Summary
CURATED PROPERTY PRESENTS: A Grade II listed country house with 16th-century roots, set in 8 acres of private grounds near Bury St Edmunds, with a heated outdoor pool (April to September, said to be the deepest in East Anglia), a tennis court, woodland and lawns to roam. Seven bedrooms sleep up to 18, and inside there's a cinema room and a vast kitchen that opens onto the pool terrace. With an adjoining annexe, it's a rare Suffolk estate for family holidays, celebrations and gatherings.
Space
The Battlies House is a Grade II listed country house with a long and storied past. The oldest parts date to the 16th century, when it formed part of the historic Rougham Estate, and the oldest room of all, the kitchen, still carries heavy beams thought to be old ship timber. The front of the house is Georgian, with a finely carved decorative lintel above the door. Behind that period character sits a home beautifully finished throughout and arranged over three floors.
Bedrooms
The principal suite has its own wing, with an emperor bed, a dressing room, air conditioning and a marble en suite bathroom with a freestanding bath and walk-in shower. Doors open onto a private balcony above the pool, the view sweeping out over ancient oaks on land that has looked much the same for centuries, and there is a double sofa bed that works well for children or lighter-build adults. Among the further rooms there is a second emperor bedroom, a super king, and a children's twin with two single beds. A king-bedded room sits up in the attic, reached by stairs and best suited to sure-footed guests and children. The adjoining annexe holds two more bedrooms, a super king and a king. In all the house sleeps up to eighteen, with two futons in the stable covering the final two guests.
Living and Entertaining
Downstairs moves easily between several reception rooms, a drawing room, a sitting room and a family room, along with a library where the wood-burning fire is lit through the cooler months. For rainy days and long evenings there is a dedicated cinema room. Two separate studies give anyone who needs to work a quiet corner to do so.
Kitchen and Dining
At the heart of the house is a large kitchen and breakfast room with a central island, opening through doors straight onto the pool terrace so that summer cooking and lounging run into one another. A separate formal dining room seats the whole party, and a butler's pantry and a walk-in drinks room make entertaining a large group simple.
Grounds and Pool
The grounds are the real luxury. The heated outdoor pool, open from April to the end of September and said to be the deepest in East Anglia, sits on a sun terrace with loungers and outdoor dining. Beyond it there is a tennis court, a fire pit, a barbecue, a children's play structure, and a garden with a greenhouse, all set within lawns, mature trees and ancient woodland. A cedar garden cabin offers a quiet retreat away from the main house.
Nature is never far away. Very old oak trees stand across the grounds, a resident peacock and peahen wander the gardens, and muntjac deer, hares, woodpeckers and buzzards are all regular visitors. As the light fades you can follow a lit trail through the woodland and settle in for some stargazing, with tawny owls calling and bats flitting over the gravel.
Bathrooms
There are five bathrooms in all. The marble en suite to the principal bedroom is the only one that opens directly off a room; the rest serve the remaining bedrooms. There is also a separate WC indoors, plus WCs outside by the pool.
Technology
The house runs on smart systems throughout, with Sonos sound in the main rooms, smart lighting that comes up as you walk into a room, and heating you can set room by room from a tablet in the kitchen. There is also a hifi in the lounge you can stream Spotify to, with a pair of microphones for a singalong. The principal bedroom has air conditioning, and there are two electric vehicle chargers on site.
Guest Access
Guests have the run of the whole house and grounds, including the pool in season and tennis court. We meet you in person on arrival to hand over the keys and show you around and our caretaker lives discreetly on site but in an outbuilding and is on hand to help should you need anything.
The Neighborhood
The house sits in open countryside at Rougham, bordering the historic Rougham Estate, whose waymarked walking paths lead past the ruins of Rougham Hall and a former WWII airfield, its control tower now a small museum and vintage Spitfires still taking to the skies from it on some weekends. The estate's cafe and seasonal events are close by. A few minutes away, Bury St Edmunds is one of Suffolk's most appealing market towns, once home to a great medieval abbey that the house's land traces back to, with the ruined abbey and its gardens, the cathedral, a good spread of independent shops and restaurants, and the Theatre Royal. The wider Suffolk countryside, full of villages, walks and country pubs, is all around you.
Getting Around
Bury St Edmunds station is about ten minutes away by car. From there, Cambridge is a direct run of roughly forty minutes, and London Liverpool Street takes from about an hour and a half with one change. London Stansted is the nearest airport, around forty-five minutes by road. A car is the easiest way to make the most of the area, and there is parking on site along with electric vehicle charging.
Notes
There is an outdoor pool and a great deal of open ground, along with a children's play structure, so children must be supervised at all times. The pool is heated and open from April to the end of September. The attic bedroom is reached by stairs and is not ideal for less mobile guests. The library has the only working fire, a wood-burner; the other fireplaces are decorative only. Peacocks live on the grounds and are lovely to watch, though there is no need for guests to do anything for them. The house is no smoking throughout, and we are not able to accept pets. Larger celebrations, gatherings and events can usually be accommodated by prior arrangement, so just ask.
We partner with TRUVI to carry out secure guest ID verification, helping to ensure a safe and trusted stay for everyone. Once you have completed verification with TRUVI, your stay will be protected by the Guest Guarantee, and you will benefit from accidental damage cover.
