Elberta Barn

Introduction

Named after the variety of fruit tree that grows large, juicy peaches, Elberta Barn brings a sweet warmth to the county’s brunswick-and-bread-basket plains. All around are the meadows, woodlands, and streams that inspired some of the most celebrated English landscape painters – from Thomas Gainsborough to John Constable – and the barn's flung-open doors frame this artists' scene. When its owner first saw the place, sitting snugly between the Colne and Stour Valleys, her longings for a country cottage were reduced to dust. The space was all volume and agricultural proportions. One call to a well-known architect she fortuitously sat beside at a dinner party months earlier, and their “non-conversion” began.

Inside

Most barns install mezzanines that hide their height. Most barns put plasterboard between the studs and rafters. Most barns lose the essence of their pastoral roots. But this is not most barns; Elberta Barn goes to great lengths to uplift its origin story. Nothing is built against the oak and elm frames, and modern furniture pulls its weight to mark the distinction between what’s old and what’s new. What’s there for garnish is found, foraged, or a family memento. A green glass fishing buoy picked from the beach while staying with an author in Sandaig. A palm painting by a Guatemalan artist, who the owner exhibited in 1994. An ink drawing gifted by Sigmund Pollitzer in the 50s in Cypress. A treasure trove, of simple sorts.

Outside

Expect purposeful grounds that blend in, a square pond that mirrors the East Anglian sky, and a perennial meadow that complement the cereal crops in the flank fields. A courtyard garden, too — a hortus conclusus to those in the know — with wall-trained apple, apricot, and greengage trees. It's all a bit idyllic in these parts. In any direction, there's butter biscuit villages where whole mornings go to disappear. From Flatford with its watermill on the Stour to Lavenham with its pink and ochre timber-framed homes; Wivenhoe with its artistic riverside community to East Bergholt with its canopy-roofed punts. It’s no wonder the Essex-Suffolk border was a playground for Romantics and Impressionists.

• PricingFrom £2,450 per week for up to 6 guests
  An alternative group size of up to 4 guests is available during selected periods at a reflective rate
• PetsOne small or medium-sized dog are considered on prior agreement
  Pets are charged at £60 per week or part thereof
• FamilyChildren and babies are welcome
• PracticalitiesThere is parking for four cars. The kitchen has a combi oven, induction hob, under-counter fridge, microwave, and dishwasher. The utility room is across the courtyard from the main barn and contains a fridge-freezer, washing machine, and tumble dryer. There is underfloor heating in all living spaces. Due to the nature of the building, there are some low doorframes. Please note care should be taken with the "samba steps" that lead to the office, and there are no railings around the pond, so please exercise due diligence if you are travelling with children. Please note the bedroom in the annex will not be available when booking the smaller group option
• Private cateringWhether you're looking for a fully catered stay or a one-off meal for a special occasion, discover your bespoke catering options
  
  Explore private dining
• Eco-friendlyElectric car charging point available
• RestrictionsSorry, no parties

Wakes Colne

It´s all rail nostalgia and artistic legacy in this quiet corner of the Colne Valley. Equidistant between the historic market town of Sudbury in Suffolk and the Roman city of Colchester in Essex, and just a short drive from a score of Medieval Wool towns and the exquisite Dedham Vale.

View property location Destination guide

Getting there

• On the map This luxury country home is just outside of Wakes Colne near Colchester in Essex, ideally located for visiting Dedham and the rest of Constable Country.
• By car Elberta Barn is 20 minutes from Colchester, one hour from Cambridge, one-and-a-half hours from London, and two hours from Norwich by car.
• By train Chappel and Wakes Colne Station is five minutes by taxi (a local service can be recommended upon request) or 20-minute walk. During the week, there are regular trains from London Liverpool Street via Marks Tey with a journey time of just over one hour on Greater Anglia Railways. On weekends, a replacement bus may be required for part of the journey.
• By air Stansted Airport is 40 minutes away, while Gatwick Airport, Luton Airport, and Norwich Airport are each less than two hours away by car. If you wish to arrive by helicopter, please enquire for details.