DRINKSTONE MILLS, WOOLPIT ROAD,
DRINKSTONE, BURY ST EDMUNDS, SUFFOLK

Drinkstone is a popular village with Parish Church and close links to the village of Woolpit (3/4 miles) with its many amenities. Drinkstone is located approx. 2 miles South of the A14 trunk road providing access to the Cathedral town of Bury St Edmunds (approx 9 miles). There is a commuter rail link at Stowmarket (approx 7 miles) with a branch line service available at Elmswell (approx 3 1/2 miles).

Miller's cottage, Post Mill and Smock Mill nestling on 1.5 acres STS. in rural setting.

Offers in excess of

Drinkstone Mills is located half way between the villages of Woolpit and Drinkstone in rural mid Suffolk. Corn milling has been carried out here for centuries. Before the current owners moved here late in 1997 the site belonged to the Clover family for 223 years and research is still being carried out into the early history of the site. This remarkably complete example of a rural milling site contains two windmills, stables, chicken shed, pig sty, a great eastern railway carriage body of 1864 and a first world war army hut used as a granary plus a cottage and well stocked garden for the miller. A large barn has been added by the current owners. The whole site has been designated a Conservation Area.

The Post mill is one of the oldest surviving windmills in England and is listed Grade I. The central post has been dated to 1587 by tree ring dating. Many of the other structural timbers date to the 16th century. It was used to grind corn commercially until 1973. In 1974 it starred in the BBC tv Dad's Army series, when Corporal Jones got caught in the turning sails! This has recently received a major grant from English Heritage to repair and make good the upper structure and external façade of the mill, therefore the present owner has to retain ownership for ten years. Thereafter the new owners will have the mill signed over to them.

The two hundred year old Smock mill (listed Grade II) was converted to steam, then oil engine power at the turn of the last century and still has a working 1929 Ruston oil engine and animal feed milling machinery inside.

The Grade II cottage (17th century with 19th century additions), has been sympathetically looked after by the current owners and incorporates an immense amount of character including pamment and brick flooring, large pantry and utility area, kitchen/breakfast room with working Stanley. Three first floor bedrooms. Fantastic grounds of approx. 1.5acres STS, with excellent countryside views.

DETAILS

Storm porch way with solid wooden panelled door leading to:

SITTING ROOM: 4.57m x 4.52m (15'0" x 14'10") Built in shelved corner cabinets, two shelved storage cupboards. Victorian cast iron multi fuel burner set on hearth with cast iron surround. Exposed timbers, radiator, pamment floor, door to pantry and door opening to stairs rising to first floor.

DINING ROOM: 4.37m x 3.35m (14'4" x 11'0") Built in shelved corner cabinets and book shelving. Brick flooring, Victorian cast iron fire place with mantle over. Radiator, picture rail, sash window to front aspect.

STUDY/BEDROOM FOUR: 3.28m x 2.44m (10'9" x 8'0") Radiator, brick floor. Window providing fantastic views over open fields. Latch door to:

PANTRY/UTILITY AREA: 4.47m x 2.34m (14'8" x 7'8") Exposed timbers, low level double base unit, built in shelving and plumbing for washing machine. Brick flooring and original wood panelled door opening into sitting room.

INNER HALLWAY: Window. Wood panelled door opening to under cover out side area. Door to:

BATHROOM: Comprising pedestal wash hand basin, panelled bath. Tiled splash backs and radiator. Wall mounted electric fire. Frosted window.

SEPARATE WC: Low level WC with wall mounted cistern and pull chain. Frosted window.

KITCHEN/BREAKFAST ROOM: 4.27m x 3.91m (14'0" x 12'10") The main feature of this room is the oil fired Stanley set in original fire place with double oven, hot plate and also serves central heating and domestic hot water. Exposed ceiling and wall timbers. Butler sink with drainers either side. Fitted deep shelved cupboards with exposed ceiling and wall timbers. Quarry tiled floor. Window over looking front aspects. Door to rear porch.

REAR PORCH: Wood panelled walls and ceiling. Fitted timber desk, telephone point. Window over looking front aspect.

First Floor

LANDING:

BEDROOM THREE: 4.17m x 3.35m (13'8" x 11'0") Stripped wooden floor, radiator, exposed timbers. Sash window to front aspect views over gardens and fields beyond.

Steps up to:

BEDROOM TWO: 4.57m x 3.96m max, waist height (15'0" x 13'0"max. waist height) This bedroom can be separated from bedroom one via partitioning, obviously making this room slightly smaller. Walk in wardrobe with hanging rail and lighting. Exposed timbers, fire place with mantle (currently not in use). Radiator, sash window to front aspect with views over gardens and fields beyond.

BEDROOM ONE: 4.52m x 4.09m (14'10" x 13'5") Built in double wardrobe, adjacent airing cupboard housing lagged hot water cylinder and immersion. Loft access. Vanity wash hand basin. Radiator, built in shelving. Exposed timbers, varnished wooden floor. Window over looking gardens with fields beyond.

Outside

The property is set in gardens and grounds of around 1.5 acres STS, adjoining the main house is a timbered out building of 14'5" x 13'5" which is L shaped and houses oil tank.

Covered timbered area to the rear of the property with a fully working water pump and stone sink.

Timber Shed:
and
Outside Privvy: One and half holed WC.

Gated access to a hidden secret garden which is mainly lawn with rock garden, bulbs, roses and shrubs.

The granary is 26'5" x 15'6" this was formerly a first world war army billet hut, currently used to display the artefacts and workings of the mills.

Interconnecting door leading to:

Smock Mill (Grade II listed): Adjacent to the mill is the engine room which houses the Ruston oil engine driving the mill machinery (the engine has been serviced and maintained by the current owner) and is in full working order. At present the machinery is not set up to drive the mill.
There is a large timbered barn of 23' x 22'8" with 13' height. Power points and lighting. Ideal for storing large vehicles or farm machinery. Could also be converted into stables.
Lean to storage/workshop 15' x 8'3".
Garage: 22' x 9'10" Power points and lighting. Attached is former chicken shed providing storage 12' x 10.

Former stable block 27' x 16' Power points and lighting with ladder leading to hay loft of same size plus extension over the garage.
Great Eastern railway carriage body believed to date back to 1870.

Mature orchard to the left of the Post Mill, which is located at the top of the plot. As mentioned earlier this mill will remain with the current owners for a ten year period due to the grant that has been agreed by English Heritage to improve and upgrade the mill. The Post Mill is Grade I listed and is steeped in history.

To the front of the property is an enclosed area of fruit, vegetable and flower gardens, all located in beautiful Suffolk countryside with fantastic views.

SERVICES: Main water and electricity connected. Cess pit drainage. NOTE: None of the services has been tested by the agent.

LOCAL AUTHORITY: Mid Suffolk District Council, 131 High Street, Needham Market, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP6 8DL Tel: (01449) 720711

COUNCIL TAX: We understand from a verbal enquiry that the Council Tax payable for the year 2004/05 is £1176.82 (Band D).

VIEWING: Strictly by prior appointment only through DAVID BURR.

Offers in excess of: £365,000

TENURE: Freehold with vacant possession upon completion. The Post Mill has recently been
awarded a major grant from English Heritage which stipulates that the present owners must maintain ownership for ten years. Thereafter the new owners will have the mill signed over to them.

DIRECTIONS: Leave the A14 at the A1088 Ixworth exit. Follow the signs into Woolpit village centre. Leave the village centre on Green Road. Take the first right into Plough Road sign posted Drinkstone. At the T junction turn right. Proceed along this road until Drinkstone Mills can be found on the right hand side marked by a David Burr for Sale Board.

DRINKSTONE MILLS, WOOLPIT ROAD, DRINKSTONE, BURY ST EDMUNDS,
SUFFOLK IP30 9SP