River House - a historic holiday cottage that sleeps 8 guests in 4 bedrooms

There is a reduced price for just the main house sleeping 6, which does not include the adjacent annex The Bakery sleeping an additional 2 with a m ensuit bathroom with a bath and seperate walk in shower.

Located at the heart of the most picturesque Suffolk village of Kersey, just by the ford charmingly called The Splash by locals, is this fabulous house -which is one of Suffolks iconic landmarks.

'Ye Olde River House' as its ancient plaque states was built in 1490 as the main house of this tiny village.

Now, after years of standing empty the owners are happy to invite you to enjoy this wonderful historic House.

This Historic Suffolk building is so much more than just a Character House, it is steeped in the Mediaeval History of the tiny village that is sits in the centre of.

There is one massive room where the new roof (just a few hundred years old) spans over the original building which looks like a small street of Mediaeval buildings, complete with jutting out first floors and mullioned windows: just amazing.

There are two entrances to this lovely historic building, one via the ancient arched oak door of the tower into the beautiful brick floored and wood panelled hallway which leads to the dining room, kitchen and main staircase to the first floor, the other into the Georgian facade entrance where the spiral staircase is.

The main hallway opens out on the left to a large dining room with windows on two sides, lovely beams, wood panelling and an oak floor. Ahead is the atrium like inner hallway with an open staircase to three bedrooms, two Super king and one twin (can be made into a Superking) and two bathrooms, beyond the staircase on the ground floor is the maltings floor. This room is almost like a courtyard with a ancient street inside it - which is how it was built and rebuilt over the ages. Here there are some useful laundry facilities and a table tennis table.

To the right of the main hall is the large well equipped kitchen breakfast room, the wood-burning stove in the grand inglenook fireplace, features an oven and hotplate for additional cooking, there is also a conventional kitchen stove and hotplate.

Throughout many of these ground floor rooms are beautiful brick, tile or flagstone paving and all rooms are rich in ancient beams.

The breakfast room looks out over the inner Garden, with views down the valley, it leads via the front entrance hall into the spacious sitting with it lovely wood-burning stove. The room also has lovely with views onto the inner enclosed garden.

The inner garden has 2 entrances into the house, one by the Kitchen and another into the other end of the house, where there is accommodation on the ground floor for a couple in a twin or Super king bed and a lovely ensuite bathroom with a bath and a separate shower. The bedroom used to be the old Bakery and one wall is made up of beautiful array of ancient Bake ovens.

A complimentary starter pack is provided on your arrival which includes essentials such as tea, coffee, sugar, milk, butter, olive oil, salt & pepper. Plus a starter pack for the wood burners of firelighters, and firewood, more is available locally.



The charming inner walled garden is enclosed and there is garden furniture available for guests to use.

You can walk through the garden for lovely views down Kersey vale meadow.

Throughout the whole house you are constantly impressed by the beautiful historic features of ancient brick floors, wood panelled rooms, inglenook fireplaces, wide elm floorboards and a sense of ancient grandeur.

The owners have spent years painstakingly restoring this wonderful property, where important mediaeval wall paintings and wall decorations were uncovered and preserved.



The owners are now offering "Ye Olde River House", as the plaque on the tower proclaims, to guests who will thrill to be able to enjoy staying in such a unique place.


Bedrooms:

6 guests would have 2 double bedrooms and a twin bedroom and 2 bathrooms without showers

8 guests would have 2 double bedrooms and a twin bedroom with 2 bathroom without showers in the main house, and one bathroom with a bath and a separate shower in the twin bedroomed annex called 'The Bakery'

All Beds are Super king size except when they are split into full sized twins.





The price includes everything written below:

Kitchen: River House is a complete home from home and facilities include modern central heating, refrigerator, hobs, oven and microwave, toaster, crockery & serving dishes, cutlery, many utensils, fire-extinguisher, lots of pots & pans, glasses & mugs, kettle, coffee maker, teapot, kitchen towels, oven gloves, olive oil, salt & pepper, sugar, herbs, tea, fresh and instant coffee, washing up liquid, cloths, general cleaning materials, etc.

Bathroom: Soap, fluffy cotton towels, bath mats, shaver point, toilet brush, toilet roll.

Bedroom: Cotton bed linen, wardrobe with coat hangers / chest of drawers, iron, ironing board, hairdryer.

Living room: Your cottage has a number of wood burning stoves and a basket with firewood will be provided free you can buy more locally, smart TV, books, games, magazines, local brochures, OS and other maps, folder with our special 'What To Do' insiders guide to the local area.

Baby: Two cots and high chairs are available in the house (please bring babies bedding).

Bikes: Please check with the owner that these are any available before you arrive to avoid disappointment

Well behaved Dogs are always welcome, please refer to All About Bringing Pets for charges, rules and how this cottage may suit your pet.


Local information

The famous village of Lavenham ‘England’s best preserved Medieval Village’ is just a few miles away and the area immortalised by England’s renowned Landscape Painter ; John Constable and known as ‘Constable Country’ is right beside us.

There are many great country pubs, some special like our own local pub just steps away: The Bell, Kersey which does really excellent food, or down the lane The Rose at Lindsey, The Crown Inn and the Angel at Stoke-by-Nayland are especially good and Michelin rated and some high quality restaurants like The Swan in Lavenham, Scutchers and The Black Lion in Long Melford, The Crown in Bildeston and The Peacock in Chelsworth.

At the bottom of the hill is Kersey Mill, with a diverse collection of health and beauty, arts and crafts businesses plus a café, all in a stunning, historic water mill setting.

Just five minutes' drive away is Hollow Trees Farm which has a great farm trail children will love with animal encounters and a good farm shop including a great butchers and deli, you can also buy local wines here, I find that the white ones are outstanding.

This area is amazingly rural and untouched by city life, with tiny single track lanes leading nowhere or to a pub, footpaths galore and tiny mediaeval villages where time seems to have stood still.

If you are staying for more than a weekend then a day out at the unspoilt Suffolk coast is always a lovely trip.

The coast starts just 30 minutes away near Colchester or Ipswich and our favourite beaches and places on the coast are between 50 – 70 minutes away, places like Pin Mill, Nacton, Levington, Orford, Aldeburgh, Dunwich, Southwold and Mersey Island.

The nearby mediaeval villages of Long Melford, famed for its setting for the Lovejoys TV series, it contains many good pubs, cafes and restaurants along with lots of interesting shops and of course antique warehouses. Nayland, sitting prettily on the river Stour, and Polstead, with its bluebell woods and impressive views over the Box river valley are all close by and there are many more tiny villages with lovely walks and pubs to explore.

Hadleigh is just 2 miles away and has 246 Listed buildings with some beautiful spots like the river walk circling the town, it market a number of excellent butchers, two supermarkets and some great cafes and pubs like The Kings Head, Fork Kitchen and Deli and the I V.

We supply a very inclusive guide to the local area when you book.

This is an area where you can feel a million miles away from city life and really relax and enjoy just being part of.



Public Transport
London Liverpool Street station - Colchester station = 47 mins

Taxis at station - 30 mins to cottage