedicated themselves to their life at Kelsale by meticulously converting the former agricultural buildings they owned into an amazing home and also establishing what became a well-known vineyard. Awards were received both for their home (the winner of a Suffolk Craftsmanship Award) and their wines (gold and silver medals at the International Wine Challenge).
