House For Sale £1,800,000
This historic detached property is situated in the small north Hampshire village of Beech, bordering the South Downs National Park. The area is set in delightful countryside and has a broad mix of woodland and farmland. It is approximately 15 miles from Winchester, 11 miles from Basingstoke and 12 miles to Farnham. The local market town of Alton is just two miles away and offers a good selection of High Street shops and a mainline station with regular service to London Waterloo (approximately 65 minutes).
The village sits within a narrow valley that descends for almost two miles from Alton Abbey, which is one of the highest points in Hampshire, on the slopes of King's Hill. The house itself is positioned on the extremely sought after Wellhouse Road, with a thriving local community and a broad mixture of highly desirable residential homes.
Local schools include Chawton Church of England Primary School. (1.4 miles) and The Butts Primary School ( 1.4 miles). For secondary
education there is Eggars School ( Last rating outstanding 2.8 miles) and Amery Hill School ( 1.9 miles) There are also a range of excellent
independent schools in the area including Alton School, Edgeborough School, Frensham Heights, Lord Wandsworth College, Bedales School, St Swithun's School for Girls and many others.
History: The house is thought to have been built around the end of the 15th Century. Records from 1190 refer to the land at “La Beche”. In 1233 King Henry III granted this land to the Bishop of Winchester, where it stayed until 1484 when it was then transferred to Magdalen College, Oxford until 1892.
In the early 1900’s the house was owned by Lord Chalmers, the Mappins of Mappin & Webb and in 1936 Colonel Bird dso bought it and the family lived here until 1985. Since this time there have been two owners, one of them being the current owner.
There are many charming original features. The beautiful Inglenook fireplace has a spectacular “Smoke Hole” where meat would have been smoked. Hoops in the ceiling held bars across the room from which game, meat and washing would have been hung. There is still a large bread oven to this day!
There are two wells and tanks underground thought to have been built around the early 1900s.
General information: The current owners have improved the property during their ownership, with general decor, a modern gas heating system and update of the electrics. The house still offers an exquisite opportunity to the new owners to further modernise and extend, subject to relevant listed building consent.
Internal accommodation
The main entrance is to the south side of this spectacular home. When entering you immediately notice the elegant oak gated staircase leading to the first floor with traditional panelling and exposed oak framework to the walls.
The hallway opens into the formal dining room, which has a traditional quarry tiled floor and a spectacular Inglenook fireplace with integral lighting and seating. When sitting in the fireplace you can see the extent of the smoke hole.
An inner hallway leads to a utility and boiler room. A secondary staircase can be seen to one end of the room, which provides additional access to the first floor. There is a boot room which leads to the driveway.
The gorgeous drawing room is ideal for relaxing in the evening. There are low ceilings decorated with oak beams, panelled walls and a
delightful fireplace. There are windows to two sides of the room and a door which leads to another entrance hall and out to the formal garden area. A further door from this room leads to the bar.
The oak framed bar area has exposed beams to the ceiling and shelving to store glasses and bottles. This fun room leads to an inner hallway, which provides access to a further reception room and the kitchen/breakfast room.
The living room/study has views towards the gardens, a wooden herringbone floor, fireplace with wood burning stove and exposed oak beams to the ceiling.
There is an open archway leading to a cloakroom and storage area.
The classic farmhouse kitchen/breakfast room has been improved by the current owners and has traditional cream fronted base cupboards and drawers. There is a wonderful Aga with decorative splashback, traditional stone floor, exposed oak framework, electric oven, electric hob and space for an American fridge/freezer.
The first floor galleried landing and staircase is arguably one of the most spectacular features to this character home. It has the most beautiful balustrade, oak framework and panelling to the walls. A further staircase from the landing leads to the second floor.
There are three bedrooms to the first floor. The sizable master bedroom has windows to the South side, a feature fireplace, statement Oak panelling to the walls and exposed beams to the ceiling, reflecting this home’s historic origins. A door leads to a modern en-suite with separate shower cubicle, WC and vanity unit. Adjacent to the master suite is the second bedroom. This sizable room has views towards the formal gardens, oak framework to the walls and oak beams to the ceiling.
The third bedroom has two parts and is currently used as a bedroom with a large dressing area. This could be converted into two rooms should this be a preferred layout. A door from this room leads to a staircase to the second floor.
There is a family bathroom, which has a traditional bath, shower cubicle, WC and wash hand basin.
The second floor
The landing area leads to three rooms. The two main bedrooms here have vaulted ceilings with exposed oak beams. The decor is neutral and the rooms are carpeted throughout with gorgeous cottage style windows.
There is further room to this floor which has been used in the past as a reception/games room - an ideal teenager’s retreat.
A traditional gateway leads to a large gravel drive with ample parking for several vehicles.
There is a detached barn/double garage with timber boarding and a slate tiled roof. The garden measures approximately 0.9 acres wrapping around the house, mainly lawn, bordered with some delightful mature trees and hedgerows.
To the east side, there are beautiful established flowerbeds and a patio area ideal for entertaining.
General notes: The property has wooden framed windows throughout, brick clad to areas of the external walls and a tiled roof.
Council Tax Band G
Local Authority
East Hampshire District Council
The village sits within a narrow valley that descends for almost two miles from Alton Abbey, which is one of the highest points in Hampshire, on the slopes of King's Hill. The house itself is positioned on the extremely sought after Wellhouse Road, with a thriving local community and a broad mixture of highly desirable residential homes.
Local schools include Chawton Church of England Primary School. (1.4 miles) and The Butts Primary School ( 1.4 miles). For secondary
education there is Eggars School ( Last rating outstanding 2.8 miles) and Amery Hill School ( 1.9 miles) There are also a range of excellent
independent schools in the area including Alton School, Edgeborough School, Frensham Heights, Lord Wandsworth College, Bedales School, St Swithun's School for Girls and many others.
History: The house is thought to have been built around the end of the 15th Century. Records from 1190 refer to the land at “La Beche”. In 1233 King Henry III granted this land to the Bishop of Winchester, where it stayed until 1484 when it was then transferred to Magdalen College, Oxford until 1892.
In the early 1900’s the house was owned by Lord Chalmers, the Mappins of Mappin & Webb and in 1936 Colonel Bird dso bought it and the family lived here until 1985. Since this time there have been two owners, one of them being the current owner.
There are many charming original features. The beautiful Inglenook fireplace has a spectacular “Smoke Hole” where meat would have been smoked. Hoops in the ceiling held bars across the room from which game, meat and washing would have been hung. There is still a large bread oven to this day!
There are two wells and tanks underground thought to have been built around the early 1900s.
General information: The current owners have improved the property during their ownership, with general decor, a modern gas heating system and update of the electrics. The house still offers an exquisite opportunity to the new owners to further modernise and extend, subject to relevant listed building consent.
Internal accommodation
The main entrance is to the south side of this spectacular home. When entering you immediately notice the elegant oak gated staircase leading to the first floor with traditional panelling and exposed oak framework to the walls.
The hallway opens into the formal dining room, which has a traditional quarry tiled floor and a spectacular Inglenook fireplace with integral lighting and seating. When sitting in the fireplace you can see the extent of the smoke hole.
An inner hallway leads to a utility and boiler room. A secondary staircase can be seen to one end of the room, which provides additional access to the first floor. There is a boot room which leads to the driveway.
The gorgeous drawing room is ideal for relaxing in the evening. There are low ceilings decorated with oak beams, panelled walls and a
delightful fireplace. There are windows to two sides of the room and a door which leads to another entrance hall and out to the formal garden area. A further door from this room leads to the bar.
The oak framed bar area has exposed beams to the ceiling and shelving to store glasses and bottles. This fun room leads to an inner hallway, which provides access to a further reception room and the kitchen/breakfast room.
The living room/study has views towards the gardens, a wooden herringbone floor, fireplace with wood burning stove and exposed oak beams to the ceiling.
There is an open archway leading to a cloakroom and storage area.
The classic farmhouse kitchen/breakfast room has been improved by the current owners and has traditional cream fronted base cupboards and drawers. There is a wonderful Aga with decorative splashback, traditional stone floor, exposed oak framework, electric oven, electric hob and space for an American fridge/freezer.
The first floor galleried landing and staircase is arguably one of the most spectacular features to this character home. It has the most beautiful balustrade, oak framework and panelling to the walls. A further staircase from the landing leads to the second floor.
There are three bedrooms to the first floor. The sizable master bedroom has windows to the South side, a feature fireplace, statement Oak panelling to the walls and exposed beams to the ceiling, reflecting this home’s historic origins. A door leads to a modern en-suite with separate shower cubicle, WC and vanity unit. Adjacent to the master suite is the second bedroom. This sizable room has views towards the formal gardens, oak framework to the walls and oak beams to the ceiling.
The third bedroom has two parts and is currently used as a bedroom with a large dressing area. This could be converted into two rooms should this be a preferred layout. A door from this room leads to a staircase to the second floor.
There is a family bathroom, which has a traditional bath, shower cubicle, WC and wash hand basin.
The second floor
The landing area leads to three rooms. The two main bedrooms here have vaulted ceilings with exposed oak beams. The decor is neutral and the rooms are carpeted throughout with gorgeous cottage style windows.
There is further room to this floor which has been used in the past as a reception/games room - an ideal teenager’s retreat.
A traditional gateway leads to a large gravel drive with ample parking for several vehicles.
There is a detached barn/double garage with timber boarding and a slate tiled roof. The garden measures approximately 0.9 acres wrapping around the house, mainly lawn, bordered with some delightful mature trees and hedgerows.
To the east side, there are beautiful established flowerbeds and a patio area ideal for entertaining.
General notes: The property has wooden framed windows throughout, brick clad to areas of the external walls and a tiled roof.
Council Tax Band G
Local Authority
East Hampshire District Council
