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ONE FAMILY SPECIALISING IN FINE FURNITURE SINCE 1866
A specially commissioned oil painting on linen canvas interpreting "The Defeat of the Floating Batteries at Gibraltar" by John Singleton Copley. The original painting by the Boston-born American artist is one of the main attractions of the Guidhall Art Gallery, London with its unmissable size at a huge 7.5 metres wide. Originally painted in 1791, the scene depicts the battle that took place on 13th September 1782 during the Great Siege of Gibraltar - an unsuccessful attempt by Spain and France to capture Gibraltar from the British during the War of American Independence. The Spanish formulated a secret weapon known as the Floating Batteries; designed to fire on Gibraltar at close quarters with deadly accuracy. The Governor of Gibraltar, General George Augustus Eliott, is on horseback pointing to the rescue of the defeated Spanish sailors by the British. Our reproduction has been hand painted on linen canvas which has been treated with ageing varnish, then stretched and mounted in a 5" handmade frame with shell corner decoration. £4,625 Width: 66¾ inches (170cm) | Depth: 2¾ inches (7cm) | Height: 49¾ inches (126.5cm)
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nettlebed . oxfordshire . rg9 5dd (open tues - sat)
king's rd . london . sw6 2dx (open mon-fri)
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HENLEY- ON-THAMES
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stunning diverse Hambleden Valley sporting, agricultural and commercial estate, set within the Chilterns. The estate has a fine Grade II listed Manor House, exceptional party barn and idyllic secondary house.
7 B E D R O O M S | 5 B AT H R O O M S | 5 R E C E P T I O N R O O M S | 2 FA R M H O U S E S | 8 C O T TA G E S S H O O T | PA R K L A N D | A R A B L E | W O O D L A N D | A P P R O X I M AT E LY 4 7 7. 4 7 A C R E S H E N L E Y- O N -T H A M E S 4 M I L E S | M A R L O W 4 . 5 M I L E S
Knight Frank London & Henley clive.hopkins@knightfrank.com 020 4502 8211 nick.warner@knightfrank.com 01491 815299 Simmons & Sons, Henley-on-Thames jgreaves@simmonsandsons.com 01491 634282 Ref: HOT190249
knightfrank.co.uk
WOODEND, NORTHAMPTONSHIRE Asking Price: £1,950,000 6 Bedrooms
5 Reception Rooms
4 Bathrooms
N/A EPC
A Grade II* listed 17th century Manor House with a tennis court, a swimming pool, a garage and double carport and approximately an acre of gardens with panoramic countryside views. The property is set off a quiet country lane with the main focus of the house over the private walled garden and open countryside surrounding it. The garden is not overlooked and gates to a farm track give direct access to countryside walks. The house has over 6,500 sq. ft. of versatile accommodation set over four floors including a cellar. Planning permission is in place to install an en suite on the second floor if desired. The attached 1,110 sq. ft. two storey barn is currently used for storage.
Towcester Office | Richard Irlam | 01327 350022 London Office | Bob Bickersteth | 0207 839 0888
14 offices covering 8 counties and Central London
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michaelgraham.co.uk
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michaelgraham_living
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EASTON PIERCY, WILTSHIRE
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n immaculately restored Grade II listed family home with excellent equestrian facilities and superb self-catering accommodation. Set in 16.54 acres, the property is situated in the quiet and rural hamlet of Easton Piercy located in the beautiful Cotswold countryside. 5 B E D R O O M S | 3 B AT H R O O M S | 2 R E C E P T I O N R O O M S | 3 C O T TA G E S | PA R T Y B A R N O U T B U I L D I N G S | S TA B L I N G W I T H 1 3 B O X E S | K I T C H E N G A R D E N | O R C H A R D | P A D D O C K S C H I P P E N H A M 5 M I L E S ( L O N D O N PA D D I N G T O N 1 H O U R 1 0 M I N U T E S ) | B AT H 1 7 M I L E S | B R I S T O L 2 2 M I L E S
Guide price £2,750,000 Knight Frank London & Bath sarah.brown@knightfrank.com 020 4502 7856 charlie.taylor@knightfrank.com 01225 685523 Ref: BTH012191398
knightfrank.co.uk
Immaculately Restored Family House Monk Sherborne, Hampshire Farnborough Airport: 21 miles, Heathrow Airport: 38 miles Situated within its own private park, Queens House has been immaculately restored to create a family house of an outstanding standard. 4 reception rooms, 7 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, indoor swimming pool, spa and gym, tennis court and pavilion, separate 2 bedroom coach house, 1 bedroom stable flat, mature gardens, paddock, woodland and pond. EPC = D About 13.23 acres | Price on application
Lindsay Cuthill Savills London Country Department 020 3797 8259 lcuthill@savills.com
Theo James-Wright Savills London Country Department 020 3883 4202 theo.jameswright @savills.com
savills
savills.co.uk
Aberdeenshire, Alford
A residential, agricultural and sporting estate in the valley of the River Don in Highland Aberdeenshire Alford: 7 miles, Huntly: 16 miles, Aberdeen airport: 31 miles, Aberdeen city centre: 34 miles Early 20th century 9-bedroom principal house | Attractive gardens and policies beside River Don | 8 Additional houses/cottages Farm buildings and potential development opportunities | Salmon and trout fishing | Mixed game shooting | In-hand and let farms Forestry and woods | Ecological restoration opportunities | Telecoms mast income About 1,593 acres Available as a whole or in 9 lots
Over 50 Offices across England and Scotland, including prime Central London.
Offers Over £5,645,000
Robert McCulloch
Diane Fleming
Scottish Estates & Farm Agency 0131 718 4593
Scottish Estates & Farm Agency 0131 718 4591
robert.mcculloch@struttandparker.com
diane.fleming@struttandparker.com
/struttandparker
@struttandparker
struttandparker.com
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beautifully refurbished country house with excellent leisure facilities and a converted former Coach House. This Grade II listed house sits in landscaped parkland grounds in a glorious 54 acre private setting. 9 B E D R O O M S | 5 R E C E P T I O N R O O M S | 7 B AT H R O O M S | B I L L I A R D R O O M H O M E C I N E M A | W I N E S T O R E & TA S T I N G R O O M | G A M E S R O O M | M E D I A R O O M C O A C H H O U S E D I V I D E D I N T O T W O S U P E R B S E L F - C O N TA I N E D C O T TA G E S
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S TA F F F L AT | L A K E W I T H PAV I L I O N | PA R K L A N D | G A R A G I N G LEISURE COMPLEX WITH SWIMMING POOL | GYMNASIUM | STEAM ROOM S EV E N OA K S 5 M I L E S | TO N B R I D G E 4 M I L E S | L O N D O N 3 3 M I L E S
Guide price available upon request Knight Frank London & Sevenoaks james.crawford@knightfrank.com 020 3930 2523 edward.rook@knightfrank.com 020 3930 1379 matthew.hodder-williams@knightfrank.com 01732 807851
knightfrank.co.uk
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4 5 NEAR BILLINGSHURST, WEST SUSSEX
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beautifully presented barn conversion with an additional five bedroom house and two bedroom cottage. The property is set amongst 218 acres in a remarkable situation in prime West Sussex. 5 B E D R O O M S | 4 B AT H R O O M S | 4 R E C E P T I O N R O O M S 5 B E D R O O M FA R M H O U S E | 2 B E D R O O M C O T TA G E A M E R I C A N B A R N W I T H 8 S TA B L E S | WA S H R O O M & TA C K R O O M
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I N D O O R A R E N A | S T O R A G E B A R N | W O O D L A N D & PA S T U R E | R I V E R | E P C D BILLINGSHURST 4 MILES | GUILDFORD 16 MILES | CENTRAL LONDON 44 MILES
Guide price available upon request Knight Frank London & Haslemere annabel.blackett@knightfrank.com 020 4502 7347 russell.grieve@knightfrank.com 01428 786268 rupert.sweeting@knightfrank.com 020 4502 7744 Ref: CHO012182091
knightfrank.co.uk
It's time to move to the South East In May 2021, offers accepted were 76% higher than the 5-year average* in the South East region of the UK, an area highly regarded for its beautiful coastline and countryside, including the popularly known Garden of England. Here is a selection of properties currently on the market.
Shackleford, Surrey A stunning oak framed country home set in beautiful gardens and grounds.
4 B E D R O O M S | 3 B AT H R O O M S | 3 R E C E P T I O N R O O M S | D E TA C H E D G A M E S R O O M / G Y M | A P P R O X I M AT E LY 4 . 6 1 A C R E S | E P C B
Guide price £1,850,000
tim.harriss@knightfrank.com 01483 355875
Broughton, Hampshire Generously proportioned village house with an adjoining cottage.
4 - 5 B E D R O O M S | 3 - 4 B AT H R O O M S | 4 - 5 R E C E P T I O N R O O M S | G R A D E I I L I S T E D
Guide price £1,250,000
edward.hunt@knightfrank.com 01962 656115
Lasham, Hampshire Attractive period cottage with wonderful rural views in a village setting.
4 - 5 B E D R O O M S | 2 B AT H R O O M S | 3 - 4 R E C E P T I O N R O O M S | A P P R O X I M AT E LY 0 . 4 6 A C R E S | G R A D E I I L I S T E D
Guide price £1,200,000
shaun.hobbs@knightfrank.com 01256 806421 Source: Knight Frank data
Maidstone, Kent An 18th century Georgian home set in the grounds of Leeds Castle.
4 B E D R O O M S | 2 B AT H R O O M S | 3 R E C E P T I O N R O O M S | A P P R O X I M AT E LY 3 A C R E S | G R A D E I I L I S T E D
Guide price £1,150,000
matthew.hodder-williams@knightfrank.com 01732 807851
Lynchmere, West Sussex A substantial attached period property in beautiful grounds of seven acres.
4 B E D R O O M S | 3 B AT H R O O M S | 3 R E C E P T I O N R O O M S | A P P R O X I M AT E LY 7. 4 A C R E S | G R A D E I I L I S T E D
Guide price £1,600,000
aelish.paterson@knightfrank.com 01428 786268
Tunbridge Wells, Kent An historic house with separate oast house and far-reaching views.
4 B E D R O O M S | 3 - 4 B AT H R O O M S | 4 - 6 R E C E P T I O N R O O M S | G R A D E I I L I S T E D
Guide price £1,550,000
ross.davies@knightfrank.com 01892 888494
If you’re thinking of selling your home, or would simply like some advice on the market, get in touch today. We’d love to help you.
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BELTINGHAM, NORTHUMBERLAND
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handsome Grade II listed Georgian house in a charming setting, surrounded by spectacular countryside in the heart of rural Northumberland. The property provides exceptional family accommodation, together with well-proportioned, formal reception rooms and a gracious dining room, retaining a wealth of period features. 7 B E D R O O M S | 5 B AT H R O O M S | 4 R E C E P T I O N R O O M S S E L F - C O N TA I N E D A N N E X E | M AT U R E G A R D E N | W O O D L A N D | PA D D O C K | A P P R O X I M AT E LY 1 . 8 3 A C R E S NEWCASTLE 31 MILE S | HE XHAM 10 MILE S | CARLISLE 26 MILE S
Guide price £1,150,000 Knight Frank Melrose james.denne@knightfrank.com 01896 888502 Ref: EDN012182609
knightfrank.co.uk
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HARMER GREEN, HERTFORDSHIRE
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n impressive country house set in beautiful mature gardens within 29 miles of London. Barneswood House is a magnificent and well-maintained family home, originally constructed in 1902 for Charles Behr.
7 B E D R O O M S | 7 B AT H R O O M S | 5 R E C E P T I O N R O O M S | T W O B E D R O O M C O T TA G E W O O D L A N D | P O N D | T E N N I S C O U R T | O U T B U I L D I N G S | G A R A G E S | A P P R O X I M AT E LY 1 8 . 5 A C R E S | E P C D W E LW Y N S TAT I O N 1 . 2 M I L E S ( L O N D O N K I N G ' S C R O S S 3 4 M I N U T E S ) | H E R T F O R D 7 M I L E S
Guide price available upon request Knight Frank London & Bishop's Stortford edward.welton@knightfrank.com 020 4502 7216 paddy.pritchard-gordon@knightfrank.com 01279 888501 Ref: CHO012188600
knightfrank.co.uk
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RUSPER, WEST SUSSEX
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n exceptionally charming Grade II listed hall house dating back to 1400 located on the outskirts of the village of Rusper. The house retains a wealth of character and has been modernised to a high specification. Set within nine acres of wonderful gardens and grounds. A further nine acres is available by separate negotiation. 8 B E D R O O M S | 5 B AT H R O O M S | 5 R E C E P T I O N R O O M S SW I M M I N G P O O L | T EN N I S C O U RT | GY M | W I N E C E L L A R | E XTE N S I V E GA R AG I NG | WO OD L A N D HORSHAM 6 MILES | LONDON 38 MILES
Guide price £2,950,000 Knight Frank London edward.rook@knightfrank.com 020 3930 1379 oliver.rodbourne@knightfrank.com 020 4502 7108 Ref: HOR012177609
knightfrank.co.uk
Worcestershire, Bewdley
Georgian splendour and arguably the finest townhouse in Bewdley Kidderminster Station: 4 miles, M5 Motorway J6 at Worcester: 15 miles, Birmingham New Street Station: 21 miles, M42 Motorway J1: 23 miles, London: 130 miles Renovated and restored by the current owners to now offer a wonderful home full of style and history Drawing room | Sitting room | Dining room | Open plan kitchen/breakfast room | Utility/boot room | Cloakroom 5 Bedrooms | Shower room | Family bathroom | Family room | Extensive vaulted cellars Separate 2-bedroom coach house | Walled garden | Outbuilding
Joe Martin Ludlow Office 01584 873 711 joe.martin@struttandparker.com
/struttandparker
@struttandparker
struttandparker.com
Over 50 Offices across England and Scotland, including prime Central London.
Gwynedd, Bala
A stunning Victorian house in Snowdonia National Park, with planning for a 2-bedroom cottage, and spectacular uninterrupted views over Bala Lake Bala: 2.5 miles, Corwen: 13.6 miles, Dolgellau: 17.3 miles, Oswestry: 30.8 miles, Wrexham General station: 31.9 miles (London Euston 2 hours 56 mins), Porthmadog: 32.1 miles Drawing room | Dining room | Sitting room | Kitchen/breakfast room | Utility room | Cellar/store | Boiler/utility room Games room | Enclosed porch | 5 Ensuite bedrooms | Balcony | Gardens | Planning permission for 2-bedroom cottage Parking | EPC Rating F Bells Lewers
Susanna David
Chester Office 01244 354 867
Chester Office 01244 354 880
bells.lewers@struttandparker.com
susanna.david@struttandparker.com
Over 50 Offices across England and Scotland, including prime Central London.
Flintshire, Mold
A magnificent Grade II* Jacobean mansion set in wonderful gardens with two cottages and breathtaking views Mold: 1.8 miles, Chester: 12 miles, Liverpool: 26 miles, Manchester: 49 miles, Manchester airport: 42 miles, M6: 32 miles 3 Halls | Drawing room | Sitting room | Dining room | Billiard room | Office | Study | Kitchen/breakfast room | 2nd Kitchen | Garden room 1st Floor sitting room, kitchen, bedroom and bathroom | Lift | 13 Bedrooms | Dressing room | 4 Bathrooms | Shower room | Attic rooms Cellar | Basement stores and workshop | Gardens | Pinetum | 2 Cottages | 5 Stables | Garage | Workshop About 26.59 acres
/struttandparker
Alistair Summerfield
Bells Lewers
Shrewsbury Office 01743 284 200
Chester Office 01244 354 867
alistair.summerfield@struttandparker.com
bells.lewers@struttandparker.com
@struttandparker
struttandparker.com
Cheshire, Wettenhall
A characterful period farmhouse with extensive stabling and beautiful barns in a private rural Cheshire location Wettenhall: 1.6 miles, Tarporley: 4.5 miles, Crewe: 11.2 miles (London Euston: 1 hr 35 mins), Chester: 15.2 miles Drawing room | Sitting room | Family room | Office | Kitchen/breakfast room | Cellar | Principal bedroom with dressing room and bathroom 4 Further bedrooms (one with dressing area) | 2 Bathrooms | 2nd Floor TV room | Garden | Swimming pool | Pool/plant room Tennis court | Flat | Garden | Brick barns | Extensive stabling | Indoor manège About 61.23 acres Susanna David
Bells Lewers
Chester Office 01244 354 880
Chester Office 01244 354 867
susanna.david@struttandparker.com
bells.lewers@struttandparker.com
Over 50 Offices across England and Scotland, including prime Central London.
Denbighshire, Pentre Celyn
An impressive Grade II Listed country house with imaginative gardens, wonderful views and extensive outbuildings Llanfair Dyffryn Clwyd: 1.9 miles, Ruthin: 3.9 miles, Mold: 12.7 miles, Wrexham: 13.2 miles, Chester: 23.5 miles, A55: 15 miles, Liverpool Airport: 46 miles Hall | Dining room | Drawing room | Study | Sitting/family room | Kitchen/breakfast room | Principal bedroom suite 2 Guest bedrooms with ensuite shower rooms | 4 Further bedrooms | Family bathroom | Gym/sauna/steam room | Cellar Cinema | Games rooms | Outbuildings | Biomass boiler About 3.47 acres
/struttandparker
Susanna David
Bells Lewers
Chester Office 01244 354 880
Chester Office 01244 354 867
susanna.david@struttandparker.com
bells.lewers@struttandparker.com
@struttandparker
struttandparker.com
Attractive Victorian House Cowesfield, Salisbury Romsey: 7 miles, Salisbury: 9 miles An immaculately presented, spacious family house with flexible accommodation, set in well-established gardens. 3 reception rooms, 6 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, secondary accommodation, triple garage and landscaped gardens. About 1.58 acres I Guide £1.5 million Matt Orchard Savills Salisbury 01722 562 953 morchard@savills.com
James McKillop Savills Salisbury 01722 562 916 james.mckillop @savills.com
savills
savills.co.uk
Exceptional Opportunity Redlynch, Wiltshire Salisbury: 8.7 miles, Southampton: 17 miles A fine unlisted country house of over 12,000 sq ft in a parkland setting, requiring refurbishment and restoration. 5 reception rooms, 7 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms, extensive cellars, 2 semi-detached cottages, detached lodge cottage, dilapidated outbuildings and stores, walled gardens. EPC = G About 19.6 acres I Guide £3 million James McKillop Savills Salisbury 01722 562 969 james.mckillop @savills.com
Lindsay Cuthill Savills London Country Department 020 4502 3062 lcuthill@savills.com
savills
savills.co.uk
Beautiful Ribble Valley Clitheroe, Lancashire Clitheroe: 3 miles, Preston: 20 miles, Manchester: 30 miles A fantastic opportunity to buy a property at the heart of the beautiful Ribble Valley, enjoying spacious grounds and fine open views. 5 reception rooms, 6 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, stables, outbuildings and mature gardens. EPC = F About 1.5 acres | Guide £1.5 million Lindsay Cuthill Savills London Country Department 020 3944 1971 lcuthill@savills.com
Thomas Manson Ingham & Yorke 01200 423 655 tmanson@inghamandyorke.co.uk
savills
savills.co.uk
new & exclusive property showcase
All these properties appeared exclusively with us 24 hours or more before Rightmove or Zoopla.
Woodbridge, Suffolk
£1,950,000
guide price
A significant six bedroom family home extending to over 4,700 sq ft, set in over half an acre on the edge of Woodbridge. Contact: Ipswich office 01473 679734
Auchencairn, £1,750,000 offers over Dumfries and Galloway
Farr, Inverness-Shire
Orchardton Castle is a unique Grade B listed Scottish castle set in approximately 5 acres, and located on the Solway Coast. Contact: South Scotland 01896 318243
A most impressive steading conversion and a charming cottage, both with spectacular loch and mountain views. Contact: Inverness office 01463 357908
Spennymoor, Durham
Tenbury Wells, Worcestershire
£695,000
Set on approx. 0.3 acres of land, this imposing five bedroom family home is one of the biggest in the area. Contact: Bishop Auckland 01388 236009
£1,100,000 guide price
£625,000
guide price
With original features throughout, The Old Plough offers wooden floors, beams, exposed brickwork and great uninterrupted views. Contact: Ludlow office 01584 539971
To view these and the finest selection of premium properties, search OnTheMarket at CountryLife.co.uk and set up a property alert today. Shelley, West Yorkshire
£900,000
guide price
A beautiful five bedroom detached family home in a stunning location, with delightful views over the valley towards Thunderbridge. Contact: Kirkburton office 01484 973962
Bramford Speke, Devon
£550,000
offers in excess of
Set in 6.2 acres, a fascinating converted railway station making a peaceful retreat on the edge of the popular Exe Valley village. Contact: Exeter office 01392 976719
See www.onthemarket.com/newandexclusive. Agents specify exclusivity.
Hadley Wood, Hertfordshire
For sale by way of informal tender (unless sold prior) – deadline for offers; Noon on 30th July 2021 Offered to the market together or as individual lots - a unique opportunity to purchase two, premier, character, detached properties, situated at the head of the most prestigious road in Hadley Wood. These neighbouring properties are approached via sweeping driveways, and have far reaching views over the green belt valley towards Wrotham Park. Hadley Wood station has a regular commuter service into London Moorgate, and is approximately half a mile from the properties. Standing on plots of 1.51 acres & 0.94 acres (2.45 acres combined).
T: +44 (0)20 8446 0011 sales@maundertaylor.co.uk
BELLDIP FARM, HUNGARTON, LEICESTERSHIRE A substantial country home offering excellent equestrian facilities,Belldip Farm is set within manicured paddock land of approx. 8 acres. Up to 25 further acres may be available by separate negotiation. A range of outbuildings to include a 2 bed self-contained annexe/staff flat, a workshop, tack room, stable block with 6 stables, brick field shelter and an open fronted barn. The property itself offers approx. 6,000 sq ft of accommodation and has been recently renovated and modernised. Features include a grand reception hall, large open plan farmhouse style oak kitchen with large family room/sitting room off with glass doors opening onto the terrace with stunning views overlooking open countryside and six bedrooms. Situated on the edge of the Baggrave Hall estate with total privacy & exceptional views. Close to the A47, Leicester & within easy access to the some of the best schools in the midlands.
PRICE ON APPLICATION
For more information on this property or to book a viewing please get in touch:
OAKHAM: 01572 757979 | UPPINGHAM: 01572 821935 | MELTON MOWBRAY: 01664 491610 | STAMFORD: 01780 484555 PETERBOROUGH TRAIN STATION MEET & GREET: 01733 788888 | GRANTHAM TRAIN STATION MEET & GREET: 01476 855618 office@mooresestateagents.com | www.mooresestateagents.com
CL WP.indd 1
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DORSET, M ELBU RY AB BAS An outstanding Arts & Crafts house with a cottage and extensive outbuildings, centrally situated in approximately 35 acres of gardens and grounds on the western fringe of the Cranborne Chase, energy rating e. • Seven En-Suite Bedrooms • Four Reception Rooms • Gym • Indoor Swimming Pool • Tennis Court • Lakes and Paddock
Please contact S HAF TE S B U RY
01747 85 0 858
shaftesbury@jackson-stops.co.uk
GUIDE PRICE £5,000,000
PR O PE RTY EXPERTS S IN CE 1 9 10
jackson-stops.co.uk
Property market
Penny Churchill
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Find the best properties at countrylife.co.uk
Northern idylls
Three magnificent properties prove it’s far from grim up North
W
ITH little sign of any levelling off of demand for secluded country houses in picturesque rural locations, the North of England has been a happy hunting ground for buyers from outside the region in the first half of the year. To further whet the appetite, hot off the press come three exceptional country properties in idyllic settings within favoured areas of the North’s most scenic counties. Edward Stoyle of Savills in York (01904 617820) is handling the sale of Thiernswood Hall, a mid-Victorian former hunting lodge set in 20 acres of woods and farmland on the fringe of the hamlet of Healaugh, in the heart of Swaledale, a mile from the village of Reeth and 13 miles west of Richmond. He quotes a guide price of £2.5 million for the 10-bedroom house, built in 1855 and named after the surrounding woodland, Left and above: Swaledale is a beautiful backdrop for Thiernswood Hall, a former hunting lodge in North Yorkshire. £2.5m
which rises steeply to the north before gradually giving way to open moorland. Here, two six-acre fields are bounded by drystone walls, one of which houses an underground reservoir that feeds the house with an endless supply of spring water. Below the hall to the south-west is another five-acre field bounded by a dry-stone wall and the entrance drive to the west. The River Swale runs eastwards from a ridge on the Yorkshire-Cumbria border to the historic market town of Richmond, through a pastoral landscape of moorland streams, high mountains, dry-stone walls and stone barns and houses. Sandwiched between Arkengarthdale (‘James Herriot country’) to the north and Wensleydale to the south, Swaledale was once described as ‘a little country in itself… Once there, shut in by barriers of hills, the rest of the world seems unimportant and unreal. One gets this feeling in all the Yorkshire dales, but it is strongest in Swaledale. This valley is unlike anywhere else in England’. 91
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Property market
There are wonderful views of the Tyne Valley and the Pennines from the 100 acres of Shield Hall near Slaley in Northumberland. £2.25m
These are sentiments no doubt shared by the current owner of Thiernswood Hall, who, in 1985, bought the house, then rarely used, from renowned agriculturalist, farmer and outstanding shot the late Sir Joseph Nickerson, who also owned the surrounding moors. He straightaway embarked on a major programme of restoration and refurbishment, reconfiguring much of the house, which is unlisted, and the former groom’s cottage and bothy. Infrastructure, including wiring and central heating, was replaced or renewed and, more recently, the kitchen and several bathrooms have been updated. In addition to the 10 bedrooms in the 5,867sq ft main house, there are three more bedrooms in the bothy and cottage, which have been converted to two self-contained holiday/guest cottages. A former coach house and gun room is now used as a store, and, across the courtyard, a newly built triple garage is fitted with 16 solar panels that generate an income of some £1,350 a year. Meanwhile, Mr Stoyle’s York colleague, William Douglas (01904 617800), has been welcoming early viewers to historic, Grade IIlisted Shield Hall, which sits in 100 acres of productive meadow, parkland and woodland
in the heart of the Tyne Valley, close to the village of Slaley, five miles south-east of Hexham and 5½ miles south of Corbridge. He quotes a guide price of £2.25m for the late18th-century former farmhouse, which was extended in the 19th century and remodelled as a single house in 1977.
Shield Hall sits neatly in a natural amphitheatre overlooking the lake Owned by the same family for more than 100 years, the elegant brick-built hall could potentially incorporate the remains of a Grade II*-listed, 13th-century peel tower to create a buffer between it and the adjoining courtyard of stone farm buildings, now beautifully converted to three holiday cottages. The entire steading sits neatly in a natural amphitheatre overlooking the lake, surrounded by traditional livestock farms and undulating grassland interspersed with belts of woodland rising towards the Pennines in the distance.
The main house offers some 4,000sq ft of living space, now in need of some gentle updating. The accommodation includes three reception rooms, a farmhouse kitchen, a master-bedroom suite, five further bedrooms and a central family bathroom. To the south of the hall is a lovely walled garden, beyond which a ha-ha opens onto the parkland and those wonderful Tyne Valley views. Beyond the West Yorkshire county boundary in Lancashire, Tom Manson, a partner of Clitheroe-based Ingham & Yorke (01200 423655) and Lindsay Cuthill of Savills Country Department (020–7409 8871) are joint agents in the sale of imposing Hall Foot, which stands on the edge of the village of Worston, in the heart of the bewitching Ribble Valley, three miles from Clitheroe and about 30 miles from Manchester. Framed by the bare, brooding slopes of Pendle Hill, the elegant mid-19th-century house, set in 1½ acres of wooded gardens and grounds, is being offered at a guide price of £1.5m by the trustees of the Hon R. C. Assheton’s Settlement, the property having been part of the Assheton family’s historic Downham estate since 1890. The manor of Downham was acquired in 1558 by Richard
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Above and right: Imposing Hall Foot stands in the shadow of Pendle Hill on the historic Downham estate, at the edge of Worston, a Ribble Valley village in Lancashire. £1.5m Assheton, Receiver General of the Duchy of Lancaster for Elizabeth I. He never lived at Downham, but left the estate to a greatnephew who made it his home (Country Life, October 5, 1989). Over the centuries, land has been added by successive generations of Asshetons, either by purchase or judicious marriage. Although the present-day estate encompasses the neighbouring parishes of Twiston and Worston, it remains firmly centred on the village of Downham, with Downham Hall as the historic family seat. Lord Clitheroe is the head of the family, and his son, Ralph Assheton, the heir apparent. Hall Foot was bought at auction in July 1890 by one of many Ralph Asshetons as a wedding present for his son, Sir Ralph Cockayne Assheton, the present Lord Clitheroe’s grandfather, who lived there for several years before moving to Downham Hall. Thereafter, Hall Foot was let until 1936, when Lord Clitheroe’s father, who was born at the house, took back the property and made it his base on the estate, although he lived mainly in London. He returned to the house after the Second World War, before
eventually moving up to Downham Hall on his mother’s death in 1949. In 1962, Lord Clitheroe’s cousin, David Yorke, and his wife, Susie, moved to Hall Foot with their family and lived there until 2000. Mr Yorke founded Ingham & Yorke and acted as agent to the Assheton family throughout his professional life. His son, Charlie, was born at Hall Foot and is now a partner, with Tom Manson, at the family firm. Let to successive tenants of the Downham estate since 2000, Hall Foot has changed little
throughout its existence and now requires some sympathetic renovation by a new owner. The house currently offers 6,723sq ft of living space on three floors, including three main reception rooms, a cinema room, a kitchen/ breakfast room and various utilities on the ground floor; a principal bedroom suite, five further bedrooms and two bathrooms on the first floor; plus three attic rooms on the second floor. It comes with a useful outbuilding and a large stable block with potential for conversion to residential use.
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Edited by Annunciata Elwes
Where the air is clear Beautiful northern properties to get you looking up
North Yorkshire, £2.75 million Pastoral parkland wraps around this classic property, with mature trees, colourful borders, winding pathways and far-reaching views over its 28 acres, just south of the North York Moors and Dalby Forest. On the market for only the fourth time since its construction in 1742, Georgian Aislaby Hall’s symmetry, sash windows, plasterwork and grand proportions clearly show the influence of John Carr of York, with impressive reception rooms that include a 30ft banqueting hall. In the tiny hamlet of Aislaby, not far from Pickering, there are eight bedrooms in the main house, plus a three-bedroom cottage and stables that could be converted to residential use. Knight Frank (01423 535373) Staffordshire, £1.5 million The cobbles of the private courtyard that Grade II-listed The Coach House surrounds once resounded with horses’ hooves and rattling carriages; now, it’s blissfully peaceful. Within the 120-acre communal grounds of 19th-century Swythamley Hall—a meditation centre in a former life and now home to three other properties, which all benefit from undulating gardens, a helipad, woodland, water gardens, lake and tennis court—it has six bedroom suites, a wine cellar, music room, library, two kitchens and a sun room. The pretty Peak District village of Rushton Spencer is about four miles north of Leek and seven miles south of Macclesfield. Jackson-Stops (01625 540340) 96
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Properties of the week
Co Durham, £1.5 million Any potential new owner of Grade II*-listed, six-bedroom Coves House—by the River Wear near the charming market town of Wolsingham, which is on the edge of the North Pennines—should benefit from a diverse income stream that includes a B&B in the west wing, a two-bedroom cottage available to rent, an event venue and ‘bunkhouse’ to sleep up to 14 people and a sizeable campsite, not to mention various agricultural and equestrian buildings and the farm, which is run from a converted stable block. The estate’s 66½ acres include 45 acres of meadow and permanent pasture, plus plenty of wooded copses and ponds to fuel a small shoot and stalking. Finest Properties (01434 622234)
Local heroes Wedding planner Illustration by Emma van Zeller
9000
Tyne and Wear, £999,999 A rare creation only 300 yards from the seafront at Whitburn, The Red Cottage was built in 1842 by architect Benjamin Green for industrialist Thomas Barnes, who owned a quarry and brickworks and wanted to show off as many design features as possible, not to mention a variety of roof tiles and bricks, presumably to display the versatility of his products. A cricket enthusiast, he had the chimneys built to resemble stumps—there’s even a ball on top of one of them. With all this in mind, the legend that Lewis Carroll stayed here seems fitting. There are five bedrooms and the lovely half-acre south-facing garden has fruit trees, a grape house and an air-raid shelter. Sanderson Young (0191–223 3500)
Jacintha Bouquet has been overwhelmed by the pent-up demand created by a year of lockdowns. It’s a challenge made easier by the new taste for smaller weddings that has been one of the lasting legacies of the pandemic. Still, she’s hell-bent on ensuring that reducing the number of guests isn’t about cutting costs. ‘This is such a lovely opportunity to trade up,’ she says, slipping a sevencourse tasting menu under her clients’ noses, as well as a budget for a trendy London videographer to livestream the event on Zoom. ‘After all,’ she points out, ‘on your special day, you really want to know your friends are thinking about you and that they can see what they’re missing, especially when you’re troughing grilled langoustines and flute or six of Krug.’ GK
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