THE STORY
Standing on the terrace of his riverside home, watching the kingfishers swooping over the water, the owner of Cullum House recalls his long relationship with the unique country home.
It was back in 1948 that he first saw the picturesque property and decided that one day he would live there.
"I used to come down to this area to help with the threshing in my school holidays," he remembered. "I saw the old cottage on one of those visits and said to myself: 'One day I will have that place!'"
Years later he became friends with the owner of Cullum House and over a game of golf discovered he was planning to sell up.
"He was off to the States and so we did the deal right there. We shook hands on the sale of the house on the golf course - without it ever coming on to the market," he said.
"I still wanted to buy it as much as ever."
Roundheads and Royalists
Once part of the Mildenhall Estate, Cullum House is thought to have origins dating back to the 15th or 16th century.
"There is a great deal of history to this area," he explained. "We are very close to Wamil Hall, where 250 Royalist troops hid in the days of Oliver Cromwell. We still sometimes find the odd musket ball in the fields."
The cottage itself was very basic when the current owner took it on. A traditional "two-up-two-down" property, it did not even have a staircase. Instead, the upper floor was reached via a ladder.
"I would say we have added about 80 percent of this house ourselves," he said. "It now has four bedrooms and three bathrooms - but still has many of the old features and lots of the original character."
Relaxing Home
The ground floor was also redesigned and extended, creating comfortable relaxation areas as well as a generous hand-built kitchen.
"The kitchen is very large and has an Aga and dining area. It leads into the conservatory, which in turn goes into the drawing room," he said. "This works very well when we have guests as they can circulate easily."
In the winter, the couple light the open fire in the drawing room and relax in its warmth and comfort. All year round they also savour spending time in the conservatory, enjoying a cup of coffee or tea as they gaze out towards the River Lark.
"The conservatory is wonderful. From there we look over the lawn towards the river. We can watch the kingfishers and swans near the water and the other wildlife that sometimes appears on the lawn," he said.
River Views
Upstairs, three of the rooms are used as bedrooms. The master bedroom has an en suite bathroom and dressing room, and the others are ideal for guests. The spare bedroom is currently used as a study.
"There is plenty of space for having visitors to stay," he said. "All the bedrooms are very nice. The master bedroom looks out over the river. Everyday we wake up to the most beautiful views."
Beautiful Countryside
Surrounded by beautiful Suffolk countryside, and a substantial garden of their own, the owners of Cullum House spend as much time as possible outside.
They enjoy the short walk to Mildenhall along the banks of the river as well as simply relaxing in the garden with friends.
"We have owned this house for more than 30 years now and it has been wonderful," he said. "I am in no doubt that we will miss it when we leave. It is in such a beautiful location - I think it must be unique."
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ACCOMMODATION
GROUND FLOOR
Set in grounds that adjoin the River Lark, Cullum House enjoys an enviable rural setting whilst not feeling too remote. The house is approached through a gated entrance that leads to a large driveway providing parking for several cars and access to the double garage. Stepping into the substantial and welcoming entrance hall you note the cloakroom before moving on into the spacious kitchen/breakfast room. Resting at the heart of the house this generous area is ideal for family life with plenty of space for a table and chairs, a walk-in pantry and doors that lead to the dining room and conservatory. The conservatory is a haven of tranquillity offering inspiring and breathtaking views across the pretty garden towards the River Lark and farmland beyond. From here there are doors to the drawing room that can boast equally striking vistas. There is also a further sitting room and a rear hall which leads to the more formal dining room, study and utility room. A second staircase ascends to the first floor.
FIRST FLOOR
From the main landing you can access the master suite with its large bay window that frames the River Lark and en-suite bathroom with Jacuzzi-style bath. The dressing room is a luxurious addition that would work equally well as a nursery, play room or fifth bedroom perhaps. The second bedroom also enjoys beautiful river views and benefits from an en-suite bathroom, while bedroom three has an en-suite shower room and there is a further fourth bedroom.
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SETTING THE SCENE
"The beautiful garden at Cullum House is incredibly private," explained the owner. Surrounded by a large hedge and brick wall, it is not overlooked at all.
Summer parties can be held on the lawn and picnics are perfect by the river's edge.
Lunches often take place on the terrace, when the purpose-built barbecue area comes into its own.
Beyond the grounds of the house is rolling Suffolk country. Fields and footpaths are there to be explored and the riverside path can be followed right into the village.
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WITHIN EASY REACH
Situated close to the A11 and A14 there is easy access to East Anglia with its myriad of attractions including The Norfolk Broads, The coast, Centre Parcs and the Newmarket Races. Historical Cambridge, Norwich and Bury St Edmunds are all within striking distance, whilst Stansted airport is approximately a 40 minute drive away.
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