Goodlands Farm is an extended, former farmhouse set within its own gardens and grounds on the outskirts of the village of Raydon, near Hadleigh, and it could be yours for a cool £1.795m.

Stowmarket Mercury: Goodlands Farm, RaydonGoodlands Farm, Raydon (Image: Archant)

It is a country house surrounded by its own gardens, with meadow paddocks and woodland making it an place for children to grow and play.

The grounds now amount to 31 acres.

Yet bustling Ipswich and Colchester, are just a short drive on the A12 and there are fast trains to London from Manningtree station.

Yet this is a idyllic spot, with the farmhouse tucked away down a lane from the country road.

Stowmarket Mercury: Goodlands Farm, RaydonGoodlands Farm, Raydon (Image: Archant)

The family album is full of pictures of young children, and Labradors, playing together in the fields and woodland, ideal for making dens and playing pirates - developing their imagination through play. Mum Serena Murray said: “It is absolutely ideal for children. It really is an oasis.”

Son James is now working and daughter Izzy is studying at university, so it is time to move on. Serena added: “They spent so much time outside here. It is just such a perfect place for children.

“Isobelle had a pony at one time and there is plenty of space for horses or keeping other animals.”

The family has been here since 1996 and over that time the house has been extended, modernised and improved, in particular with the addition of extra modern bath and shower rooms.

Stowmarket Mercury: Goodlands Farm, RaydonGoodlands Farm, Raydon (Image: Archant)

The grounds now extend to around 31 acres, with a beautiful setting in rolling countryside, and the professional standard tennis court, put in by the previous owners, has been re-surfaced too.

Keen, ambitious tennis players might like to note that.

There are patios and sun terraces, and a range of former farm buildings include offices, stables and barns all with potential for conversion into additional family accommodation, or perhaps holiday cottages.

They provide plenty of storage space now, and games rooms for table tennis or snooker or other children’s hobbies.

Stowmarket Mercury: Goodlands Farm, RaydonGoodlands Farm, Raydon (Image: Archant)

Mrs Murray is from East Suffolk, but says she finds this part of the county has so much going for it and good rail links to London. She said: “It is a really lovely part of Suffolk.

“Places like Woodbridge have their own attractions but I love Hadleigh, it has a really strong community spirit.

“There are good shops and nice pubs and a real community feel.

“It is a little gem.”

There were good schools and nurseries for families too, she said.

They had transformed the house over past 20 years, she added, and it was now a spacious, comfortable home.

It was not listed, she said, yet there were plenty of character features in the house.

The barns were lovely and had great potential too, she said.

There is lots of living accommodation in the house, over two floors.

The main access is to the rear hall, and there is a cloakroom and a utility room.

There is a staircase hall, another reception space, with access to the sitting room and the kitchen/breakfast room.

The kitchen is fitted with a range of fitted wall and floor units, together with a central island, under granite worktops and incorporating a four ring electric hob and AEG electric oven, with an electric-fired Aga in a recess and a one-and-half-bowl butler sink, and space and plumbing for a dishwasher.

The breakfast area has a pine boarded floor and double glazed French doors to the sun terrace. There is a study with bookshelves, and a formal dining room, and a second staircase.

Steps up from the hall lead to the drawing room which has a woodburning stove in a brick fireplace, display shelving and cupboards.

On the first floor there are six bedrooms, most with built-in wardrobes.

There is a family bathroom with a four piece suite which includes a bath and shower cubicle.There are three more useful bath/shower rooms.

The house has its own water supply, from a bore hole.

It is approached by a long, sweeping drive leading to a parking area.

The extensive grounds include patio areas, terrace, orchards and enclosed vegetable gardens. The backdrop is woodland and paddocks.

See more property news here