Notes from the host
The Old Monkey
4 Star Awarded, The Old Monkey has bags of character in a quirky little bolt-hole.
This lovely place will really appeal to a lot of guests, especially those on shorter breaks who always ask how far is the nearest pub, restaurant, shop, walk, cycle route – because this place really ticks all those boxes. The Old Monkey also boasts an open log fire and welcomes guests with a well behaved dog.
Cottage Walk Through.
The entrance to ‘The Old Monkey’ is on the side of the ancient House which was once a pub called The Kings Arms.
As there were a few Kings Arms around it got the nickname ‘The Old Monkey’ to set it apart, there is a nice courtyard with bench seating.
The Old Monkey is a tiny but very cosy cottage and a romantic little place to stay. It has every modern convenience but still retains masses of original charm and character with its ancient wattle and daub walls, a wealth of beams, tiny steep staircase, lovely lime wash painted walls and a cosy open log fire with a comfy sofa to enjoy it from.
The main room with its open log fire has a pretty antique farmhouse table to enjoy meals in front of the fire.
The contemporary galley style Kitchen makes the preparation of meals very easy and is complete with a pretty Belfast sink, microwave, washing machine, electric hob and oven.
There is a modern shower bathroom located on the ground floor (please note that we do not provide towels – sorry) and central heating in all rooms.
The stairs winding up into the bedroom (we do provide bed linen) from the main room, give away the age of the building and people with mobility problems should not book this cottage – for the able bodied it is just another part of the lovely character of The Old Monkey. Please note that because of the steep stairs this cottage is not suitable for Babies or children.
The bedroom has a high arched ceiling displaying the beautiful ancient beams, it has a snuggly double bed, not a kingsized one.
We also supply a lovely breakfast basket containing eggs, tomatoes, butter, bread and milk, all local produce if possible – season permitting.
The cottage also contains tea, coffee and olive oil, salt and pepper. When you contact us to make Arrival Arrangements you can let us know if you have any dietary requirements to avoid food wastage.
There is free on-street parking available outside or opposite in a quiet Cul-de-sac
The Gardens
There is no garden at The Old Monkey, just a place to sit out in the courtyard.
Outside
You are on the edge of the small Historic Market Town of Hadleigh, shops start a couple of hundred yards away. There are several good pubs and unique little shops plus a Co-Op supermarket.
Hadleigh has over 250 listed historical buildings in it and the church was painted by John Constable.
Just around the corner from the cottage is a footpath taking you along the old railway line which is now a rambling / cycle route out into the countryside.
There is a pretty riverside walk round Hadleigh.
Green Credentials
The Old Monkey dates back to 1250 and was renovated during the 1990s utilising timber and bricks from the standing building. The interior and exterior walls have been coloured with traditional lime wash where possible. The furniture is all old/antique and hopefully did not use any polluting energy to produce.
All rugs are old and pre-date modern chemicals.
Our welcome basket includes local Suffolk bacon, organic eggs and tomatoes from our garden when in season, very local bread and locally sourced fruit where possible.
Situated within a town, our guests generally explore on foot and many are shocked to find the car unused after a five day stay!
We have a wild pond within our own garden that encourages a plethora of amphibians, grass snakes and insects that feed the local bird population, listen to the night time hoot of the owls.
We encourage recycling and have made every effort to reduce/eliminate usage of plastic.
Our well-seasoned fire wood and kindling is all sourced within 5 miles and often from our own garden having been stacked outside to support the local invertebrates.
Local Area
You are in the pretty river valley that starts in Lavenham which is regarded as England’s Best Preserved Medieval Village and is full of stunning houses, a Guildhall Museum, wool church and many good pubs and restaurants including the famous Great House and The Swan Hotel. The pretty little riverside villages of Brent Eleigh, Monks Eleigh, Chelsworth and Bildeston all lie along this river valley and are beautiful places to explore.
Flatford Mill, where Constable painted ‘The Haywain’ is just a short drive down the road and is somewhere we all love to go to, especially in Summer when we hire a rowing boat there and row down river to have a lazy picnic day.
This area is amazingly rural and untouched by city life, with tiny single track lanes leading nowhere or to a pub, footpaths galore and tiny Medieval Villages where time seems to have stood still.
If you are staying for more than a weekend then a day out at the unspoilt Suffolk Coast is always a lovely trip.
The coast starts just 30 minutes away near Ipswich and our favourite beaches and places on the coast are between 50 – 70 minutes away, places like Pin Mill, Nacton, Levington, Orford, Aldeburgh, Dunwich, Southwold and Mersey Island.
The nearby Medieval Villages of Long Melford, famed for its setting for the Lovejoys TV series, Nayland, sitting prettily on the river Stour, Polstead, with its bluebells woods and impressive views over the Box river valley are all close by and there are many more tiny villages with lovely walks and Pubs to explore.
This is an area where you feel a million miles away from city life and can really relax and enjoy just being part of it.
Standard Inclusive Features
Kitchen: The Cottgage is a complete little home and facilities include modern central heating, refrigerator, hobs, oven and / or microwave, toaster, crockery & serving dishes, cutlery, many utensils, fire-extinguisher, lots of pots & pans, glasses & mugs, kettle, coffee maker, teapot, kitchen towels, oven gloves, olive oil, salt & pepper, sugar, herbs, tea, fresh and instant coffee, washing up liquid, cloths, general cleaning materials, etc.
Bathroom: Soap, towels are not provided (sorry), bath mats, shaver point, toilet brush, toilet roll.
Bedroom: Cotton bed linen, wardrobe with coat hangers / chest of drawers, iron, ironing board, hairdryer.
Living room: If your cottage has an open fire or stove then a basket with firewood and a bucket with coal will be provided free and more will be available at cost and there will be firelighters provided, TV, books, games, magazines, local brochures, OS and other maps, folder with our special ‘What To Do’ Insiders Guide to the local area.
Dog: We are happy to accept one doggie, charges apply at £20 for up to 7 nights.
Bikes: Unfortunately bikes are not provided at this cottage but if you call the office you can pick some up from The old Grove Farm which is just 15 minutes away and cycle round the lovely countryside there.
Well behaved Dogs are always welcome, please refer to All About Bringing Pets for charges, rules and how this cottage may suit your pet.
Hosted byThe Grove Cottages
