15 bedroom detached house

UNEXPECTEDLY RE-OFFERED
Alston Lodge is located on the outskirts of the beautiful Ribble Valley town of Longridge and is set within extensive gardens and grounds extending to just under two acres. Positioned in an elevated location with superb long distance views across Alston Reservoir (No1) and the local showground the property is set in a highly attractive, sought after peaceful setting in a mature residential area. This grand Georgian property built from locally quarried Longridge stone is of historical interest and was formerly operated as a care home. For sale for the first time in 35 years there is huge potential to create a unique family home.
This idyllic setting has excellent road, rail and airport links, with the M6 just 15 minutes away, Preston train station less than 30 minutes away, London just over 2 hours by train, and Manchester airport an hour's drive away by car. EPC - C
Viewing is necessary to fully appreciate what is on offer.

Alston Lodge is a beautifully presented Georgian property, dating back to 1810. This property has an interesting history, as follows:-

1810 - built by William Buck, son of the Vicar of Goosnargh (he lived there until he died in August 1827)

1827 - John Winstanley (Solicitor) and wife Eliza Isabella McNeil (half sister to the American artist Whistler’s mother, Anna Whistler). Anna Matilda Whistler visited from 1829-31, then again in 1843 on her way to Russia with her children, and then stayed for several months in 1847. Winstanley died in 1859.

The house then passed to the mill owner George Whittle - he established Stone Bridge Mill in 1850, the first steam powered weaving shed in Longridge, thereby creating prosperity for Longridge.

The house then passed to other owners and during WWII - Alston Lodge was used as a POW camp for Italian and German soldiers.

1987 - Alston Lodge was bought (from a doctor) and set up as a residential home for the elderly by Wendy Pickering. At this point a detached bungalow was built at the back of the property and was eventually converted to be part of the residential home and joined to the main house via a conservatory.

Mar 2022 - Alston Lodge residential home closed.

Many features throughout the property still stand as original, such as the beautiful fireplaces and feature window shutters both upstairs and downstairs.

The property has had two extensions, providing extra living accommodation to the side and rear.

At ground floor, the property comprises a grand entrance hallway with beautiful staircase leading to the 1st floor, spacious lounge area with original fireplace and dining area also with original fireplace and a snug off the side of the dining area to a slightly higher level. Through to the side extension of the property staying on the ground floor, you are presented with a number of bedrooms, and a separate staircase which also provides access to the 1st floor. To the rear extension you are welcomed into a bright airy conservatory room, that has been used to join the main property and the bungalow. The bungalow offers spacious living accommodation, with many rooms to be used however you may wish.

To the first floor you benefit from ample amounts of space, with rooms surrounding the top of the staircase, then down into the extension at the righthand side. A handful of the bedrooms benefit from en-suites, fitted with W/C and shower facilities.

To fully appreciate the size of both upstairs & downstairs, viewing is highly recommended.

The property lies in extensively landscaped gardens to the front, providing long distance views over the showground and reservoir to Blackburn and beyond. To the rear of the property there is extensive parking.

Longridge is a small market town close to Preston 8 miles East of the city. The town is the local centre of the rural farming community and has a mixture of shops, supermarkets, schools and service businesses, which thrive in this energetic environment.

Clitheroe offers a varied range of amenities including an excellent range of shops, bars, cafés and salons, as well as supermarkets and the impressive Bowland Brewery leisure complex boasting an Everyman cinema. The area is a renowned “Foodie Heaven” with excellent pubs and restaurants, many set within the Area of outstanding natural beauty, Trough of Bowland. The Ribble valley is an affluent area with a café culture and rural heritage and is a desirable and aspirational place to live and visit, offering many outdoor pursuits as well.

East Lancashire, Manchester and Yorkshire business centres as well as the northern motorway network are within striking distance. Travel distances are approximate, Blackburn 9 miles / Preston 10 miles / Manchester 39 miles / Lancaster 27 miles Manchester International Airport 46 miles/ Kendal and the Lake District 48 miles. M6 North and South 12 miles.

Schools locally have an excellent reputation and there is a wide variety of both state run and independent to choose from. There are numerous village primary schools and secondary schools at Longridge as well as highly regarded public schools including Stonyhurst and Kirkham Grammar School.

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