Glemham Hall, a remarkable property, is up for sale for the first time in over a century, and its vastness is truly impressive.
Just last week, the historic Glemham Hall estate, spanning 1,763 acres, was introduced to the market for the first time in 101 years. Located on the outskirts of Little Glemham and close to Suffolk’s enchanting heritage coast, the estate includes a Grade I-listed mansion surrounded by about 200 acres of meticulously designed gardens and parklands. The estate also features River Alde frontage, alongside operational and leased farms, a farmhouse, and several cottages. Tim Fagan of Strutt & Parker has set a guide price of £19 million for the estate, which can be purchased either entirely or in separate parts.
The Glemham family, established as local landowners since the early 15th century, only came to own Little Glemham after the monasteries were dissolved in the 1540s. Thomas Glemham significantly expanded the family’s holdings by buying former monastic properties, making them prominent landowners in east Suffolk.
Country Life magazine, in a 1910 article, credited Sir Henry Glemham, Thomas’s son, with constructing the beautiful Early Renaissance style Glemham Hall. Sir Henry, who wed Thomas Sackville’s daughter and gained political favor, was the first in his family to serve in Parliament. After his death in 1632, Sir Thomas Glemham took over, a military man who, upon his death in 1648, left behind a noble legacy but reduced fortune. This led to the family eventually selling the property to the Norths, who would become the Earls of Guilford, in 1708.
Dudley North, in the early 18th century, made several modifications to Glemham Hall, but much of the original structure remained at the rear of the building. However, the main entrance was updated with a Palladian influence, sash windows, and a brickwork attic. The interior saw similar contemporary upgrades, such as fluted Corinthian columns and white-paneled wainscoting. The property also featured formal gardens framed by oak and lime avenues.
In 1789, when Dudley Long North inherited the hall, he worked with famed landscape designer Humphry Repton, who crafted a Red Book with suggestions for the property’s overhaul. Many of these recommendations were realized, including the demolition of the old manor, filling in the moats, and expanding the parkland.
The North family made few changes over the years, and by July 1921, the 8th Earl of Guilford had put the estate up for sale. It was subsequently bought by Capt John Murray Cobbold of the local brewing dynasty in 1923. Alongside his wife, Lady Blanche, they preserved the park and crafted new gardens. Capt Cobbold, an Ipswich Town football club financier and avid sportsman, died during World War II when a V-1 bomb hit the Guards Chapel in London. Lady Blanche continued to live at the hall until her death in 1987, after which her son Patrick, and later her grandson Maj Philip Hope-Cobbold, inherited the estate. Philip, who passed away in 2020, was a charismatic figure known for his military service and ties to Ipswich Town Football Club. His son, Tom, currently resides at Glemham Hall with his family. The new owner of the grand 34,000 square foot hall, along with his late wife Raewyn, who passed away in 2016, put on a wide range of corporate, social, and cultural functions to cover the costs of maintaining the hall. The hall features seven primary reception areas, a conservatory, 12 main bedrooms, five dressing rooms, 19 attic rooms (former servants’ quarters), kitchens, service offices, and expansive cellars. Functions such as weddings, christenings, funerals, wakes, barbecues, Sunday lunches, and entertaining tours hosted by the Major himself all helped with the finances, and the FolkEast heritage and music festival was a highlight of their efforts.
The hall has an air of time-worn elegance, reminiscent of its prime period between the World Wars when it was served by over 20 staff and numerous gardeners. These days, Glemham Hall sits at the heart of a traditional country estate of more than 1,000 acres, including a mix of crops, river meadow, and woods, as well as a 526-acre tenant farm with a historic 17th-century farmhouse and seven cottages, with more cottages available if needed.
Glemham Hall is currently for sale, in its entirety, through Strutt and Parker for £19 million. For additional details and photos, click here.
Furthermore, there are also featured properties for sale, including a Bedfordshire mansion, a Somerset manor house, and a home in the Cotswolds. Additionally, there’s a perfect Cornwall cottage by Mullion Cove that’s been updated, a classic Cotswold home near the hamlet of Cleveley, and noteworthy homes across the country, such as Eastbury Manor in Surrey, demonstrating the appeal of newer constructions.
