Box Bush

Box Bush is a house built around 1938 to designs by Frank Jennings, extended in the late 20th century.

The building comprises a two-and-half storey three-bay range aligned east-west, a two-storey bay to the west gable, a single-storey bay to the west gable of the two-storey range, a single-storey lean-to porch in the south-west return, and a single-storey former garage projecting from the east end of the north elevation. The roofs are mainly covered with plain tiles, except the lean-to porch which has pantile covering. The two-and-half storey range has a red brick chimneystack to the ridge and a dormer window to the south slope; the north slope sweeps low over the former garage. The two-storey bay has a red brick chimneystack on its west gable. The walls are timber-framed and red brick, smooth rendered with margined pargetting to each storey, rising from a red brick plinth. The former garage walls were originally weather boarded with double garage doors to the west side but were rendered when converted to residential use in the late 20th century.

The front elevation of the two-and-half storey range features a flat-arched shallow canopy and a moulded door surround containing a four-panelled door with applied vertical panelling. The single-storey porch in the south-west return has a ledged stable door. The two-and-half storey range has a single bay of windows to its east gable and three bays to the south elevation; the east bay of the ground floor has a box window with exposed red brick to sill height. Windows throughout are timber-framed with two mullions and rectangular or diamond leaded lights; the windows on the west and south sides of the two-storey bay were replaced in the late 20th century. A single-storey canted conservatory was added to the south-west return in the late 20th century. Doors throughout feature reclaimed door furniture.

The interior displays an exposed timber frame, reputedly relocated from Bedingham, with evidence of reuse; some timbers are pegged. The ground-floor parlour and east first-floor bedrooms each have a chamfered beam with lamb's tongue nicked stops, characteristic of substantial mid-17th century houses in Suffolk. From the stair hall on the north side of the two-and-half storey range there is a spacious parlour or sitting room to the east, dining room to the south, and kitchen, pantry and toilet to the west. From the first-floor landing there are four bedrooms to the north-east, south-east, south and west, the south-east being the largest, and a bathroom to the west of the stair hall. The attic of the two-and-half storey range has one large room to its east side. The winder stair is timber-framed with simple newel posts, handrails and treads. All rooms feature reclaimed ledged timber doors with reclaimed door and window furniture. Most bedrooms feature an inbuilt cupboard with a reclaimed door and door furniture; the largest bedroom in the south-east corner has a substantial double cupboard on its east wall.

Flooring consists of gault brick in the ground-floor stair hall, parlour, pantry and toilet; red brick in the dining room; and gault brick in the kitchen, largely replaced with tiles around 1970. Fireplaces generally have rendered flat-arched or shallow-arched brick surrounds, red brick hearths and chamfered timber hearth surrounds; the parlour fireplace is more substantial and features a chamfered bressummer. The former garage north of the parlour was adapted for residential use around 1970 and contains two small rooms; the south walls retain the margined pargetting of the exterior.