Company info

We are proud to be part of an exclusive list of properties that can claim to have been painted by John Constable. The heart of our estate is captured in ‘Higham Village’ that he painted in 1804 and features four of our cottages meaning we genuinely offer Constable Country Retreats. The Fenwick family has been in the village since 1936 and Major Fenwick (ex. Grenadier Guards) was born in Barham’s Manor in 1946 which has been his home ever since. During this time, with his wife Sara, he has built a collection of unrivalled holiday homes centred around a beautifully landscaped fifteen-acre park with stunning views over Suffolk’s tranquil rolling landscape. With businesses in Notting Hill and Chelsea, the Major and Sara have been able to successfully blend old-world bucolic charm with worldly eccentricity and contemporary style and comfort. The Major’s cousin Charlie (also ex. Grenadier Guards) is the general manager responsible for ensuring all our guests experience the highest possible standards and feel fully revived and recharged after their stay. He is supported by an extensive team who have been linked to the family for many years.

Property info

All of our cottages have been chosen for their individual charm, character and ambience. We have tried to show within these properties the layers of their history. All of our properties are unique and yet have their own individual style.

Neighborhood info

The Dedham Vale a classic lowland landscape, straddling the Stour River, has been the inspiration for England’s world-renowned landscape artists Constable and Gainsborough who lived and painted in the Vale. Little has changed over the centuries and with its charming villages, local attractions and beautiful surrounding countryside, the Dedham Vale remains a calm and timeless retreat only an hour from London. John Constable born in East Bergholt in 1776 was an English landscape painter in what became known as the naturalistic tradition. Being born in Suffolk, he is mainly known for his landscape paintings of the Dedham Vale which surrounding his home, and therefore also became known as "Constable Country". Being designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) by the Countryside Commission in 1969 was a key milestone in recognising the tranquillity and natural beauty of the Vale. The Dedham Vale Society was founded in 1938 and has be successfully fighting for the protection of of our landscape, built heritage and wildlife for over 80 years meaning Constable would still recognise his cherished landscape.

Languages Spoken

English