Historic former coaching inn with curious name converted into luxury £1.195m home for sale

A 17th century former coaching inn which was for sale with our firm at auction is now for sale with us again - after being converted into a luxury family home.

The historic Mermaid inn, Earsham Road, Hedenham, close to the Suffolk border near Bungay, closed its doors in 2013 before being taken over as an Indian restaurant until it too closed in 2017.

The property then went up for sale at auction with Brown&Co in 2018.

Looking across to the Grade I listed Tudor Hedenham Hall, the property was originally renowned for its location in a rosary, where approximately 4,000 hollyhock flowers had been cultivated, many which were on show and were said to exhibit a ‘mass of bloom.’

The property had come up for sale many times in its history; notably in 1907 when it was part of the main Hedenham Hall estate which included a huge property portfolio of over 30 cottages.

The former coaching inn boasted brick floors and log fires as a welcoming attraction to people travelling past needing some refreshments.

The former Mermaid coaching inn. Picture: supplied.

Now, Mermaid House has just gone up for sale with our Norwich Residential team after a local house builder converted it into a large family home, retaining much of its original appeal and character features.

Mason Burrell, our New Homes Manager based in Norwich, said: “I have worked extensively with the house builder on other properties for sale and he is renowned for his superb quality finish in the homes he creates.

“Mermaid House, with its name acting as a nod to the historic inn, has been converted with such stylish additions including an impressive two storey extension to the rear, as well as a family room with a vaulted ceiling and bi-fold doors to the landscaped rear gardens.

“It is a transformation that has skilfully retained the look of the original Mermaid building from the front - but with additions to the rear to result in the most stunning modern family home for sale.”

Mermaid House, now making a splash as a new family home for sale with our Norwich Residential Property team.

Original features abound including oak beams and exposed red brick features complemented by modern oak internal doors, engineered oak flooring to many rooms and a stylish oak staircase with turned spindles.

A large kitchen/breakfast room with a walk-in pantry and cellar has a vaulted ceiling and electric roof light windows with full width windows overlooking the rear gardens. 

Also on the ground floor is a bedroom with an en suite shower room which could provide self-contained accommodation or be used as an office with private access. 

There is also a snug with a feature fireplace and wood burner, a separate living room, again with a wood burner and a study with bay window. 

The main bedroom is on the first floor, with a walk-in dressing room and en suite shower room, along with two further double bedrooms.
Two more of the total six bedrooms are on the second floor with vaulted beamed ceilings. 

Outside are gardens with well stocked shrub borders and a large, gravelled driveway leads to the double garage with a roof turret and inset clock. 

There are extensive lawns to both the sides and rear with large, paved patios, red brick low level feature walls and borders.

For more information, please contact Mason Burrell at Brown&Co on 01603 629871 or email mason.burrell@brown-co.com

See full property sale details