Live Conversion of the Old Foundry, Long Melford, Suffolk
Nestled just off the high street in one of Suffolk’s most charming villages, The Old Foundry is undergoing an exciting transformation. This former Victorian foundry is being converted into one spacious four-bedroom house alongside six stylish maisonette mews properties, seamlessly blending historic features with modern design.
Dating back to 1876, The Old Foundry retains characterful elements such as traditional flint walls, a slate roof, and striking internal king post trusses. Conveniently located within walking distance of shops, restaurants, and pubs, it offers both heritage and lifestyle appeal.
About Long Melford
Situated in the heart of historic Long Melford, The Old Foundry benefits from the village’s rich Tudor heritage. Long Melford is a vibrant community popular with both residents and tourists, with homes, shops, and businesses lining Hall Street and Westgate to create a welcoming and picturesque setting.
The village is also renowned for its historic landmarks, including the Church of the Holy Trinity, Kentwell Hall, and Melford Hall, all of which contribute to its unique character and appeal.
Conversion of The Old Foundry – Project Details
Featuring vaulted ceilings and original exposed timbers, The Old Foundry offers a collection of thoughtfully designed two, three, and four-bedroom properties. Each home maximises space and embraces the surrounding beautiful countryside.
All properties benefit from a north/south orientation, ensuring that interiors remain light and airy throughout the day. This effect is further enhanced by an innovative “upside-down” layout, where bedrooms and family bathrooms are located on the ground floor, and the kitchen, living, and dining areas occupy the first floor. While unconventional, this layout offers a refreshing living experience and excellent space for entertaining.
The development includes seven properties in total, with beautifully constructed outdoor spaces for residents. The standalone house enjoys a private walled garden, while the maisonettes share access to a landscaped communal garden.
This project is a true labour of love, led by a brother-and-sister team — an architect and designer — who have embraced the building’s rich local and family history, breathing new life into the foundry once run by their grandfather.
All properties are offered freehold and feature unique design elements that must be seen to be fully appreciated.
Plot 1: Three-Bedroom Maisonette
The entrance hall leads to a spacious master bedroom with en-suite and built-in wardrobes. The second bedroom is generously sized and also includes built-in wardrobes. Off the inner hallway are a useful utility room and a family bathroom. The staircase ascends to a stunning open-plan kitchen and living area, which provides access to the third bedroom with an en-suite shower room.
Plots 2 & 3: Two-Bedroom Maisonettes
Each offers two capacious double bedrooms, with built-in wardrobes in the master. The homes include a family bathroom and cloakroom, alongside an open-plan kitchen, living, and dining area.
Plots 4 to 6: Two-Bedroom Maisonettes
These three properties feature two double bedrooms, a family bathroom, and a cloakroom on the ground floor, with an open-plan kitchen and living area on the first floor.
Old Foundry Design Features
Vaulted Ceilings
To maximise the impact of the large vaulted ceilings and original king post truss beams, the open-plan living spaces are positioned on the first floor. These rooms benefit from impressive ceiling heights of up to 4 meters, complemented by windows at both the front and rear that flood the spaces with natural light. Exposing the original king post trusses not only highlights the building’s architectural character but also beautifully connects the design to its Victorian heritage.
Modern Glazing
Highly insulated with optimum energy efficiency.
The conversion includes the installation of modern, highly insulated glazing throughout, encompassing doors, windows, and rooflights to optimise energy efficiency.
The windows are supplied by Ideal Combi Future+, featuring a contemporary Timber|PUR|Aluminium design. This system combines a slim 53mm powder-coated aluminium profile with an innovative polyurethane (PUR) core, delivering exceptional thermal performance and low U-values. All windows are Secured by Design certified, ensuring both security and quality.
