8 bedroom detached house for sale

Built in the 1880’s and surrounded by rolling countryside The Down House sits in beautiful grounds of over 0.8 acres.

This exceptional house offers approximately 5,000 sq. ft. of well-proportioned living accommodation along with a garage/studio/workshop of nearly 500 sq ft.

The property is approached via a gravel drive and has an impressive porchway leading to the front entrance panelled by it’s original Victorian stained glass. The spacious reception hall leads you to the elegant main rooms and has additional doors off to the ancillary rooms and cellar.

The main drawing room features superb original cornicing, along with a feature bay window and open fireplace. The sitting room has similar cornicing, French doors out to the garden and a marble fireplace with log burner. The kitchen/breakfast room is flooded with natural light, has French doors out to the garden, a large bay window fitted with bespoke wooden shutters and a useful, terracotta-tiled floor, garden room off to one side. A utility room, second kitchen and a guest cloakroom deliver added convenience to this floor.

The first floor provides five double bedrooms, one with an en-suite shower room, plus a large family bath/shower room, an additional shower room and an upstairs cloakroom.

The second floor enjoys three further double bedrooms, a contemporary family bathroom plus a large box room for storage. The current owners have created a completely self-contained annexe with it’s own entrance and staircase by utilising a section of the house. The annexe comprises the second kitchen, the additional third reception room, plus on the first floor, two double bedrooms and a shower room. Internal doors on both floors link this area naturally back into the main house enabling great flexibility within the overall living space.

Externally the extensive gardens are mainly laid to lawn with mature borders, shrubs and trees benefitting from a high degree of privacy with a patio/terrace, ideal for al fresco socialising. Winchester Cathedral can be glimpsed from some of the rear, upper rooms.

To the rear of the garden, at the end of the drive, lies the studio/garage/workshop, half of which is fully insulated, both sides newly installed with electricity and water. One side has it’s original blacksmith’s working fireplace.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Services:
Water – Mains
Gas - Mains
Electric - Mains
Sewage - Mains
Heating – Gas

Materials used in construction: Brick with tile roof
How does broadband enter the property: ADSL

For further information on broadband and mobile coverage, please refer to the Ofcom Checker online

Agents Note - The vendors have challenged the Council Tax banding as all adjacent, similar properties are Band 'G' (whereas The Down House is currently Band 'H').

The property was completely rewired and re-plumbed, including a new heating system.

Located in the small village of Shawford which is a short drive from the historic city of Winchester and sits on the edge of the River Itchen with a network of footpaths for walking in the surrounding countryside. Local amenities include a mainline station at Shawford with journey times to London Waterloo just over an hour in length and the Bridge Inn public house situated alongside the River Itchen. The villages of Otterbourne and Twyford provide local shops and well-regarded pubs. Compton and Shawford Sports Clubs offers superb cricketing, football and tennis amenities.

Winchester delights with much character and diverse architecture, whilst successfully delivering a modern cosmopolitan feel concentrated over just a few square miles. As well as national retail chains, Winchester is home to an array of independent boutique shops and eateries and an impressive farmers market. Winchester is also highly renowned for its outstanding educational establishments ranging from both private and state schools to popular sixth form college and the oldest public school in the United Kingdom. Coast and country lifestyle pursuits are all within striking distance as the city is well placed for the South Downs National Park, the New Forest, the Meon Valley and both Bournemouth and Portsmouth’s coastal beaches. Southampton’s international airport grants air travel for those seeking further destinations.