Access Statement for De Vere House, Water Street, Lavenham

Introduction

De Vere House is a grade 1 listed private dwelling offering accommodation in the east wing of the house with two double bedrooms, both offering en suite facilities and access to a private sitting room and courtyard garden for the exclusive use of guests.

The house dates from the 15th century with many unique period features but was partially demolished and renovated in the 20th century.

The following statement summarises the facilities at the house.  For further information visit our website www.deverehouse.co.uk or telephone 01787 249505.

Pre-Arrival

The property is situated on Water Street in Lavenham.  There is an hourly bus service to neighbouring villages and the facility to hire cars in the village.

The nearest rail stations are Sudbury (15 minutes), Stowmarket (20 minutes) and Colchester (30 minutes).  All times are by car.

There are several local taxi services which we can book for you by arrangement.

The nearest airports are Stansted (60 minutes) and Norwich (90 minutes).

We provide further details on how to find the village and the house in our information pack that we send to you at the time of booking.  Directions can also be found on our website (see above).

Arrival and Car Parking facilities

Guests have access to off-street parking at the rear of De Vere House and can also use one of the garages by prior arrangement.  De Vere House participates in the cyclist friendly scheme.

The driveway is gravel and is lit automatically at night.

We ensure we are available when guests arrive to assist with luggage, and agree approximate arrival times with our guests to ensure this is the case.

Main Entrance and Reception

Guests enter through the front door on arrival but then have access through their own entrance and gateway for the remainder of their stay.

The front door is a cat and kitten door (similar to the Judas gate at a castle).  There is one step up to the front entrance 17cm high.  The kitten door is 124cm high and 36.5cm wide.  The cat door is 272cm high and 152cm wide.

The bell is to the right hand side and guests are asked to ring the bell on arrival.

The front door is locked, chained and bolted.

The door enters into the hall way.

The hall way is 188cm wide and 304cm high.  Immediately on entering the hall there is a small step down (5cm).

Guests are directed into their private sitting room to the left through a gothic arched oak doorway.  The door is 78cm wide and 226cm high, with a step 8cm high, dropping 17cm the other side.  This door is bolted at night.

Guest’s private entrance

At all other times after their arrival, guests access their accommodation through a private gate and entrance, using their own keys to lock and unlock both the gate and the entrance door.

The side gate has one step (12cm) and access is through a gate which is 81cms wide and has a circular handle.

Two steps (11cms and 19cms high, 38cms wide) rise to the entrance door. 

The entrance door is oak panelled and 81cms wide, 207cms tall, with a small step up into the guest’s sitting room (1.5cms).

Public Areas: Guest’s sitting room (the Reading Room)

Private sitting room for guests with one leather chesterfield sofa and two leather armchairs, a small desk and chair, four occasional tables, a bookcase, table lamps and a fridge.  The floor is oak boarding and sealed, then covered with two persian rugs.  The room has an open fire with protection grill.  The staircase to the bedrooms leads from this room and is oak with a linseed oil finish.

Staircase leads off to the left and then turns a half turn to a small top landing.  There are 12 stair treads, each 78cms wide and 21cms tall.  There is a handrail on the left hand side for the first flight and a stair rope for the remainder of the staircase.

Public Areas: Guest’s dining room (the Hall Chamber)

Breakfast is taken in the Hall Chamber, a beamed room with wall paintings to the north side of the house and directly across the hallway from the Guests sitting room (see above).  The room has two tables set out for breakfast, one for each room.  It also has a wall hanging, suit of armour and an open fire, Tudor chest and side settle, sofa table and various pieces of armour, pewter, brass and oil paintings.

Access to the Hall Chamber is across two small steps (2cms then 14cms) along a short brick passage besides the main chimney breast (48cms long) and through a door which is 77cms wide and 203cms tall.

The tables are gateleg – one is 70cms tall, the other 67cms tall.  There are four oak carvers (with cushions as required).  The menu is available on each table and can be provided in large print.

Bedrooms

There are two guest bedrooms (John de Vere and Lady Elizabeth Howard) on the first floor both with lockable doors, en suite bathrooms, TV and coffee-making facilities, and hair dryers. 

The John de Vere room is accessed through an oak Suffolk plank door that is 70cms wide and 198cms tall. 

The room has a four poster bed which is 208cms long, 153cms wide and 57cms from the ground.

There is a walnut antique wardrobe, two bedside tables (one incorporating a small set of drawers), a mahogany dressing table, bedroom chair and a chaise longue.

The room is lit by four wall lights and a large oak-framed window (north facing).

Immediately on the right, on entering, is the bathroom.  The bathroom door is 66cms wide and 191cms tall and opens inwards.  The bathroom has a ceramic-tiled floor, roll top bath (58cms high), toilet (46cms floor to rim and 16cms either side), and wash basin (85cms floor to rim).  Bathroom lights, shower and towel rail are all activated by pulleys which run from the ceiling to 100cms from the ground.

The bath has a shower unit and circular shower curtain.

There is a mirror and shaver point.

The bathroom has three windows all with roman blinds and secondary glazing

The Lady Elizabeth Howard room is accessed through an oak Suffolk plank door that is 74cms wide and 197cms tall. 

The room has a mahogany double bed which is 203cms long, 137cms wide and 57cms from the ground.

There is a mahogany antique wardrobe, two bedside tables, two sets of drawers and a two seater sofa.

The room is lit by four wall lights and two sash windows (south facing).

On the right is the bathroom.  The bathroom door is 64cms wide and 189cms tall and opens inwards.  The bathroom has a ceramic-tiled floor, roll top bath (58cms high), toilet (46cms floor to rim and 24cms either side), and wash basin (85cms floor to rim).  Bathroom lights, shower and towel rail are all activated by pulleys which run from the ceiling to 100cms from the ground.

There is a mirror and shaver point.

The bath has a shower unit and circular shower curtain.

An oak timber runs across the bathroom, 209cms above the ground.

Shops

Cash back facilities at the Cooperative Store, Pharmacy and Butchers.  Excellent selection of shops all within a short walking distance ranging from bakers, grocers, butchers and hardware, to china, tapestries, clothing and textiles, antiques, picture galleries, toys and collectibles.

Treatment rooms 

There is an Aveda massage and therapy centre in the village within a two minute walk.  Details are provided to guests at time of booking.

Leisure facilities

Active tennis club with all weather courts in the village.  Football and cricket grounds are also located by the village church with matches each weekend in season.  Atlantic Health Spa is located in a neighbouring village, 10 minutes drive from the house.  Details are provided to guests at time of booking.

Outdoor facilities

The village has many walks, including alongside the old railway tracks and housings to Long Melford and across Clay Hill to Preston.  Details are provided for guests in the Reading Room and guests can borrow any of the local guide books.

The village also has a Tourist Information Centre which provides information on local sights, places of interest, leisure facilities and walks.

Attractions

Lavenham is a 15th century wool town of great architectural and historical interest and both of the owners of De Vere House would be happy to provide guests with a history of the house and the village.

The village has many annual festivals and events including a literary weekend, Jazz festival, Dickensian Christmas fayre, farmers markets, and an August bank holiday carnival.

Grounds and Gardens

Guests have access to a small and private courtyard garden with four chairs, large table, parasol and lanterns for their use.

Additional Information

There is a designated Lavenham Walk of circa 3.5 miles
Lavenham has two museums: The Guild Hall and The Little Hall
Lavenham also has a woodland project
Lavenham has a dentist, pharmacist and GP surgeryDe Vere House cannot accommodate pets or small children (under 10)
De Vere House is no smoking throughout
Mobile phone reception is good at the front of the house and in the bedrooms but poor in the Hall Chamber.

Contact information