Country Life: November 24, 2021

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NOVEMBER 24, 2021

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Genius creations: Gainsborough, Messiah, War Horse and ice sculptures

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ISSUE: 47

PRINTED IN THE UK

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ST RATFORD-UPON-AVON | MAYFAI R | LEICESTER | PRAGNELL.CO.UK

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COMP TON VERNEY, WARWICKSHIRE

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unique home of almost 9,000 sq ft offering light and versatile accommodation.

Situated in just over an acre of landscaped grounds, The Orangery is one of a limited number of private houses on the estate.

5 B E D R O O M S | 6 B AT H R O O M S | 3 R E C E P T I O N R O O M S | 4 C A R G A R A G E | L A N D S C A P E D L AW N S S E L F - C O N TA I N E D A PA R T M E N T/ C O A C H H O U S E | G R O U N D S O U R C E E C O - F R I E N D LY H E AT P U M P | E P C D MORETON-IN-MARSH & COTSWOLD S 12 MILE S | BANBURY 12 MILE S (LOND ON MARYLEB ONE F ROM 59 MINS)

Guide price £3,250,000 Knight Frank London & Stratford jamie.robson@knightfrank.com 020 4502 7203 william.ward-jones@knightfrank.com 01789 863993 Ref: STR012116197

knightfrank.co.uk

LECKHAMPSTEAD, BUCKINGHAMSHIRE Guide Price: £2,000,000 6 Bedrooms

4 Reception Rooms

3 Bathrooms

N/A EPC

A Grade II listed 17th and 18th century detached farmhouse with two double garages and a detached one bedroom cottage on a 0.75 acre plot, with panoramic countryside views.

The house has 5,013 sq. ft. of versatile accommodation arranged over four floors and retains character features including Georgian sash windows with original shutters. The detached cottage, formerly a coach house, was converted under listed building consent and has a further 882 sq. ft. of accommodation, with French doors opening out onto a terrace. The grounds comprise a private walled garden, parking for six vehicles and a separate 0.33 acre plot with a vegetable garden and flower meadow.

Buckingham Office | Luke Jackson | 01280 821100 London Office | Bob Bickersteth | 0207 839 0888

14 offices covering 8 counties and Central London

|

michaelgraham.co.uk

|

michaelgraham_living

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COLD ASTON, GLOUCESTERSHIRE

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wonderful Grade II listed village house situated in the heart of the popular village of Cold Aston. Located in the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, this property provides the very best of both village and rural life.

6 B E D R O O M S U I T E S | 3 R E C E P T I O N R O O M S | C O N S E R VAT O R Y | T Y T H E B A R N | S TA B L E S & O U T B U I L D I N G S T H E G R A N A R Y W I T H F I R S T F L O O R G U E S T/ S TA F F A C C O M M O D AT I O N | S W I M M I N G P O O L | O R C H A R D | P A D D O C K N O R T H L E A C H 6 M I L E S | K I N G H A M S TAT I O N 1 2 M I L E S ( L O N D O N PA D D I N G T O N I N 7 8 M I N U T E S )

Knight Frank London & Stow-on-the-Wold peter.edwards@knightfrank.com 020 4502 8544 leigh.glazebrook@knightfrank.com 01451 888130 Ref: CHO200020

knightfrank.co.uk

Exceptional Country Home Rudgwick, West Sussex Cranleigh: 4.5 miles, Guildford: 13 miles Impressive Arts and Crafts country house. 6 reception rooms, 6 bedrooms (4 en suite), further bathroom, cinema room, orangery, study, bar, tennis court with clubhouse, triple garage and glorious landscaped gardens. EPC = D About 2.3 acres | Guide £3.75 million Alastair Mercer Savills Guildford 01483 355 792 alastair.mercer @savills.com

Paul Finnegan Savills London Country Department 020 3930 4846 pfinnegan@savills.com

savills

savills.co.uk

Important Country House Bishopthorpe, North Yorkshire York: 3.2 miles, Leeds: 25.6 miles A Grade II listed property built in 1908 by renowned architect Walter Brierley. 3 reception rooms, 4 bedrooms (3 en suite), further bathroom, cinema room, tennis court, studio with mezzanine floor, 1 bedroom annexe and 2 cottages. Further land of about 20 acres available by separate negotiation.

About 4.78 acres | Guide £4.75 million Edward Stoyle Savills York 01904 894 554 edward.stoyle @savills.com

Tanya Coffey Savills York 01904 897 533 tcoffey@savills.com

savills

savills.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 777 261 joe.martin@struttandparker.com

Over 50 Offices across England and Scotland, including prime Central London.

Herefordshire, Peterstow

A magnificent Grade II listed manor house, with superb proportions and elegant style Ross-on-Wye: 2.5 miles, M50: 3.6 miles, Hereford: 11.2 miles, Cheltenham: 37.5 miles Reception hall | Drawing room | Sitting room | Study | Health spa | Dining room | Kitchen Breakfast room | Conservatory | Utility | Principal bedroom with ensuite shower room 6 Further bedrooms all ensuite | Cellar | Garden | Paddock About 6.25 acres

/struttandparker

Joe Martin

Sam Trounson

Ludlow Office 01584 777 261

Cirencester Office 01285 898 036

joe.martin@struttandparker.com

sam.trounson@struttandparker.com

@struttandparker

struttandparker.com

Striking Contemporary House Dorney Reach, Berkshire Maidenhead Station: 4 miles Award-winning contemporary house set in private gardens and grounds alongside the River Thames. 2 reception rooms, 5 bedrooms (2 en suite), further bathroom, atrium, cinema room, study, gym, galleried seating area and landscaped gardens with terrace. EPC = C Guide £4 million Emma Smith Savills Windsor 01753 257 501 emma.j.smith @savills.com

Paul Finnegan Savills London Country Department 020 3930 1305 pfinnegan@savills.com

savills

savills.co.uk

Stunning Family Home Esher, Surrey Esher: 1.1 miles, Kingston upon Thames: 5 miles Located on one of Esher’s most prestigious private roads. 4 reception rooms, 6 bedroom suites, cinema/media room, gymnasium, indoor swimming pool and landscaped gardens. EPC = B Guide £3.95 million Karl Matier Savills Esher 01372 889 563 kmatier@savills.com

Trevor Kearney Savills London Country Department 020 3797 1649 tkearney@savills.com

savills

savills.co.uk

Unrivalled Forest Views Ulverscroft, Leicestershire Loughborough: 7.5 miles, Leicester: 11 miles Stunning Grade II listed thatched cottage nestling within the highly sought-after Charnwood Forest. 3 reception rooms, refitted kitchen/dining room, 5 bedrooms (2 en suite), further bathroom, utility, office, garage, landscaped formal gardens and paddock.

About 7 acres | Guide £2.5 million Ian Marriott Savills Nottingham 0115 778 9657 ian.marriott @savills.com

Clare Bingham Savills Nottingham 0115 778 9687 cbingham@savills.com

savills

savills.co.uk

Exceptional Victorian House Barton, Cambridgeshire Cambridge Station: 4.4 miles (London King’s Cross from 52 minutes) An incredible Victorian house which has been refurbished by the current owner to the highest standard. 5 reception rooms, 7 bedrooms (4 en suite), 2 further bathrooms, cinema room, study, gym, swimming pool, tennis court, separate flexible accommodation measuring over 3,000 sq ft. EPC = E

About 2.26 acres | Price on application Ed Meyer Savills Cambridge 01223 624 982 emeyer@savills.com

Rupert Hoffen Hoffen West 020 3858 0483 rupert@hoffenwest.com

savills

savills.co.uk

Superb Duplex Apartment Tonbridge, Kent Tonbridge Station: 3.2 miles Elegant apartment set within an impressive country residence. 2 reception rooms, 3 en suite bedrooms, spa, sauna, 2 garages, private terraced garden and communal grounds with a tennis court. EPC = D 2,869 sq ft | Guide £1.45 million James Stacey-Clear Savills Sevenoaks 01732 806 843 james.staceyclear @savills.com

savills

savills.co.uk

Close to the Jurassic Coast Higher Eype, Dorset Eype Beach: 1 mile, Bridport: 2 miles Handsome Arts and Crafts house with sea and countryside views. 3 reception rooms, 3 bedrooms (1 en suite), further bathroom, garden room, home office, separate 2 bedroom cottage, garaging, mature gardens, woodlands and paddock with separate access. EPC = D About 6.5 acres | Guide £2.45 million Ashley Rawlings Savills Wimborne 01202 124 692 ashley.rawlings @savills.com

Camilla Elwell Savills London Country Department 020 3930 5083 camilla.elwell @savills.com

savills

savills.co.uk

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CO OKHAM, BERKSHIRE

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his unique home with striking 1950's architectural influence is set in an idyllic hideaway in Cookham. With uncompromising attention to detail throughout, this wonderful home also enjoys uninterrupted rural views, creating a peaceful environment.

3 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 POND | DECKING AREA | GARDEN | EPC C C O O K H A M T R A I N S TAT I O N 0 . 5 M I L E S ( L O N D O N PA D D I N G T O N F R O M 3 1 M I N U T E S ) | M A I D E N H E A D 2 . 5 M I L E S

Guide price £1,750,000 Knight Frank Beaconsfield oliver.beales@knightfrank.com 01494 853619 Ref: BCN012132494

knightfrank.co.uk

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LITTLE SAMPFORD, ESSEX

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delightful country house, positioned in a beautiful rural setting. The present owners have lived there for over 30 years creating a wonderful family home which is ideal for entertaining.

7 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 S W I M M I N G P O O L | T E N N I S C O U R T | E N T E R TA I N I N G A N N E X E | A P P R O X I M AT E LY 1 .7 5 A C R E S | E P C F S A F F R O N WA L D E N 1 0 M I L E S | S TA N S T E D M O U N T F I T C H E T 1 2 M I L E S

Guide price £1,500,000 Knight Frank Bishop's Stortford paddy.pritchard-gordon@knightfrank.com 01279 888501 Ref: BST012105106

knightfrank.co.uk

Buyers continue to flock to the South West With wonderful stretches of coastline, beautiful rolling landscapes and vibrant towns and cities, the South West is one of the most popular residential areas of the UK when it comes to a high quality of life.

In fact, offers accepted were 78% higher than the five-year average in October*.

Here is a selection of available properties.

Torquay, Devon Luxury waterfront villa with stunning views overlooking the English Channel.

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 | E P C B

Guide price £1,650,000

christopher.bailey@knightfrank.com 01392 240978

Heddington, Wiltshire A wonderful Grade II listed property with ancillary accommodation, beautiful gardens, land and tennis court.

5 - 6 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 1 . 8 2 A C R E S

Guide price £1,395,000

nick.loweth@knightfrank.com 01488 758437

Allington, Bridport An imaginatively restored Regency vicarage with an attic annexe.

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 | E P C D

Guide price £1,100,000

luke.pender-cudlip@knightfrank.com 01935 805324 Source: Knight Frank data

Frome, Somerset A very impressive modern detached family home with landscaped gardens.

4 B E D R O O M S | 2 B AT H R O O M S | 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 . 2 A C R E S | E P C C

Guide price £850,000

francesca.leighton-scott@knightfrank.com 01225 685523

Stone, Gloucestershire Village house overlooking the green to the church, with spacious annexe.

5 - 7 B E D R O O M S | 3 - 4 B AT H R O O M S | 4 - 7 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

freddie.wright@knightfrank.com 01174 054802

Yeovil, Somerset A beautifully presented family house on the edge of town.

8 B E D R O O M S | 8 B AT H R O O M S | 4 R E C E P T I O N R O O M S | E P C C

Guide price £998,000

simon.barker@knightfrank.com 01935 805324

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.

Your partners in property for 125 years

knightfrank.co.uk

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at on a southerly-facing plot of just under 1.2 acres, Cobblers Cottage is a detached property in need of extensive modernisation or complete redevelopment.

The grounds are incredibly private, yet communication links are excellent with Cobham and Stoke d'Abernon train stations nearby.

3 B E D R O O M S | B AT H R O O M | 2 R E C E P T I O N R O O M S D R I V E WAY W I T H P A R K I N G | G A R A G E | O R C H A R D / P A D D O C K | E P C E R I P L E Y 2 .7 M I L E S | C O B H A M 3 . 1 M I L E S | G U I L D F O R D 1 0 .7 M I L E S | L O N D O N 2 6 .7 M I L E S

Guide price £850,000 Knight Frank Cobham george.pratt@knightfrank.com 01932 800998 Ref: CBM012193662

knightfrank.co.uk

Holiday home ownership for 1/8 the cost pacaso.com/uk

SOLD

SOLD

Devon | Blackawton

SOLD

Devon | Maidencombe

Guide price £1,600,000

Guide price £3,350,000

SOLD

SOLD

Devon | Wonham

Offers in Excess of £1,500,000

SOLD

Somerset | Bath

Guide price £1,995,000

Devon | Salcombe

Wiltshire | Netheravon

Guide Price £2,850,000

Guide Price £2,200,000

A selection of recently sold homes from the people who move you.

Richard Speedy

Oliver Custance Baker

Isabel Clifton

Blair Stewart

South West

Exeter Office

Exeter Office

Consultant

richard.speedy@struttandparker.com

oliver.custance.baker@struttandparker.com

isabel.clifton@struttandparker.com

blair.stewart@struttandparker.com

01392 248 207

01392 248 207

01392 248 207

07843 359 361

Over 50 Offices across England and Scotland, including prime Central London.

SOLD

SOLD

Wiltshire | Stratford sub Castle

SOLD

Dorset | Ashmore

Guide Price £2,200,000

Wiltshire | Chilmark

Guide Price £3,850,000

Guide Price £2,000,000 SOLD

SOLD

Hampshire | Milford on Sea

Guide Price £6,500,000

SOLD

Somerset | Bath

Guide Price £2,500,000

Somerset | Triscombe

Offers in excess of £3,500,000

If you’d like an up-to-date market appraisal, please get in touch with a member of our team.

Fiona Pengelly

Sarah Cull

Harriet Sayles

Andrew Cronan

Salisbury Office

Salisbury Office

Salisbury Office

Country Department & Bath

fiona.pengelly@struttandparker.com

sarah.cull@struttandparker.com

harriet.sayles@struttandparker.com

andrew.cronan@struttandparker.com

01722 344 011

01722 344 011

01722 344 011

020 7591 2213

/struttandparker

@struttandparker

struttandparker.com

OLDBURY-ON-SEVERN, STH GLOS. £1,750,000 FREEHOLD

GODALMING, SURREY £1,250,000 FREEHOLD

A substantial Grade II listed house with five bedrooms and three bathrooms set in c. 5.21 acres in a private village location with extensive period outbuildings, charming gardens and paddocks.

An historic Grade II* Listed four bedroom cottage designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens for Gertrude Jekyll with delightful gardens of c. half an acre and located conveniently for a number of excellent schools.

Hamptons Bristol 0117 911 6839

Hamptons Godalming 01483 604855

HENLEY-ON-THAMES, OXFORDSHIRE GUIDE PRICE £1,250,000 FREEHOLD

SKIRMETT, BUCKINGHAMSHIRE GUIDE PRICE £1,695,000 FREEHOLD

A beautifully presented three bedroom detached mews style house located in the centre of this popular riverside town located in a sought after gated development with allocated parking. EPC C

An exceptional newly built four bedroom, five reception room family home with vaulted ceilings and open plan living set in the heart of the Hambleden Valley with lovely rural views. EPC B

Hamptons Henley-on-Thames 01491 818587

Hamptons Henley-on-Thames 01491 818587 HAMPTONS.CO.UK

COOKHAM DEAN, BERKSHIRE OFFERS IN EXCESS OF

£4,950,000 FREEHOLD

[6 bedrooms] [swimming pool] [guest cottage] [mooring and fishing rights] A truly idyllic riverside retreat at the upstream end of an ancient royal fishery dating back to Tudor times sitting in what is known as “The Wind in the Willows Backwater” about a mile downstream from Marlow. The estate comprises the original part of the house, a cottage, and more than five acres of land and its own private island. Reportedly the largest private island on the Thames.

HAMPTONS MARLOW

01628 878936

MARLOW@HAMPTONS.CO.UK

HAMPTONS.CO.UK

new & exclusive property showcase

Ludlow, Shropshire

£750,000

offers in region of

£895,000

Winterbourne Monkton, £875,000 offers in region of Wiltshire

A four-bedroom home with views of the River Teme in one of the most sought-after locations in Ludlow.

Contact: Ludlow office 01584 539966

A substantial and stylish five-double bed detached family home with an attractive southfacing garden, within a desirable village.

Contact: Melton Mowbray 01664 518924

A unique detached four/five-bed family house with a studio flat. Set in a mature garden with an ornate pond and two summerhouses.

Contact: Marlborough office 01672 595946

Harberton, Devon

Trimley St Martin, Suffolk

Bernisdale, Highland

guide price

£1,300,000

guide price

South Croxton, Leicestershire

£800,000 guide price

£575,000

offers over

A detached Grade II listed six-bed farmhouse with a stable and spectacular views. Multigenerational living with holiday let potential.

Contact: Totnes office 01803 268707

A grand and modern family home offering wellpresented accommodation with an open-plan kitchen/breakfast and garden/dining room.

Contact: Felixstowe office 01394 807768

An outstanding decrofted house and adjoining croft tenancy with a self-contained annexe and beautiful views to Loch Snizort.

Contact: Inverness office 01463 357908

Bathampton, Somerset

Warninglid, West Sussex

Emley Moor, West Yorkshire

£2,500,000

guide price

Bathampton Manor is a Grade II listed house of historical importance, set in 3.38 acre grounds, now in need of total modernisation.

Contact: Bath office 01225 288677

£975,000

A well-appointed and stylishly extended fivebedroom family house with large south-facing gardens. Includes a self-contained suite.

Contact: Cuckfield office 01444 683851

£995,000

guide price

A spacious stone-built five-bedroom detached house, set in approx. 2 acres with a stable block, grass paddock and double garage.

Contact: Kirkburton office 01484 973962

All these properties appeared exclusively with us 24 hours or more before Rightmove or Zoopla.

Shipton, North Yorkshire

£1,250,000

offers in excess of

Kingsthorne, Herefordshire

£775,000

offers in region of

Laughton, East Sussex

£800,000

offers in region of

The Grange is a superbly renovated 18th century house with large gardens and outbuildings in a village close to York.

Contact: York office 01904 595677

A three-bedroom, stone-built cottage set in 2.5 acres with stunning views over the Herefordshire countryside towards Hay Bluff.

Contact: Hereford Sales 01432 644956

A four-bedroom period cottage with two reception rooms, kitchen and utility room.

The rear garden offers superb views.

Contact: Lewes office 01273 083818

Marske, North Yorkshire

Thurloxton, Somerset

Ipswich, Suffolk

£425,000

guide price

A charming two-bedroom period home offering open-plan living and occupying an idyllic, private location with woodland access.

Contact: Leyburn office 01969 738983

£500,000

A detached three-bedroom village cottage with a gated driveway and lovely gardens.

Located close to the stunning Quantock Hills.

Contact: Taunton Sales 01823 760844

£1,500,000 guide price

A stunning eight-bedroom townhouse, standing in an elevated position with panoramic views over Ipswich.

Contact: Ipswich office 01473 679734

To view these and the finest selection of premium properties, search OnTheMarket at CountryLife.co.uk and set up a property alert today.

Plympton, Devon

£1,500,000 guide price

A beautiful Grade II listed residence, set over three floors with an abundance of space and charm. Set in large mature gardens.

Contact: Plymouth office 01752 948692

Old Buckenham, Norfolk

£800,000

guide price

A converted five-bedroom coach house with a separate annexe. Set in a private garden with double garage and village green views.

Contact: Diss office 01379 441944

See www.onthemarket.com/newandexclusive. Agents specify exclusivity.

Property market

Penny Churchill

Take to the hills Three countryside gems–two in which you’ll want to hunker down for winter and one that needs rescuing Above: Grade II-listed Douthwaite Hall, Hutton-le-Hole, North Yorkshire. £4m. Below: The hall sits in its own secluded Douthwaite Dale

A

NYONE who dreams of getting away from it all over the festive season should take to the hills—or rather the Dales—of North Yorkshire, where Yorkbased Blenkin & Co (01904 671672) are selling handsome, Grade II-listed Douthwaite Hall, two miles from Hutton-le-Hole and three miles from Kirkbymoorside, with a guide price of ‘excess £4 million’. It’s not easy to lose a substantial, 9,410sq ft, stone-built country house within the North York Moors National Park, yet, according to owner Christine O’Neill, whose much-loved family home it has been for 29 years, ‘many of the locals don’t even know we’re here’.

Despite its location within a stone’s throw of the picturesque village of Hutton-le-Hole —described by Arthur Mee as ‘a charming little place to find in a green hollow of the moors… all up and down with a scurrying 158

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Find the best properties at countrylife.co.uk

Grade I-listed Zeals, Wiltshire, set in 58 acres, is ripe for restoration. £5.5m

stream winding among houses scattered here and there’—Douthwaite Hall enjoys complete seclusion within Douthwaite Dale, a steep wooded valley carved by the Dove through limestone hills that has no public footpaths or rights of way. In medieval times, the land round about was a medieval park and hunting reserve of the powerful de Stutevilles and Nevilles of Kirkbymoorside.

According to its Historic England listing, the Shepherd family enjoyed unbroken occupation of Douthwaite Hall site from about 1500 to 1886. They must have built the original Elizabethan farmhouse, the timber crucks of which were used to support the roof of the main Georgian house, constructed in 1760. A large wing was added in 1814 to replace a demolished section, with further alterations carried out in Edwardian times.

Period features abound throughout the house. In addition to a carved overmantel dated 1659 and a chimneypiece of 1666, there are magnificent fireplaces, the old flagstones and oak flooring, 16-pane sash windows, a handsome turning staircase with a polished handrail, and a notable 18thcentury window on the half-landing, with its original glass revealing whorls made by the glass blower.

Magnificent Zeals is described by SAVE as the ‘last grand country house in Wiltshire’

A previous owner, Admiral Sir Cyril Fuller, a distinguished naval officer who owned Douthwaite Hall in the early 20th century, is believed to have added the port-hole windows and to have brought home from the First World War the impressive wrought-iron gates that open onto the flagged yard. Born in the Isle of Wight, he joined the Britannia

Royal Naval College as a cadet in 1887 and rose swiftly through the ranks to become Second Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Personnel from 1930 to 1932. During the Second World War, he was Zone Commander for the North Riding of Yorkshire Home Guard.

During their tenure, the O’Neill family has combined a sporting country life with the 159

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Property market successful operation of an international business dealing with far-flung outposts of the oil and gas industry, thanks to excellent high-speed broadband. The main house, which boasts six reception rooms, a kitchen/ breakfast room, 10 bedrooms, eight bathrooms and a top-floor sitting area, offers plenty of room to manoeuvre, with further accommodation in the 760sq ft Cedar Lodge.

The property comes with stabling for six horses, too, and an unusually fine range of traditional outbuildings and barns with significant scope for development.

Douthwaite Hall stands on high ground overlooking its 33 acres of mature parkland, separated by a ha-ha from the beautifully planted formal landscaped gardens that have been Mrs O’Neill’s area of special interest.

A series of central stone steps lead down gently through lawns and herbaceous borders, passing clipped yew hedging and a disused tennis court. An established lake with a small jetty is tucked into the valley in the lee of a summer lake house—an idyllic setting for barbecues and parties, even in the midst of winter.

A distinguished naval officer added the port-hole windows in the early 20th century If you’re looking for seclusion in the west, Ed Cunningham of Knight Frank (020–7861 1080) quotes a guide price of £5.5m for Grade I-listed Zeals, which stands in 58 acres of parkland on the borders of Wiltshire, Somerset and Dorset, to the north of Gillingham, the south-west of Warminster and the east of Wincanton, with far-reaching views over its own lake towards the rich pastures of the Blackmore Vale. It needs a bit of work doing to it, but could perhaps be ready to party in next Christmas.

According to its Historic England listing, Zeals, too, has evolved over many centuries.

Built on a rambling L-plan of limestone rubble with Welsh slate roofs, the earliest range consists of a two-storey, 14th-century hall house, probably re-built around an earlier dwelling acquired by one Matthew de Clevedon in 1372. The Chafyn family (later the Chafyn-Groves) acquired the house in 1452, extending it to the north-east in the 17th century. Their descendants further extended the house in the 18th and 19th centuries.

During the Second World War, an airfield was created at nearby St Martins Farm and

An artist’s retreat in East Sussex

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OBY WHITTOME of Jackson-Stops in Haywards Heath (01444 484400) quotes a guide price of £2.5m for impressive, Grade II*-listed The Manor House, on the edge of charming Chiddingly village near Lewes, East Sussex. Although there has been a house on the site for 700 years, that property was extensively rebuilt in about 1574 to create a grand manor house for Sir John Jefferay, who was Chief Baron of Exchequer from 1577, under Elizabeth I. More recently, Chiddingly has become something of an artists’ colony, home to the artists Roland Penrose and Lee Miller, who lived at nearby Farley Farmhouse. Pablo Picasso was also a frequent visitor to the village, which has held its own annual Arts festival for more than 40 years.

Sympathetically maintained by the current owners, the interior of The Manor House is a blend of ancient architecture and contemporary style, with vaulted ceilings, exposed timbers, oak floors, original windows and fireplaces enhanced by modern systems and underfloor heating. Set in almost 1¼ acres of pretty gardens and grounds that include a walled kitchen garden, the house offers excellent family and guest accommodation, including two reception halls, elegant sitting and drawing rooms, a family room/dining room, cheerful kitchen/breakfast room, master and guest suites, four further bedrooms and four bathrooms.

Zeals was requisitioned as a base and mess for RAF officers. After the war, Zeals became a school for boys until, in 1956, the family, now the Troyte-Chafyn-Groves, ended the lease and moved back in. The unbroken ownership of Zeals by the Chafyn family was ended in 1968, when Alex Garnet Phippen bought the house and restored the 17thcentury orangery and the dovecote.

Since 1968, Zeals has been sold four times and is now standing empty and deteriorating, according to SAVE Britain’s Heritage, which describes it as ‘the last grand country house in Wiltshire’; it comes with numerous ancillary buildings, including two gate lodges, an orangery, dovecote, stables, granary and ice-house. Marcus Binney, executive president of the charity, expects ‘this splendid property to readily find a purchaser

in the present market. It is not too large to be a family home and the numerous outbuildings are suitable for working from home and for holiday lets’.

For sale as a whole, Zeals offers 14,241sq ft of interior space in the main house, with a further 3,025sq ft in the clock tower.

Accommodation in the main house is arranged on three floors and includes three main reception rooms, a study, kitchen/ breakfast room, summer kitchen, boot room, cellars and gym on the ground floor; a principal bedroom and bathroom, six further bedrooms, four bath/shower rooms and a library on the first floor; plus four further bedrooms, bathroom and storage rooms on the floors above. The garden and grounds comprise extensive lawns, parkland, pasture, woodland, a lake and pond.

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J OH N L L OY D MORGA N P R I VAT E

J E W E L L E R

JOHNLLOYDMORGAN.COM 07711 335 799

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Properties of the week

Carla Passino

Toast of the town Make the most of urban living at these elegant Georgian townhouses Bath, £3.4 million More than a house, this Grade I-listed Georgian property is a slice of British history. William Pitt the Younger lived here between 1801 and 1804—a brief interlude during which he was not Prime Minister—although he kept the house until his death in 1806. The property was reasonably new when Pitt bought it, having been designed (by pre-eminent Bath architect Thomas Baldwin) and built in 1792. Today, it has been beautifully renovated to combine period features, such as a striking cantilevered staircase, decorative cornicing and fine fireplaces, with luxurious touches, including French and Italian crystal chandeliers, handbuilt oak wardrobes in the bedrooms and a magnificent bespoke kitchen

by Clayton Davidson. The 4,230sq ft interior encompasses four reception rooms, one of which overlooks Bath’s weir and the Parade Gardens, and five bedrooms, including a sumptuous master suite that takes up the second floor. Knight Frank (01225 325999)

Lincolnshire, £1.05 million This Grade II-listed townhouse has it all: elegant Georgian architecture, a pretty garden and a convenient location in central Stamford overlooking the River Welland. Completely renovated by the previous owner, it has kept intact many period features, from exposed beams to stone fireplaces (both in the charming sitting room and in the large kitchen and dining area) and Georgian sash and casement windows. Three of the five bedrooms have vaulted ceilings, as does the family bathroom.

The south-facing garden is the perfect place to relax in good weather and comes with a raised, walled area that’s ideal for outdoor entertaining.

Fine & Country (01780 750200)

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West Sussex, £3.5 million Situated in the heart of Chichester, this elegant townhouse dates from the Georgian era. It was entirely restored 10 years ago to adapt it to contemporary living, although remains true to the original architecture. The 5,339sq ft interior has three reception rooms—including the 17ft dining room with carved fireplace—a sinuous, contemporary kitchen and four bedrooms split across the ground and first floors. There also are four more bedrooms, an additional kitchen and a sitting room on the second floor, which is accessed by a secondary staircase and ideal for staff or guest accommodation. Pallant Court comes with more than 2,000sq ft of cellars and outbuildings, plus a delightful walled garden. Jackson-Stops (01243 786316)

Local heroes The wine merchant Illustration by Emma van Zeller

If the vicar’s mission is to save villagers’ souls from eternal damnation, Tarquin’s is to rescue them from the perils of Prosecco and Pinot Grigio. Some villagers leave the pre-Christmas tasting empty-handed (but distinctly refreshed), others undergo a Damascene conversion when they taste his ‘undiscovered gems’ from parts of France they can barely pronounce, particularly after they’ve sampled the 30 other wines on offer. The more time they spend tasting, the bigger the orders—and the greater the collective silliness: ‘Oooh, I can’t await to tell my husband I’ve got a case of La Clape,’ says the lady from Glebe Cottage, bursting into uncontrollable hysteria. With another hour to go, Tarquin recognises that there’s a price to be paid for his overflowing order book. GK

9000

Worcestershire, £1.385 million Although no records remain to support this, Winston Churchill may have been a guest at Glenhurst, in Bewdley. Stanley Baldwin, 1st Earl Baldwin of Bewdley, is thought to have hosted meetings in the panelled dining room at this Grade II-listed Georgian house, with Churchill, then Baldwin’s Chancellor of the Exchequer, in attendance. But the historic ties are only one of the many charms of this magnificent five-bedroom, 5,527sq ft property, which sits on the north side of the Severn, sheltered by lovely walled gardens. The interior is full of beautiful details, from elegant fireplaces to the vaulted ceilings in the cellars and the bespoke units, Aga and marble worktops in the open-plan kitchen. Additional accommodation is available in a two-bedroom coach house. Also on the grounds is an oak-frame outbuilding. Strutt & Parker (01584 873711)

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