Laundry Cottage in a Nature Reserve - Sunday Times 100 coolest Cottages

Laundry Cottage is a Jacobean dream full of original character and quirky features like the amazing 1700’s Breton bed built straight into the wall, the working 1800’s kitchen range (for fun and chestnuts only) and the gorgeous antique Oak Four Poster Bed.

A very special feature of this lovely historical cottage is that it is next to its own private Nature Reserve which you are invited to enjoy

2 well behaved doggies are welcome in this cottage – dog charges apply at £20 per pet per week.

Beverley & Martin welcome their guests with a lovely Breakfast Hamper for a full English Breakfast, and a vegetarian version is also available.


Cottage Walk Through

This stunning cottage was once home to the miller of Plomesgate Mill but is now available to five lucky guests! Filled with wonderful antiques, beautifully restored surfaces, stunning textiles and the finest attention to detail – all combining to provide a very tasteful and completely original, luxury period experience.

You enter the cosy cottage through an enclosed little courtyard that is completely private, and ideal for breakfasts. This leads into the gorgeous farmhouse style kitchen; a light and airy room with leaded windows to three aspects.

The kitchen still retains a cosy open fireplace with a working Victorian range and a beautiful ancient brick floor. Together with the beamed ceiling this makes a perfect place to settle back by the glow of the coals in the evening and allow yourself to be transported back to years gone by.

The kitchen discreetly has an electric Bosch double oven and hob, dishwasher, fridge and microwave – and someone else blacks the antique range for you! There is a quirky old wooden armchair and farmhouse table to gather around for meals.

From the Kitchen there is a short hall to the main sitting room which is an absolute gem, with its beautiful original beams and painted panel wall, it is dominated by the massive inglenook fireplace at the end with its cosy wood burning stove. On either side of the room are comfy sofas and lush period furnishings and a television hidden behind a cupboard door.

Behind a door and winding up from the kitchen is the narrow staircase to the master bedroom with the gorgeous antique king size four poster bed. Please note that due to its protected Historic state this staircase is not suitable for those with mobility issues, please talk to us before booking.

A hallway leads off from the master bedroom and in this hallway is a door to the twin bedded bedroom and a door to the pretty bathroom.

The bathroom has a double ended Victorian style roll top bath on ball and claw feet with shower mixer taps, wash hand basin and loo.

Also in the Hall is an ornate wooden wall panel, dating back to the 1700’s, which when slid back reveals itself as a ‘Breton Bed’ which is a bed actually built into the wall like a cupboard.

This gorgeous Breton bed (3’x 6’3″) is just so cosy to snuggle down into, and the owners have added lights and shelves inside for you to hide away from the world and enjoy a good read.

So although the bedrooms are interconnected everyone can get to the bathroom without disturbing each other, but you do need to go through the master bedroom to get downstairs.

laundry Cottage is in an isolated Regency Row attached to two small brick barns and a small rambling Regency house. This cluster of buildings is where the owners live and where they have created the 3 beautiful cottages: Cissy’s Cottage, Queenies Cottage and Laundry Cottage which was listed in The Sunday Times ‘Coolest 100 Holiday Cottages’.

The buildings are right on the main access road to Aldeburgh, so it is a quick seven minute drive into what has been described as England’s best unspoilt Seaside Town but being a busy main road it is not good to walk or cycle on, but you can take the bikes through the Nature Reserve to the quite country lanes.

The owners Martin & Beverley are avid antique hunters and they have used all their skill in imaginatively restoring and decorating this historic cottage with wonderful and eclectic period pieces.

Due to the restoration and authentic furnishing of this stunning Historic cottage and the attention to detail and warm presentation that Martin and Beverley give guests, we know that guest who enjoy a step back in time will love this cottage.

Please note that outside High Season this cottage offers a reduced rate for just two guests, who use one bedroom only.



The Gardens

The private breakfast courtyard catches the sun and is a lovely place to have breakfast under the wisteria clad walls, it is totally dog proof and the adjoining garden, which is just for you, is also enclosed for doggies.

Tables and chairs are provided for you in both the enclosed courtyard and the garden.



Outside

One of the main attractions to the lovely Laundry Cottage is that it you are located in the owners own private Nature Reserve.

You walk down the courtyard and into the private off road car park in the nature reserve.

The owners have carefully laid winding footpaths that meander around the escarpment meadow, the giant cedar trees, the ancient oaks and all the other wonderful trees that are now in their mature grandeur.

Carpets of bluebells, primrose and daffodil enchant this reserve which is a haven for birds and wildlife.

You and your dog are very welcome to wander around and explore this beautiful reserve, and make use of the picnic tables and benches placed along the footpaths and in the glades.

Maps are provided in the cottage to find the footpaths going to Snape Maltings, the forests and lakes which lead to the sea at Aldeburgh.



Green Credentials

The buildings have been restored/repaired using old timber, bricks and fittings in keeping with their history.

The range fireplaces in both Laundry and Cissys Cottage were both reclaimed as is the bath in Cissy’s.

Most of the furnishings are antique (re-used by generations) – predominantly oak and elm.

The initial supply of wood for the wood burners comes from our own woodland.

We have our own waste water system.

We are lucky enough to have a great selection of wildlife including badgers, deer, rabbits, bats, voles and moles.

There are numerous birds – owl, green and spotted woodpecker, thrush, long and blue tailed tits, chaffinch, night jar, robin and wren and many, many, more.



Local Area


Aldeburgh has some famous top class restaurants like The Lighthouse and The Wentworth Hotel as well as a host of others – a real foodie’s delight.

You are just 2 1/2 miles from Snape where the famous Snape Malting’s Arts, Crafts and Music Centre is, a really interesting place to explore its many shops and perhaps pick up a ticket for a concert or have an evening meal in one of their excellent restaurants.

The Tunstall Forest of UFO fame is close by and many guests enjoy walking round the lakes to Aldeburgh.

The seaside at Aldeburgh is also where you can buy fish and crabs straight from the fishermen’s huts on the beach, there are unique walks from there along the famous Orford Ness Nature Reserve or beside the salt lakes to Thorpeness.

Laundry Cottage is perfectly situated to explore the famous local forests, and the pretty little Seaside towns in this area.



Standard Inclusive Features


Kitchen: All cottages are complete little homes and facilities include modern central heating, refrigerator, hobs, oven and / or microwave, toaster, crockery & serving dishes, cutlery, many utensils, fire-extinguisher, lots of pots & pans, glasses & mugs, kettle, coffee maker, teapot, kitchen towels, oven gloves, olive oil, salt & pepper, sugar, herbs, tea, fresh and instant coffee, washing up liquid, cloths, general cleaning materials, etc.

Provisions: Beverley and Martin welcome guests with a complimentary breakfast basket which includes local bacon and chipolatas, eggs and bread. In season there are fresh herbs for guests to use including mint, thyme, rosemary, bay, lemon verbena, sage etc. We also have a very ancient mulberry tree that guests can try in season.

Bathroom: Soap, fluffy cotton towels, bath mats, shaver point, toilet brush, toilet roll.

Bedroom: Cotton bed linen, wardrobe with coat hangers / chest of drawers, iron, ironing board, hairdryer.

Living room: If your cottage has an open fire or stove then a basket of firewood and a bucket of coal will be provided free, more will be available at cost – firelighters will be provided. TV, books, games, magazines, local brochures, OS and other maps, folder with our special ‘What To Do’ insiders guide to the local area.

Bikes: Please check with the owner that these are available before you arrive to avoid disappointment if they are in for maintenance.

Baby: Cot and high chair provided (please bring babies bedding).

Dog: Water bowl and treat per dog is provided.

2 well behaved Dogs are always welcome - there is a charge of £20 per pet for up to 7 nights.