Property description

HISTORIC MANOR HOUSE SET AT THE GATEWAY TO THE WEST WIGHT Entrance hall. Drawing room. Snug. Dining Conservatory. Study. Kitchen/Breakfast room. Lobby. Cloakroom. Utility room, Cellar. Master bedroom with Dressing room & adjacent Bathroom. 5 further bedrooms. 2 further bath/shower rooms. Rec/Games Room. Stabling. Tennis court. Gardens and grounds.



In all approximately 12.14 acres



 

THE MANOR HOUSE Historic Listed Manor house in a secluded and beautiful rural location. With 6 Bedrooms, 3 Bathrooms, Reception Hall, 3 Reception Rooms and a fine Dining Conservatory, this elegant period property is built in a traditional Georgian style; beautifully-maintained and presented to a high standard. It stands in spectacular grounds including Tennis Court and 'Rec' or Games Room. There is a modern stable block with adjoining paddocks. The secluded rural location provides beautiful countryside views and is accessible to wonderful walking and riding country as well as to both the sandy beaches of Compton Bay and the restaurants, shops, harbour and the ferry at Yarmouth. The famous sailing town of Cowes is a 15 minute drive away with its fast catamaran link to Southampton and onward London trains.  

GARDENS & GROUNDS To the front and rear of the Manor the gardens comprise formal lawns, herbaceous borders and mature specimen trees and shrubs including oak, holly, silver birch and a fine walnut tree. The gardens extend around the property and are exceptional having been set with over 5000 individual plants. There is a charming stone-paved dining and seating terrace with pergola and hot tub area. There is a hard tennis court with catch-netting. The extensive rear lawns are watered by a concealed automatic irrigation system with rain sensors. A footpath crosses the grounds to the west of the Manor. 

SERVICES & HEATING Mains water (free), and electricity (3 phase to the Manor) are connected to the property (subject to the stipulations and conditions of the relevant utility companies). A private drainage system serves the Manor. The Manor is heated via a combination of radiators and under-floor heating supplied by an oil-fired boiler fed from a dedicated 5,000L tank. A Bulk LPG tank fuels the Aga range at the Manor.  

COUNCIL TAX Manor: Band G. Amount Payable 2014/15 £2,506.43 p.a.

 

TENURE & POSSESSION, FIXTURES & FITTINGS The property is offered Freehold with vacant possession on the whole upon Completion. The seller does not include in the sale any electrical appliances, however connected, or any other fixtures, unless expressly mentioned in these particulars as forming part of the sale. Some items may be available by separate negotiation. 

DESCRIPTION Dating back to 1774, the Manor House retains many of its original features, including a carved wooden staircase, skirtings, doors, door furniture, fireplaces and windows. 6 bedrooms extend over the first and second floors including 3 bath/shower rooms and an upstairs sitting room, ideal for accommodating children and teenagers. 

ACCOMMODATION The accommodation is set out on 3 storeys and comprises:



Ground Floor



Reception Hall – with flagstone floor; stairs to 1st floor and down to Cellar

Study - with dado panelling, window seat, stripped pine floor, open fireplace and built-in dressers.

Drawing Room - with wood-burning stove, dado panelling, window seats, window shutters, drinks cupboard behind original period slatted lattice door.

Rear Hall - with flagstone floor and exterior door.

Snug - with fitted cupboards, fireplace with wood-burning stove and antique Walnut floor.

Dining Conservatory – Bespoke solid wood construction, with limestone floor, 2 pairs of French doors open to the garden terrace and pair of bi-fold French doors to:

Kitchen - converted from the original 'brew house' vaulted ceiling, exposed beams with 6 Oven gas/electric Aga range with gas hob; fitted units by Mark Wilkinson, beech wood work surfaces and limestone floor & double 'Belfast' sink. Island unit with additional sink and breakfast bar.

Utility Room - with beech wood work surfaces and Belfast sink

Cloakroom with w.c. & basin.



First Floor - approached up a stripped pine staircase with geometric pattern to:



Landing



Rear Landing with Airing Cupboard with 'Mega-flo' unvented hot water cylinder



Master Suite: Bedroom (dual aspect) opens to Dressing Room with fitted wardrobes and cupboards adjoining:



Bathroom with double-ended bath, w.c., and double basins set in marble surfaced vanity unit, tongue and groove dado panelling.



Shower Room with shower in glazed cubicle, w.c., basin



Bedroom 3 with cast iron horseshoe fireplace and 2 original fitted cupboards.



Bedroom 2 with cast iron fireplace and 2 original fitted cupboards.





Second Floor - approached up a painted staircase to:



Landing/Sitting Room



Shower Room with shower in cubicle, w.c., basin and tongue and groove dado panelling



Bedroom 4 with tongue and groove dado panelling.



Bedroom 5 with cupboard tongue and groove dado panelling & 'Velux' window



Bedroom 6 with cupboard tongue and groove dado panelling.



The 'Rec' or Games Room

Next to the Manor house a barn has been converted to accommodate a gymnasium, bar, pool table and home cinema system. With an 8ft screen, 'surround sound' and Creston touch screen controller.



Stable Block

The stable block is situated to the West of the Manor, there are four stables, a hay barn, a tack room and a kitchen. Beyond the brick-paved courtyard there are 3 fully-fenced paddocks of approx. 2.25 acres each. (There is a further 17.32 acres of open grassland available by separate negotiation as Lot 3).

 

DIRECTIONS The entrance to the drive leading to Watchingwell Manor is off the B3401 Carisbrooke to Calbourne/Freshwater Road. Turn North opposite Ashengrove Farm (PO30 4HU) and proceed (keeping right) for 600m. Turn Right and continue for 700m. The main entrance to the Manor will be found on the left, after passing a close-boarded fence. There is an alternate access from the main Newport – Yarmouth Road (A3054) opposite Calbourne Classics (Three Gates Farm) PO30 4NA. Turn south and after 900m take the first left and proceed for 800m, bearing right. The Manor will be found on the right hand side. There are regular ferry crossings between the Island and mainland from Yarmouth (7 miles) to Lymington, Cowes (9 miles) to Southampton, Fishbourne (10 miles) to Portsmouth, and Ryde (12 miles) to Portsmouth. 

 

LOTTING The property is offered as a whole or in 3 Lots or parcels. The Main parcel - Lot 1 -unshaded on the Plan (in all about 12.14 acres ( 4.915 ha) ) comprises the Manor House, its garden, the tennis court the stable block and the adjoining 3 paddocks. Lot 2 - hatched green on the Plan (in all about 1.54 acres ( 0.62 ha) ) comprises The Barn Cottage, its front and rear gardens, adjoining store rooms, the garage block and the disused cottage together with the Paddock to the North of The Barn Cottage. Lot 3 - hatched blue on the Plan (in all about 17.32 acres ( 7 ha) ) comprises the remaining land to the North West which is down to grass with the exception of the small area of woodland (OS Parcel 2547 0.44 acres (0.178 ha)) which is woodland - part of Harelane Plantation.

Purchasers interested in Lot 1 may wish to acquire part but not all of Lot 3 in which case offers on part may be considered. IMPORTANT NOTE: Sales of Lots 2 & 3 will only be considered if an acceptable offer has been received on Lot 1.

 

Property Info:

• FLOOR PLAN