Vicarage Road Edgbaston | Birmingham | West Midlands
VICARAGE ROAD Built circa 1837 this magnificent Grade II substantial Victorian family home sits within incredible grounds in excess of half an acre. The property has been beautifully extended with a stunning open plan breakfast kitchen and is presented to a very high standard both internally and externally.
Although falling within the early Victorian period, this family home displays elegent late Georgian architecture. Behind smart private walls and mature shrubs, a classic white rendered exterior creates an imposing and handsome first impression. Enhanced by the exceptional size, dÊcor and layout throughout; the interior doesn’t dsappoint either. Blending seemlessly with the contemporary dÊcor and quintessential British designed kitchen are a multitude of original features, including charming fireplaces, high ceilings, deep skirtings, architraves, decorative ceiling plasterwork and large windows throughout enhancing the feeling of light and space. The charming atrium, with its attractive fan light above, leads into an enclosed entrance porch and through into the inner reception hall with its beautiful limestone tiled flooring. Accessed from the hallway is the cellar complete with integral wine storage. The sitting room to the front of the property enjoys a westerly aspect. A lovely focal point of this substantial room is the attractive fireplace with its cast iron grate, inlaid tiles and marble surround and hearth. Behind the sitting room is an elegant and extensive drawing room with outstanding views across the rear gardens through a great box bay window. A glazed door to one side allows direct garden access. This magnificent room is beautifully complimented with polished oak strip flooring, original ornate cornicing and an inviting wood burner with a carved painted timber fire surround and marble hearth. Fitted book shelving and cupboards with discreet lighting runs the full length of one wall completes this room.
To the front of the property with a westerly aspect is the delightful study with several fitted bookshelves, a charming open cast iron fireplace and a lovely large bay window offering excellent light. The magnificent dining room adjacent and open through to kitchen, is beautifully decorated and presented to an exceptionally high standard. The Laura Ashley colours typify the period and grandeur of the room and together with the large Georgian style windows enjoying views across the private grounds this space is excellent for family dining, celebrations and entertaining. In 2014 the vendors took the decision to extend and re-model the rear of the property, with the main focus on the kitchen and utility room. Architects cleverly created a fabulous design to not only maximise the light and space to this area but to also enable the full enjoyment of the stunning gardens by opening up the back of the kitchen across the entire wall with bi-folds.
They opted for the British designed and built ‘1909’ kitchen range, a handcrafted shaker style painted kitchen, creating a contemporary feel. Soft close oak dovetailed cabinets in Morris Blue contrast delightfully with the white Caesarstone worktops, splash back and upstands. Integrated appliances include Neff double ovens, microwave, fridge/ freezer and a dishwasher. Combined with a double stainless steel Franke sink, mixer tap, waste disposal unit and the most useful Quooker boiling water tap, the kitchen is both practical, timeless and graceful throughout. A superb lantern roof is located above the large central island with a solid oak work top and ample storage below making it an ideal place for casual dining, cooking preparation and entertaining. The kitchen design also incorporates a wonderful French-style dresser in Morris Blue with oak tops. Engineered oak flooring incorporates underfloor heating and there is ample space for soft furnishings to relax and enjoy the outside. The design and theme continues through to the sizable utility space that is both practical and beautiful, with Morris Blue painted cabinets, including two tall larder cupboards with automatic lighting, and several other storage units, plus a useful boot and coat storage area. There is an integrated Neff fridge and freezer, Neff washing machine and White Knight tumble dryer, together with an inset Belfast sink with a Blanco architectural tap. When designing this space the owners allowed for easy access for large garden machinery and furniture by installing external-grade slate stone flooring and two sets of 5ft wide double doors leading from the garage and onto the rear patio respectively.
Seller Insight “We were looking for a Georgian property and Vicarage Road was exactly the size, look and location we had been seeking. It was one of those moments where you walk through the door and you just know. It had the right feeling.” “As a listed property, my family and I feel fortunate to have been custodians of it for the last 6 years. We have also been able to add some great features to enhance the house and make it a more practical home that other families can enjoy for years to come.” “We extended the kitchen, remaining sympathetic to the period of the rest of the property but keeping it fresh and modern. The result is contemporary but should stand the test of time. The extension really improves the flow of the ground floor. “The house is absolutely bursting with period features, but holds all its charm with a homely feeling. It is a lovely spacious house, but with cosier areas for those quiet moments. You get the morning sun on into the early afternoon at the back of the house, then moving round to the front in the late afternoon. You can follow the sun around the house, and even sit out in the garden on a nice day.” “The garden is amazing. You wouldn’t think you were near the centre of Birmingham. You can hear the wildlife, it’s like you’re in the middle of the countryside! The unique walled garden extends unexpectedly in an L-shape to the side and runs behind neighbouring properties. The previous owner had bought land from adjacent plots, so the garden is larger than the norm. It’s a real hidden gem, you walk out and keep finding more!” There are plenty of schools and nurseries within walking distance, and the property is just a short bus ride from the centre of town. Birmingham University and the associated hospitals are close by. “The city has grown and developed in the years that we have been here, but remains compact and accessible. Harborne High Street offers all the immediate necessities. With excellent road links to the M6, A452 and A38, the location also provides easy access to Birmingham NIA/NEC and Birmingham Airport.” These comments are the personal views of the current owner and are included as an insight into life at the property. They have not been independently verified, should not be relied on without verification and do not necessarily reflect the views of the agent.
From the main staircase with its beautiful original wooden bannister you arrive at the first floor landing with four double bedrooms, two with front aspect and two with rear, one of which is currently used as a second study. There is also a modern family bathroom in addition to the en-suite. The master suite has a rear aspect, with views through the three quarter height bay window enjoying an outlook across the very private rear garden. There is an excellent fully fitted dressing room leading off to one side and a re-fitted sizable en-suite to the other, incorporating a Victorian style double ended bath with a window above overlooking the garden. There is also a walk-in shower cubicle with a curved glass screen, low level wc, bidet and wash basin set into a fitted cupboard. To the top floor are a further two good sized double bedrooms and a shared bathroom.
As stunning as this property is, the gardens are equally impressive and offer around 0.57 acres of privacy with enough variation for even the most discerning gardener. Having historically acquired an extra Victorian walled garden, this exceptional L-shaped plot has been cleverly landscaped to create a number of different areas, all linking together to create something very special indeed. The whole garden has been designed to provide year-round visual appeal and provides the perfect space to escape busy life. A wide York stone patio curves round the full width of the house with lovely gravelled pathways leading either side of the first lawned area, mature borders and an abundance of tall trees to offer complete privacy to the entire garden. The second lawned area is obscured behind a mature central island and is currently a charming children’s play area with an inset wooden climbing frame. The garden winds around to a delightful arbour heavily adorned with Honeysuckle, Clematis and Wysteria, providing a vegetation screening to the small courtyard below where four paths lead off. Deep borders and islands abundant with Rhododendrons, Acers and Peonies, intermingle with wild flowers, annuals and perennials fringing the lawned areas. A Hawthorn and Holly hedge to the rear perimeter of the property provide complete privacy and screening with a lovely established tree separating the last of the large lawned areas with undulating lawns and mature borders. The secret gem behind the high Victorian wall is the incredible potager, originally designed as a Victorian-style kitchen garden and separated from the rest of the private grounds, it provides a sanctuary for any keen gardener as a structured garden space with geometric patterns laid with neat formal stone pathways and raised beds converging to the centre, there are also various mature fruit trees, a greenhouse and a potting shed.
EDGBASTON Traditionally one of the most upmarket and affluent areas of Birmingham, Edgbaston is referred to as “where the trees begin”. This picturesque leafy suburb is home to both the University of Birmingham and the Edgbaston Cricket Ground. A wide range of schools for children of all ages are available both in the state and private sectors. Examples are West House and Hallfield Preparatory Schools, The Blue Coat School, Edgbaston High School for Girls, St George’s, The Priory and King Edward Foundation Schools and a choice of excellent grammar schools for both boys and girls. There are also good state schools in Harborne Village such as St Mary’s Roman Catholic School, St Peters Church of England School, Harborne Infants and Junior School and Chad Vale. There are superb medical facilities in the area both in the NHS and private sectors, they include the new University Hospital NHS Trust, The Women’s Hospital,The Edgbaston Nuffield and Priory Hospitals and The Princess Diana Hospital for Children. Edgbaston Priory Tennis & Squash Club, Edgbaston, Harborne and Moseley Golf Clubs, Harborne Hockey & Cricket Club, The Archery Tennis Club, and the prestigious Warwickshire Cricket Club are all within easy reach. The Birmingham Botanical Gardens are nearby, as is Cannon Hill Park with its Midlands Arts Centre and the exciting Barber Institute of Art at Birmingham University. In the past few years the area around Broad Street, linking Five Ways to the city centre has been developed and improved to provide excellent business and recreational facilities. Within a mile stretch can be found the International Convention Centre with its superb conference facilities and the world-renowned Symphony Hall, home to the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. The National Indoor Arena, venue for many international sporting and cultural events, is close to the same complex as is The Birmingham Repertory Theatre, The Hyatt and Marriott Hotels, numerous restaurants bars and bistros. Birmingham is also the base for The Birmingham Royal Ballet. The world famous Royal Shakespearean Theatre at Stratford-upon-Avon is about an hour away by car.
BIRMINGHAM Lying at the seat of England’s industrial and commercial heartland, the “Second City” is the very model of a beaming cosmopolitan global city that sets the standard for others to mirror. Increasingly recognised as an important cultural hub with the Birmingham Royal Ballet based in the city, along with a magnificent and striking new library. Birmingham also boasts some of the best shopping in Europe with the superb Bullring Shopping Centre containing over 140 shops including a flagship Selfridges department store. The exclusive Mailbox development is host to a range of designer stores including Armani and Harvey Nichols. Alongside outstanding museums and galleries you’ll find an increasing number of gastronomic restaurants, cool and/or secret cocktail bars and picturesque canals with waterside bars, restaurants, attractions and cruises. Thriving legacies of Birmingham’s industrial heritage include its Jewellery Quarter, Cadbury manufacturing plant and a former custard factory that’s been transformed into a cutting-edge creative hub. With construction on the High Speed Rail (HS2) line – connecting London with Birmingham in just 45 minutes by 2026 – set to boost employment and the economy, ‘Brum’, as it’s dubbed by locals, is buzzing.
Location Located in beautiful leafy Edgbaston, this property feels as though you could be in the countryside, although Birmingham City centre, and all it has to offer, is on the doorstep. Also Harborne is only a 10 minute drive away, with an M&S Food store, Waitrose, wonderful restaurants and friendly pubs – like the Plough. There is a huge new Morrisons 5-10 minute minute walk away and Birmingham University is a 10 minute drive, as is the Queen Elizabeth Hospital. Vicarage Road is also a short walk from the Botanical Gardens. There are four glasshouses which range from the exotic Tropical glasshouse, through to the Subtropical, Mediterranean and Arid houses. A large lawn is located in front of the glasshouses with a range of beds and shrubberies around its perimeter. Overall, the character is that of a Victorian public park with a bandstand set in 15 acres of landscaped greenery. Edgbaston Village is a growing leisure and lifestyle destination, set within the elegant 300 year old Calthorpe Estate, just one mile from Birmingham city centre. As an emerging village, it boasts a mixture of classical heritage properties with contemporary interiors redesigned for retail, leisure and restaurant use, all amidst a flourishing commercial business environment. Eating and drinking out in Edgbaston/Birmingham is wonderful – the choice ranges from Michelin star restaurants, to high street brasseries. Several of the restaurants are within walking distance of the property. Warwickshire Cricket Ground and Canon Hill Park are also very close by. Motorways The property is conveniently located for both the M5 and M6, which connects to the rest of the Midlands motorway network (M6 Toll, M42 and M40). Railway Stations It’s only a 10 minute walk to Five Ways train station which provides a direct link right into the heart of Birmingham City Centre.
EDGBASTON BIRMINGHAM • 119 miles from London • Easy access to M5, M6, M6 Toll, M42, M40 • Local train links: Five Ways, University, Birmingham New Street
Airports Birmingham International Airport is located 11 miles away which, via the Coventry Road/A45, is approximately 25 minutes drive. East Midlands Airport is 42 miles away, via the M42 and A42, approximately 45 minutes drive.
Fine & Country West Midlands Registered in England and Wales. Company Reg No. 04018410 l VAT Reg No: 754062833 Registered Office: Newman Property Services, 1 Regent Street, Rugby, Warwickshire, CV21 2PE
M40
Agents Notes
8 Vicarage Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 3ES
Gas Fired Central Heating
Approximate Gross Internal Area 442.3 sq m / 4761 sq ft (Including Garage & Excluding Eaves) Cellar = 30.7 sq m / 330 sq ft Total = 473.0 sq m / 5091 sq ft
Mains Electric & Water Telephone/Broadband Local Authority Birmingham City Council
= Reduced headroom below 1.5m / 5'0
Council Tax Band H Eaves
Viewing Arrangements Strictly via the vendors sole agents Fine & Country on
Dn Bedroom 5.15 x 4.42 16'11 x 14'6
Bedroom 4.53 x 4.43 14'10 x 14'6
0121 746 6400 Opening Hours Monday to Friday 8:30am – 6:30pm Saturday 9:00am – 4:00pm
Eaves
Sunday viewings/appointments available Second Floor
Approximate Gross Internal Area Main House (inc. Garage & Eaves): 442.3 sq m / 4761 sq ft
Utility 5.70 x 2.97 18'8 x 9'9
Wine Cellar 3.00 x 2.13 9'10 x 7'0
Drawing Room 7.07 x 5.13 23'2 x 16'10
B
2.40 x 1.98 7'10 x 6'6
Dining Room 6.20 x 4.18 20'4 x 13'9
Cellar: 30.7 sq m / 330 sq ft Total: 473.0 sq m / 5091 sq ft
Kitchen 5.20 x 4.90 17'1 x 16'1 Dressing Room 3.67 x 2.38 12'0 x 7'10
5.15 x 3.90 16'11 x 12'10
T
Bedroom 5.15 x 3.96 16'11 x 13'0
Bedroom 6.35 x 4.23 20'10 x 13'11
Up Up
Up
Dn Dn
Cellar Sitting Room 7.50 x 4.23 24'7 x 13'11
Ground Floor
Study 4.28 x 2.88 14'1 x 9'5
Garage 7.17 x 6.37 23'6 x 20'11
IN
Bedroom 5.15 x 4.25 16'11 x 13'11
Bedroom 3.80 x 2.95 12'6 x 9'8
First Floor
FLOORPLANZ © 2016 0845 6344080 Ref: 171984 This plan is for layout guidance only. Drawn in accordance with RICS guidelines. Not drawn to scale unless stated. Windows & door openings are approximate. Whilst every care is taken in the preparation of this plan, please check all dimensions, shapes & compass bearings before making any decisions reliant upon them.
Agents notes: All measurements are approximate and quoted in metric with imperial equivalents and for general guidance only and whilst every attempt has been made to ensure accuracy, they must not be relied on. The fixtures, fittings and appliances referred to have not been tested and therefore no guarantee can be given that they are in working order. Internal photographs are reproduced for general information and it must not be inferred that any item shown is included with the property. For a free valuation, contact the numbers listed on the brochure. Printed: 23/08/2016
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FINE & COUNTRY Fine & Country is a global network of estate agencies specialising in the marketing, sale and rental of luxury residential property. With offices in the UK, Ireland, The Channel Islands, France, Spain, Hungary, Portugal, Russia, Dubai, Egypt, South Africa, West Africa and Namibia we combine the widespread exposure of the international marketplace with the local expertise and knowledge of carefully selected independent property professionals. Fine & Country appreciates the most exclusive properties require a more compelling, sophisticated and intelligent presentation - leading to a common, yet uniquely exercised and successful strategy emphasising the lifestyle qualities of the property.
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