House For Sale £1,650,000
Set within a secret Georgian walled garden and its beautifully landscaped grounds of around half an acre, this superb seven-bedroom house of over 4,580 sq ft is located in the sought-after hamlet of Westhorpe. Designed with high energy efficiency in mind, the internal living space is partially earth-sheltered to conserve its heat and energy, with double-height glass walls and ceilings inviting an excellent quality of natural light and solar collection. Positioned on the south-westerly edge of Southwell town, the location offers easy access to the surrounding open countryside and good connections to Nottingham, which lies just 18 miles to the south.
The Tour
Approached via a quiet lane, Westhorpe has the feel of a pretty English hamlet yet with all the amenities of the town, which is within walking distance. A secluded entrance gives a sense of secrecy, with little of the house revealed from the walled courtyard. A private driveway leads to a sheltered carport, which is available for several vehicles to park adjacent to the house. There is also a log store, an outside storeroom and a smaller front courtyard garden.
On entering, the dynamic layout of the house gradually unveils. Designed collaboratively by the owners, an architect and a landscape architect, the layout has been designed with family life, entertaining and quiet retreat in mind; free-flowing communal rooms perfectly balance quieter, reflective areas. Replete with cleverly designed interventions and details, the house feels fun and playful. With the southerly side of the house constructed almost entirely of double-height, oak-framed glass walls, there is exceptional natural light throughout and a seamless visual relationship with the gardens.
The ground floor comprises a series of interconnected living and dining rooms. The kitchen feels open and sociable, with bespoke cabinetry and free-standing worktops. An adjoining pantry provides an excellent provision of storage, and solid oak flooring runs underfoot.
A timber wine rack above the kitchen cupboards doubles as a staircase, which leads up to the herb garden on the roof, with views to open fields over and above the Georgian walls. This is a sunny, elevated spot for a morning coffee or to enjoy a sundowner in the soft evening light, which falls on this side of the house in the later hours.
The living room is a warm and welcoming space, with a log-burning stove at the heart of the room and painted-white brick walls. Glass doors open directly onto the garden at one side, with the second set of glazing doors opening onto the upper conservatory.
Six of the seven sleeping areas are positioned on the lower level of the house, each well-proportioned, private and soundproofed room set adjacently along a beautifully light hallway. A pitched glass ceiling overhead allows dramatic shards of light to penetrate the lower floor, complete with hand-crafted timber hatches that can shutter off the light or preserve the heat in the winter.
The main bedroom, positioned at the far end of the lower floor, has an en suite bathroom and access to the private courtyard. The seventh bedroom is set independently within the eaves, a secluded area for visiting guests. An inside workshop, accessible from within the house or from the garage below, offers great versatility, making for an excellent home working space or creative studio.
At the south side of the house, the double-height conservatory provides a seamless transition between the house and the gardens. Careful interior planning and indoor planting merge the interior and exterior spaces, with platforms strategically positioned to enjoy the views fully. There is also the benefit of a heat recovery system and rainwater harvesting.
Outdoor Space
Developed over 20 years, the gardens are exceptional. Deep, dense borders of herbaceous perennials are lined with yew and box hedging. Wavering grasses, swathes of wild meadow planting and ponds create a verdant haven for wildlife, and an extraordinarily productive vegetable plot and chickens offer great scope for self-sufficiency. Tall deciduous specimen trees and the original red-brick walls provide excellent privacy, and there are numerous terraces carved out for summer lunches. There is also a delightful potting shed and a fruit orchard.
The Area
Often referred to as ‘the jewel in Nottinghamshire’s crown’, Southwell is a sought-after, picturesque market town characterised by its red-brick buildings. The town has a rich history with Southwell Minster, one of the finest Norman naves in Europe, Archbishops Palace and The National Trusts Victorian Workhouse, all part of Southwell’s rich architectural backstory.
Southwell has a social and vibrant community, playing host to several music and cultural festivals annually and a diverse range of independent shops, restaurants, cafes and numerous traditional pubs. For a broader selection of leisure activities, the city of Nottingham lies around 18 miles south.
Garden House sits within catchment for Ofsted-rated ‘Outstanding’ state and private schooling options. Rail connections are excellent, with direct train services running from Newark North Gate station (a 20-minute drive from the house) to London Kings Cross in around one hour and 20 minutes.
The Tour
Approached via a quiet lane, Westhorpe has the feel of a pretty English hamlet yet with all the amenities of the town, which is within walking distance. A secluded entrance gives a sense of secrecy, with little of the house revealed from the walled courtyard. A private driveway leads to a sheltered carport, which is available for several vehicles to park adjacent to the house. There is also a log store, an outside storeroom and a smaller front courtyard garden.
On entering, the dynamic layout of the house gradually unveils. Designed collaboratively by the owners, an architect and a landscape architect, the layout has been designed with family life, entertaining and quiet retreat in mind; free-flowing communal rooms perfectly balance quieter, reflective areas. Replete with cleverly designed interventions and details, the house feels fun and playful. With the southerly side of the house constructed almost entirely of double-height, oak-framed glass walls, there is exceptional natural light throughout and a seamless visual relationship with the gardens.
The ground floor comprises a series of interconnected living and dining rooms. The kitchen feels open and sociable, with bespoke cabinetry and free-standing worktops. An adjoining pantry provides an excellent provision of storage, and solid oak flooring runs underfoot.
A timber wine rack above the kitchen cupboards doubles as a staircase, which leads up to the herb garden on the roof, with views to open fields over and above the Georgian walls. This is a sunny, elevated spot for a morning coffee or to enjoy a sundowner in the soft evening light, which falls on this side of the house in the later hours.
The living room is a warm and welcoming space, with a log-burning stove at the heart of the room and painted-white brick walls. Glass doors open directly onto the garden at one side, with the second set of glazing doors opening onto the upper conservatory.
Six of the seven sleeping areas are positioned on the lower level of the house, each well-proportioned, private and soundproofed room set adjacently along a beautifully light hallway. A pitched glass ceiling overhead allows dramatic shards of light to penetrate the lower floor, complete with hand-crafted timber hatches that can shutter off the light or preserve the heat in the winter.
The main bedroom, positioned at the far end of the lower floor, has an en suite bathroom and access to the private courtyard. The seventh bedroom is set independently within the eaves, a secluded area for visiting guests. An inside workshop, accessible from within the house or from the garage below, offers great versatility, making for an excellent home working space or creative studio.
At the south side of the house, the double-height conservatory provides a seamless transition between the house and the gardens. Careful interior planning and indoor planting merge the interior and exterior spaces, with platforms strategically positioned to enjoy the views fully. There is also the benefit of a heat recovery system and rainwater harvesting.
Outdoor Space
Developed over 20 years, the gardens are exceptional. Deep, dense borders of herbaceous perennials are lined with yew and box hedging. Wavering grasses, swathes of wild meadow planting and ponds create a verdant haven for wildlife, and an extraordinarily productive vegetable plot and chickens offer great scope for self-sufficiency. Tall deciduous specimen trees and the original red-brick walls provide excellent privacy, and there are numerous terraces carved out for summer lunches. There is also a delightful potting shed and a fruit orchard.
The Area
Often referred to as ‘the jewel in Nottinghamshire’s crown’, Southwell is a sought-after, picturesque market town characterised by its red-brick buildings. The town has a rich history with Southwell Minster, one of the finest Norman naves in Europe, Archbishops Palace and The National Trusts Victorian Workhouse, all part of Southwell’s rich architectural backstory.
Southwell has a social and vibrant community, playing host to several music and cultural festivals annually and a diverse range of independent shops, restaurants, cafes and numerous traditional pubs. For a broader selection of leisure activities, the city of Nottingham lies around 18 miles south.
Garden House sits within catchment for Ofsted-rated ‘Outstanding’ state and private schooling options. Rail connections are excellent, with direct train services running from Newark North Gate station (a 20-minute drive from the house) to London Kings Cross in around one hour and 20 minutes.
