Chapel House, Earl Soham

This converted 19th-century chapel borders water meadows in Earl Soham, a characterful village in south-east Suffolk. Now a five-bedroom home, it was transformed by Andrew Hughes Architects in 2013. Its interiors are filled with light and preserved original features, including impressive scissor trusses suspended above the first-floor living spaces. Outside, landscaping is inspired by the work of Piet Oudolf, with a large area of lawn, rustling grasses and a wildflower meadow. There is also a separate annexe used as a gym/studio in a building that once served as a Sunday school.



The Architect



Andrew Hughes trained at the Bartlett School of Architecture in London. Before moving back to his native Suffolk, he worked on many widely acclaimed projects with David Gibson Architects. With a primary focus on residential projects, his RIBA award-winning practice continues to span both new builds and contemporary interventions within historical buildings. Many of its projects are in East Anglia, where the firm has established a reputation for skilfully combining space, light and form with a finely tuned material palette.



The Tour



The house is set back from the street, behind a gated entrance leading to a neat front patio lined with hedging and established perennials. The taupe brick front façade is topped by an open pediment and divided by pilasters into three arched panels, while the other elevations are faced in red brick with gault brick dressings. The central arched panel frames the entrance door, with a small casement window above and tall windows on either side.



The principal entrance is to a bright lobby. This in turn opens to an inner double-height stair hall, where an arresting helical stair sweeps upwards to the first-floor living accommodation. Crisp white walls and wide oak floorboards extend throughout, backdropping a set of immaculately realised, minimally detailed spaces.



Hughes was careful to conserve many of the building's fine period features while opening up the chapel in a decidedly contemporary way. Dramatically set beneath exposed oak trusses, the capacious, open-plan living, kitchen and dining room extends vertically and occupies the entire first floor.



A central gallery overlooks the hallway below and delineates distinct zones to sit, dine and cook. The generously appointed kitchen is fitted with Plain English shaker-style units and two large central islands; all are topped with white marble surfaces. Natural light bathes the room, pouring in from tall glazing lining the long elevations. Additionally, set within the gable end, are pairs of sliding glazed doors. These lead onto a wonderful, decked dining terrace, with far-reaching views across the meadows and neighbouring willow trees to the rear.



A second cosy sitting room, with direct access to the expansive side garden, along with five spacious double bedrooms (two with en suite bathrooms), occupy the ground floor. Three of these sit to the rear, while two lie adjacent to the entrance lobby.



There is also a utility room, adjacent to a side access door and back hall - handy for hanging coats and keeping muddy boots. There is also a secondary stair to the first floor neatly tucked into the corner. The spacious family bathroom, fitted with a shower over the bathtub, is accessible from the inner hallway. There is another shared shower room, with plenty of built-in storage.



Outside Spaces



The garden consists of beds of perennial planting, tall swaying grasses, dining terraces and a large area of lawn to the side. There is an expansive area given over to a beautiful wildflower meadow, where mown strips carefully weave a path to an enticing seating area huddled around a fire pit. This is a perfect spot for long summer gatherings spent sipping sundowners. There is also a balcony accessed from the first floor, large enough to accommodate a large dining table and several chairs.



The former Sunday school building sits alongside the main house, providing additional versatile space. Currently used as a gym, it could also serve as a home office.



A private driveway sits in front of the Sunday school, offering parking for around two cars.



The Area



The house is within walking distance of the village green at the centre of Earl Soham, a thriving and sought-after Suffolk rural hamlet. It benefits from a local pub and brewery, The Earl Soham Victoria, an award-winning butcher, and a tennis club.



Framlingham is a nine-minute drive from the house, with its famous castle, market square, cafés and shops, including a supermarket, post office and independent shops and cafés. The Station at Framlingham is a favourite for eating out, as is the Michelin-recommended Italian restaurant Watson and Walpole. There is also an excellent market each Saturday. One of the finest fortresses in the country, Framlingham Castle is over 800 years old.



The village is a 30-minute drive from the coast at Aldeburgh, renowned for its sweeping beaches, beautiful countryside and outstanding fish and chips. The surrounding Suffolk & Essex Coast & Heaths National Park is a popular destination for long coastal walks and birdwatching.



Earl Soham has a primary school; also close by is Thomas Mills High School in Framlingham. Private education is offered locally by Framlingham College and Brandeston Prep School.



Ipswich is 14 miles to the south and provides regular rail services to London Liverpool Street, taking just over an hour. The A12 and A14 are also in easy reach.



Council Tax Band: G