9 bedroom country house for sale

SHORTWOOD HOUSE,

EASTON HILL, WELLS, SOMERSET, BA5 1AT

Bath and Bristol both 21 miles, Glastonbury 7 miles, Street 8 miles, Castle Cary rail station 14 miles (all approx.)

Close to Wells stands a splendid Victorian mansion and grounds with a separate bungalow, substantial outbuildings, pasture and woodland. In all about 22 acres.

The property is well located on a hillside within 2 miles of Wells with splendid views and enjoying great privacy.

The Estate is available as a whole or in Lots.

For the whole property £3,530,000 or in individual lots as below.

Lot 1 - Shortwood House Guide Price £2,450,000

A handsome and enormously appealing period house (not listed) with extensive accommodation, over 6,000 sq. ft. (563 sq.ms.).

Previously part has been used as an independent annexe and in all it includes entrance halls, cloakrooms, 4 principal reception rooms, a study, garden room, principal and secondary kitchens, utility room, 9 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms and good cellars including a billiard room.

Outside are a double garage and workshop, lawned gardens, a hard tennis court, woodland and a meadow.

The house and grounds all screened and sheltered by magnificent mature trees. About 6.5 acres in all.

Lot 2 - Shortwood Farm Bungalow Guide Price £450,000

A compact and comfortable bungalow with great potential to extend. Currently includes a hall, sitting room, kitchen/dining room, conservatory, bathroom, 2 bedrooms and an en suite cloakroom. Outside are a garage and open fronted barn together with a garden.

Lot 3 - Colin’s Barn Guide Price £100,000

A single storey disused agricultural building with land and woodland totalling about half an acre. Great potential.

Lot 4 - West Barn Guide Price £360,000

A large building standing in around an acre in a wonderful position and with adjacent meadows available.

Lot 5 - West Meadow Guide Price £80,000

A meadow being adjacent to the main house (Lot 1) and West Barn (Lot 4). About 4 acres

Lot 6 - Meadow Wood Guide Price £50,000

A meadow with woodland to the south and adjoining Lot 5. Also, with direct access to Lot 1 About 6 acres

Lot 7- North Orchard Meadow Guide Price £40,000

A meadow with fruit and other trees. About 2.75 acres

Lot 1 Shortwood house

Description

A tree lined drive leads in from the Wells Road and to a carriage sweep. The house is very handsome and impressive being stone built under a slated roof and having stone mullioned windows, tall chimney stacks and a matching entrance porch.

Internally many period details remain including large rooms, good quality timber and joinery with window shutters, fine architraves, deep skirting boards and good quality doors. These are complemented with modern benefits including double and secondary glazing, mains gas central heating, large kitchen and breakfast rooms and ample bathrooms. This all results in a much loved and lived-in, comfortable family house with lots of great living space for all.

Accommodation

Outer and inner porches lead into the main reception hall which opens to the elegant drawing room with a south facing bay window and a stone fireplace with a wood burning stove.

A doorway leads into the kitchen which again has a large south facing bay window, modern fitted kitchen units and appliances including a gas hob, double oven and a dishwasher. An attractive and useful feature is the original dresser which will also be included.

The main hallway continues past the staircase and the study to an inner hall which leads to a utility room, a rear hall, cloakroom and the garden room.

The utility room has a Belfast sink, a water softener, fitted cupboards and space with plumbing for a washing machine.

The garden room is very pleasing with a wood burning stove and big windows and doors to the gardens.

The rear hall has a staircase down to cellars which include excellent storage areas and the billiard room. The billiard table is included in the sale.

Returning to the main hall a door leads to an inner hall and the central part of the house and a second staircase.

Off the inner hall is a music room and the dining room. This has an original fitted dresser and cupboards together with a large fireplace with a timber surround and a wood stove.

Beyond is a 30 ft sitting room with a vaulted ceiling and large windows and sliding doors to a garden terrace. Also, there’s a secondary kitchen with fitted units.

Next to this kitchen and the sitting room is a second entrance hall with adjacent cloakroom and a store.

First Floor

On this floor are 5 bedrooms and a small child’s room which is equally suited as a study or quiet reading room. There are also 4 bathrooms and a cloakroom.

The southwest bedroom has an en suite bathroom as does the northeast bedroom. There are then a bathroom and a shower room to serve the other 3 bedrooms. The cloakroom has a basin and loo and is adjacent to the small bedroom.

Second floor

There are two second floor areas approached by different staircases.

A staircase on the northeast side leads to a bedroom and store cupboard.

The main second floor rooms are reached by a central staircase. Here is a suite comprising a bed/sitting room with an adjacent bathroom and a further bedroom. There is also a further bedroom.

Outside

The drive leads in through wooded grounds to a paved carriage sweep with a central water fountain and ample parking space. On the north side is the garage and workshop.

The house is greatly sheltered and screened by magnificent mature trees including copper beech, oak, walnut, chestnut, willow and larch which continue through the grounds and are a major feature.

Continuing away from the house are mainly lawned gardens leading to a hard tennis court. Just beyond is a ha-ha separating off a large, gently sloping meadow. To the west of the meadow are further wooded grounds with a fine avenue of trees leading down to a wooded meadow being Lot 6.

Other points

The house is freehold and is not listed.

EPC is rated 59 Band D. Council Tax is Band G.

Mains gas and electricity are connected. Gas central heating. Private water and drainage.

Fibre broadband into the house.

Lot 2

Shortwood Farm Bungalow

Description

The bungalow stands to the north of the main house and has a separate access from the main house on a separate drive. It is a semi-detached building adjoining a house which was sold off from the estate some years ago.

The bungalow enjoys a quiet, peaceful setting and sits well within its own grounds.. There’s a great deal of space and ample room for extending the bungalow, subject to all necessary consents.

Internally the accommodation has partial double glazing and electric heating. It includes an entrance hall which opens to a well-proportioned sitting room with a fireplace and patio doors to the garden.

The kitchen/dining room has a window and roof light, fitted units, oven, hob and extractor unit.

Leading off this room is a bedroom with an en suite washroom with basin and loo.

The second bedroom, approached directly from the hall has fitted cupboards and a sliding door into a conservatory.

The bathroom also opens off the central hall and has a basin, loo and bath.

Outside

The bungalow has a very pretty garden, and a tarmac drive lies between the bungalow and a large garage with storage space. There’s also plenty of parking space.

Access

The present drive is to be discontinued, and the property will have future access over the existing driveway on the northern side.

Other points

Freehold. EPC Band E. Council Tax Band D.

Mains electricity. Private water and drainage.

Lot 3

Colin’s barn

This is a large building on the east side of the total property. It measures 59ft. by 30ft. and is currently a disused agricultural building last used as pig housing.

The building stands in over half an acre of woodland and has access over the existing driveway to the south and the driveway to the north.

For clarification the driveway to the south of the building is currently used by other properties in the estate. Following the sale of this building the drive will be closed and will solely for the use of this barn.

Services

Colin's barn has a metered electricity supply.

Lot 4

West Barn

This is a very special building previously used as a sheep shed and also as a workshop. It has a delightful, peaceful location facing southwest to beautiful rolling countryside.

Originally a cattle and sheep barn it has had various uses over the years and is a large building under a tiled roof.

The barn is approached from the north drive of the estate and ownership of this drive will pass with the barn. The drive will be subject to the use of the current other users being the adjacent house, bungalow and Colin’s Barn.

The building stands in an acre and leads to a field of 4 acres to the south which is available for sale as Lot 5.

Currently there is a metered electricity supply and a water supply from the house.

Lot 5

West Meadow

This being a field of about 4 acres adjoining the main house (Lot 1) and the grounds of the Sheep Barn (Lot 4).

Lot 6

Meadow Wood

A mainly wooded meadow of about 5 acres lying to the southwest of the field being Lot 5 and with direct access to the grounds of the main house on the southwest corner of these grounds.

Lot 7

North Orchard Meadow

A partly wooded meadow (including fruit trees) situated on the north side of the estate.

It has direct road frontage and access from the north drive of the estate.

The field is subject to a right of way over the track which crosses it to land on the southwest side.

Brief History of the Estate

In 1845 The Rev. Philip Wynell-Mayow and his wife, a wealthy woman in her own right, commenced building Shortwood House a replica of the Cornish family home. They firstly diverted the road and moved into the house in 1848. In the following years they raised a family of seven sons and five daughters.

After World War 2 the property passed to a farming family and eventually to the present owners.

About the area

Wells is the smallest city in England (population about 11,000) lying in beautiful countryside between the Somerset Levels and the Mendip Hills – an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Wells medieval centre has local markets twice a week, good restaurants, a thriving high street and many important ancient buildings, including the Cathedral and moated Bishops Palace and gardens. There are four major supermarkets on the edge of the city. Wells Leisure Centre has the usual facilities of gym and swimming pool to add to Wells Rugby Club, Tennis club, Bowling club and Golf course. Throughout the year Wells hosts festivals for Music, Literature, Art and Food, and has twinned links with Burgundy, the Rhineland and Northern Italy. There are many societies and clubs for those who would like to join a diverse social community.

The major towns of the area, Bristol, Bath, Taunton and Yeovil are all within commuting distance. There are excellent state & independent schools in the area which include several good primary schools, Wells Blue School, Strode College, Wells Cathedral School, Downside, All Hallows and Millfield.

Wells is a transport hub for bus services, including daily services to London. Main line trains run from Castle Cary and Bristol International Airport is 35 minutes’ drive away.

Important Notes

Roderick Thomas, their clients and any joint agents state that these details are for general guidance only and accuracy cannot be guaranteed. They do not constitute any part of any contract. All measurements are approximate, and floor plans are to give a general indication only and are not measured accurate drawings. No guarantees are given about planning permission or fitness for purpose. No apparatus, equipment, fixture or fitting has been tested. Items shown in photographs are not necessarily included. Buyers must rely on information passed between the solicitors regarding items included in the sale. Purchasers must satisfy themselves on all matters by inspection or otherwise. 

VIEWINGS. Interested parties are advised to check availability and current situation prior to travelling to see any property.

All viewings are by appointment with the Agents.

Roderick Thomas, 1 Priory Road, Wells, BA5 1SR.