An English thoroughbred

Thurston House, six miles from Bury St Edmunds, is both a grand country home and an outstanding equestrian property, a perfect pairing that immediately appealed to Christine and Andrew Spencer. They bought the Suffolk property 25 years ago, moving in with their twins – then three years old – to create a much-loved family home. Now for sale once again, it comes with heritage, exquisite interiors and expansive grounds. 

“When we bought Thurston House, it was operating as a working stud,” says Christine. “As a family, we’re involved in the equine world and have always kept horses or ponies. But we didn’t want to own a stud, so we returned the property to its origins – a country house with good equestrian facilities.”

Outside, she explains, that process involved “remodelling the land, planting hundreds of established trees, creating orchards, Italianate gardens and beds of topiary, and introducing what has turned into a very productive kitchen vegetable garden. We really went to town.” 

The equine facilities the Spencer family have left in place include stables, horse walker and all-weather menage with several well-fenced paddocks. These facilities join formal gardens, pasture, and woodland, as well as a covered pool and a small lake to offer complete privacy, “a world all of our own,” says Christine. Two large barns, one flint and one wooden, and a two-bedroom Coach House flat and workshop are among numerous outbuildings.

“With around 36 acres, including aged oaks and 15 acres of parkland dotted with mature specimen trees, it’s a magical place to bring up children,” Christine continues. “The twins loved being outside in all kinds of weather. They were never behind screens simply because they had the freedom to run wild in totally secure, walled grounds. It felt like being on our own desert island, with the house placed so well in its land. Yet it is also ideal for commuting to Cambridge or Newmarket, with the A14 so close.” 

Thurston House’s heritage dates to the 1300s, although most of the current house was built in the 1760s. Its previous owners include Tyrell William Cavendish, who tragically perished on the Titanic in 1912. His wife Julia, who survived, built Thurston’s existing village hall, Cavendish Hall, in his memory.

Today, Thurston is a wonderful family house with carefully considered interiors. Pass through the automatic iron gates and along the principal drive with its stately avenue of lime trees, and you arrive at the house’s impressive red-brick façade. An 18th Century glass conservatory leads into a large reception hall with six further reception rooms and a Smallbone kitchen on the ground floor. There are five bedrooms (two ensuite) on the first floor and three on the second floor, along with a further four attic rooms. 

“Our aim with the interiors was always to enhance the historic feel of the house while also making it ideal for modern family life,” says Christine. “We focused on filling the house with natural light, and replaced the heavy brocade curtains and dark carpets to lift every room.” 

Christine picks the formal drawing room as a favourite, where soft yellow panelling and full-height windows emphasise the natural light. “This is a house made for entertaining,” she says. “We’ve seated 40 guests for lunch parties and because my birthday is on Christmas Day, that’s a special time when the whole family always come to us.” 

With their children now adults, Christine and Andrew have more time to spend abroad. So, they have put Thurston House on the market, with plans to find a smaller property in the Newmarket area. “We’ve done our bit with this wonderful property and I’m so proud of what we have achieved,” says Christine. “Now Thurston House is ready for its next chapter.” 

Thurston House has a guide price of £5,250,000. To make an enquiry, contact georgie.veale@knightfrank.com. Explore more properties for sale in Suffolk, our contact one of our agents to request a market appraisal.