Property description

PROPERTY SUMMARY When it comes to property descriptions, words like magnificent, outstanding and impressive are often over used, however when it comes to 'Brankesmere House' they are words that can only be used to describe what is both a notable property with an interesting history and a rather grand local landmark. Features that over our directors career (the last thirty years locally), he has not seen in any single home and at any single time. The interesting and impressive façade is matched internally with some truly outstanding wooden carvings, coving, woodwork, windows, architraves and doorways. 'Brankesmere House', is aptly therefore the current home of one of the city's highest regarded architects, PLC Architects. With a duty to maintain and retain the character the current tenants have not disrupted any of the original property or features, all of the desks, units and chairs are removable without causing any serious embellishments. Describing a property like this is always difficult as there are an abundance of features and clearly the former owners had both the quality and desire to impress when designing and building this home, it also has a sense of character with a number of wooden carvings on both the staircase and the coving depicting character faces. Currently arranged as office premises, a planning application has been made to convert the property, without disrupting the current character, to form an impressive three bedroom family home.

Situated in the heart of the oldest conservation area in Southsea, the house is tucked away behind high walls, a gateway and mature trees yet it has the convenience of being within easy access of local shopping amenities, the Victorian Waterfront and within the 'golden triangle' located between highly regarded schools such as St John's College, The High School and nationally acclaimed Grammar School.



There is an abundance of history relating to the property and its many uses over the last century. One of the most prominent owners during that period was Sir John Brickwood, who moved into the new house in 1896, Sir John and the Brickwood family were the largest brewer and public house owner in the area from the mid 19th century, he was also Chairman of Portsmouth Football Club which was founded in 1898. At the outbreak of the First World War Sir John generously placed the house, at the disposal of the Red Cross, for the use of the relief hospital. In 1923 the house name changed to 'Byculla' and became 'Byculla School for Daughters of Officers and Professional Men', in 1940 the property became the temporary police headquarters and remained in existence until the amalgamation of the Portsmouth City Police Force and the Southampton City Police Force when they formed the present Hampshire Constabulary, during that period there were references to MI5 and the mysterious disappearance of Commander 'Buster' Crabbe in the dockyard. We understand in the mid 1970's Hampshire County Council and Social Services moved in and remained as tenants until 2004.



When you invest in this property you are buying more than a family home in an enviable location, you are also preserving a little slice of history for the next generation. It has Grade II Listing, which protects a traditional way of living for the future generation and being in a Conservation Area, your surroundings are protected.

 

ENTRANCE Twin brick and sandstone pillars with plaque depicting house name, twin double gates leading to shared driveway providing access to Brankesmere House and Brankesmere Lodge. To the left hand side of the driveway is car parking for approximately up to five cars (for sole use of Brankesmere House) access to a further hardstanding area, currently laid to the front is a paved area with flower and shrub borders and mature trees. Stone steps lead to feature canopy porch with ornate carvings, twin double doors with ornate wooden carvings leading to: 

FOYER 9' 7" x 7' 8" (2.92m x 2.34m) Wooden ceiling coving, dark wood panelling with two pew style seats, one to either side of the entrance, feature mosaic tiled flooring depicting house name with mosaic borders, plaster plaque on wall with wood surround depicting, what is believed to be the 'Israelites', feature main front door with leadlight panels and ornate wooden carvings with feature arched carving over, leading to: 

INNER LOBBY Matching mosaic tiled flooring, panelling to half wall level, feature ornate architraves, outstanding arched top door opening with wooden carving and lead light panels over, leading to primary hallway and stairwell. 

KITCHEN 11' 0" x 5' 7" (3.35m x 1.7m) Work surface with single drainer, leadlight stained glass window to side aspect, range of drawers and storage cupboards, wall mounted cupboard housing 'Valiant' boiler supplying domestic hot water and central heating (not tested), timer switch, high ceiling, spotlights, matching mosaic tiled flooring. 

CLOAKROOM 1 Mosaic tiled flooring, close coupled w.c, corner wash hand basin with tiled splash back and mirror, leadlight window to side aspect. 

CLOAKROOM 2 Mosiac tiled flooring, leadlight stained glass window to side aspect, wash hand basin, low level w.c, tiled splash back. 

PRIMARY HALLWAY 20' 2" x 11' 10" (6.15m x 3.61m) Feature easy rise balustrade staircase rising to first floor with feature newel posts with wooden carving, turned spindles and polished wooden hand rail, feature wallpapering/plastering with dado rail over to one side, arched opening with top leadlight and wooden carved archway, wooden flooring, matching panels to wall, staircase to lower ground floor, leadlight windows to side aspect, wooden ceiling cornicing, opening to: 

RECEPTION & OFFICE 32' 3" x 20' 1" (9.83m x 6.12m) With a ceiling height of 11'10" increasing into a central void with a maximum ceiling height of 39'6". Wooden flooring, feature wrap around galleried landing over, ceiling cornicing with wooden supports depicting individual carved faces. To the front is a large leadlight stained glass window with wood surrounds and sill and original metal handles, on one wall are three ornate doors with architraves over and canopy style carved wooden features, formerly providing access to the South Wing but currently only as ornate features, two have lower handles with fingerplates (we understand were formerly used for the children's access with the other doors having higher access for adults only areas of the primary house), matching panelling with high skirting boards and dado rails over, two further matching doors, centrally to the room is a feature fireplace with the mantle being over 6'3" in height and ornate wooden carvings, tiled hearth with inlay, to one corner is a pew style seating area with shelving over, central to the room is mirror from skirting board height up to approximately ¾ height with feature arched inlay and wood. 

FIRST FLOOR MEZZANINE LANDING Large mezzanine landing with leadlight full height window to side aspect with two feature stained glass panels, stairs leading to primary landing.  

PRIMARY LANDING Ornate ceiling coving, curved ceiling. Door to boardroom, feature arched opening leading to galleried landing with feature wooden pillars and balustrades with turned spindles overlooking the office below and upwards to the void towards the central ceiling feature wind vane. To the front is a leadlight window and off the landing are six doors which are no longer in use, formerly providing access to the main house with feature wooden architraves and fingerplates (currently blocked up on both sides), ornate wallpaper / plaster to dado rail level, feature ceiling coving, three roll top radiators, feature arched divides with leadlight panels to upper section. 

BOARDROOM 21' 3" x 13' 6" (6.48m x 4.11m) Feature vaulted ceiling measuring approximately 12'2", triple aspect windows with leadlight panels, two radiators, panelled door, power points, access a drop down ladder and trap door providing access to substantial loft space, we understand that there is a very significant (and quite attractive) space in the loft, that boasts its own leaded window (the one in the gable at the front). 

LOWER GROUND FLOOR Open plan 'L' shaped layout arranged office space and storage, stairwell incorporating:



 

WORK AREA 20' 6" x 10' 8" (6.25m x 3.25m) Window to side aspect, opening to:  

OFFICE SPACE 32' 0" x 19' 0" (9.75m x 5.79m) Approximate ceiling height of 7'9", power points, three windows to front aspect, walk-in storage cupboard, frosted glazed window to side aspect. 

KITCHEN AREA 7' 0" x 5' 0" (2.13m x 1.52m) Work surface, single drainer sink unit, storage cupboards, matching flooring, opening to:



 

SEPARATE OFFICE 13' 10" maximum, decreasing to 10'3" x 14' 6" maximum (9.4m x 4.42m) Windows to side aspect, door to meter cupboard, matching flooring, power points. 

AGENTS NOTES The property is currently arranged as office premises, however the office furniture & fitting are free standing and will be removed without causing damage to the former home.



A planning application has been made to obtain approval to convert into a three bedroom home.



Below are the floor plans as per the building layout and the proposed plans with some alterations.



The property is being sold as seen, but with planning consent for the buyer to make the necessary alterations, thus giving both flexibility and the opportunity to make the home your own. 

NOTES REGARDING THE CGI'S The images of the new kitchen / breakfast room, drawing room, frontage and master bedroom suite are all computer generated images (CGI's).