For Sale3 Bedroom Detached Cottage in Shotley, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP9£675,000

A colourful and eclectic hideaway cottage with views towards the Orwell Estuary.<br/><br/>Tucked away at the end of no through track driveway, Marsh Cottage stands between the Shotley vineyard and the banks of the River Orwell. With its evocative address of 3 Below Church, Frogs Alley, a small hamlet setting of properties beyond the towerless St Mary’s Church. The cottage is understood to originally have been a customs and excise lookout against contraband smuggling on the river. The original building has been extended by the present vendors to create a wonderfully colourful and atmospheric home, extending to some 1,960 sq ft. <br/><br/>The single storey residence includes a central, fully fitted kitchen with a vaulted and glazed ceiling, red AGA and island. The accommodation flows into the fabulous 34 ft open plan sitting/dining room with its pavilion full width, full height glazed elevation with central sliding doors onto the wide garden terrace. The room affords views across the gardens and marshes towards the river. There is a return arch into a snug sitting room with its wood burning stove, which in turn is open plan into the kitchen.<br/><br/>The three double bedrooms offer flexibility of use to suit individual requirements and there is a shower room and separate cloakroom. The master bedroom, with its folding doors, can be open plan back into the living room and has a lean-to with an en suite bath/shower room, although the vendors will be replacing the present decorative bath and basin. <br/><br/>The property benefits from a solar array and an oil-fired central heating system with in-floor and skirting board heating throughout.<br/><br/>OUTSIDE<br/><br/>To the front, the west facing courtyard garden is enclosed by a flexible use range of domestic stores, which offer the potential for conversion to additional living space as required, and could link connect to the main house. Beyond this is a double garage and a car port. Light and power are connected.<br/><br/>THE STUDIO<br/><br/>Measuring 23 ft x 14 ft, and enjoying an elevated setting overlooking the garden, the flexible use studio and its decking veranda, enjoy fine views across the marshes towards the river. Light, power and water are connected, together with WC and sink.<br/><br/>GARDENS<br/><br/>Marsh Cottage focuses onto and overlooks delightful south and east facing gardens to the rear. Bordering the surrounding farm and marshland, these are enclosed by mature hedgerows with lawns interspersed with fruit trees, feature ornamental pond, as well as a wide sheltered sun trap terrace ideal for alfresco dining.<br/><br/>In all the plot extends to about 0.4 of an acre.<br/><br/>LOCATION<br/><br/>Surrounded by vineyards and arable farmland, Marsh Cottage sits above the Shotley marsh which runs down to the bank of the nearby Orwell Estuary. The hamlet Below Church, is just a mile from Shotley village, which has a garage and general stores.<br/><br/>There is footpath access to the riverbank and a picturesque riverside walk along the estuary taking you all the way through to Pin Mill with its famous waterside pub in one direction and the Shotley Point Marina, with its amazing views across Harwich Harbour and the Port of Felixstowe in the other.<br/><br/>The Shotley peninsula, with its thriving and active villages, offers good educational and recreational opportunities with water sports on both the Orwell and Stour estuaries, together with those at Alton Water Reservoir. There is a wide choice of top performing schools and both the county town of Ipswich (9 miles) and Manningtree (11 miles) provide regular main line rail services through to London’s Liverpool Street station taking approximately between 70 and 60 minutes respectively.<br/><br/>Riverbank via footpath – 500 metres approx<br/>Shotley village - 1 mile<br/>Ipswich – 9 miles<br/>Manningtree station – 11 miles (London’s Liverpool Street Station 60 mins)<br/>Shotley Point Marina – 2.5 miles<br/><br/>DIRECTIONS (IP9 1EP)<br/><br/>From Ipswich travel in a south easterly direction on the B1456. Proceed under the Orwell Bridge and pass through the villages of Woolverstone and Chelmondiston. After leaving the latter proceed for approximately 1.5 miles, turning left where signed to Shotley Church. Follow this lane for a further mile and continue beyond the Church of St Mary’s dropping down the unmade track. At the bottom turn right beyond the vineyard, where the track will lead to Marsh Cottage’s driveway positioned on the left. The what3words navigation will take you to the gate.<br/> <br/>What3words:///signed.buzzer.blossom<br/><br/>PROPERTY INFORMATION<br/><br/>Services: Mains electricity and water are connected.<br/>Traditional chamber style drainage system with underground weeper drains.<br/><br/>Solar Array: The property benefits from a solar panel array with feed-in tariffs to offset the cost of electricity. <br/><br/>Council Tax: Band F<br/><br/>EPC: E<br/><br/>Broadband: Ofcom reports ultrafast broadband is available.<br/><br/>Mobile: Ofcom reports mobile signal is likely.<br/><br/>Tenure: Freehold and vacant possession at completion on the whole property.<br/><br/>Fixtures & Fittings: The carpets and fitted kitchen appliances are included. The vendors will be removing certain decorative fixtures which are important to them. Curtains and blinds, together with garden statuary and ornamentation are also initially excluded. Further details on request.