La Rue, Freston, Ipswich

Freston House is a handsome and substantial house which has been extended and renovated to a very high standard. The current owners have done a large amount of work to the house including building a large extension on the south side and, of course, have turned some of the paddocks surrounding the house into the more formal gardens. The property retains
many of its period features including high ceilings, sash
windows with original shutters, open fireplaces, decorative
cornicing and original flooring. The ground floor accommodation comprises an elegant entrance hall, which benefits from underfloor heating. The hall leads through to three stylish reception rooms, in the original part of the house, all of which have wonderfully high ceilings and bay windows with doors out in to the beautiful surrounding gardens.

The inner hall gives access to the large cellar, laundry room,
study, office (under floor heating), boot room and larder.
The bespoke AGA kitchen/ breakfast room is a very
generous size with wooden base and wall mounted units, a
charming window seat, one oil AGA and a second electric
AGA. The island, with granite worktop, has two fitted
dishwashers, fridge/freezer and double sinks. The kitchen/
breakfast room and conservatory all benefit from underfloor heating. Bi-fold doors lead through to the conservatory, which in turn continues through to the swimming pool complex.
The first floor is reached via two separate staircases.

The principal bedroom has wonderful views of the gardens
and also has a large dressing room. There are a further four
double bedrooms and five bath/shower rooms (2 en suite). The second floor has an additional four bedrooms and three bath/shower rooms (1 en suite).

Swimming Pool Complex
The well-designed, airconditioned pool complex is incredible with a 22.5m long and 3m deep indoor swimming pool. A games area is off to one side of the pool. There are separate ladies and gentlemen changing rooms and a spacious party room with fitted dishwasher, fridge and sink. The pool is heated via three
large ground source heat pumps, which can also be used
to heat the main property as an alternative to the oil fired
boiler.

The property is approached through electric gates via a
long, private driveway lined with Liquidambar trees. This leads immediately to the front of the house where there is a large circular island and spacious gravel drive providing parking for numerous vehicles. The gardens are of particular note having been completely re-designed and landscaped. The gardens have been laid out as a series of rooms which include; a parterre garden and pond, rose garden, cottage garden, white and yellow gardens, gravel garden, winter garden, orchard and a well-stocked and very productive kitchen garden with a large greenhouse. The wooded area along the eastern boundary of the property has paths through the woods where a whole host of plants appear throughout the year including snowdrops, bluebells, hosta and heleborus. The woodland garden extends along the north boundary of the property and has a natural pond on the woodland edge, in the far corner of the grounds. The winter garden is very well stocked with combinations of winter shrubs and the Himalayan Silver Birch trees that have the most spectacular white bark. A mixed perennial and shrub garden lies between the kitchen garden and the driveway, and has been planted mainly in shades of pinks and purples and next to this garden, by the side of the woodshed, there is delightful, informal cottage-style garden. The orchard is very productive with many apple varieties, cherries and pear. Beyond the tennis court, and behind a newly planted hedge, there are 3 rows of adjustable photovoltaic panels (192 panels in total), which provide 66 kW of peak power, equating to an average annual production of around 65,000 kWh. The stable yard area has been partially converted into two one bed cottages, each with a bedroom, reception room/kitchen and bathroom.