House For Sale £8,000,000
Outstanding Grade II country house of Italianate design, set within its own rural oasis with unimpeded views, while being close to the city of Bath and Babington House
Description
Wadbury House is a magnificent example of a grand Palladian villa build in 1840 by the prominent Victorian architect James Wilson. This remarkably handsome house is built of Bath stone ashlar and proudly stands on an ancient hill-fort (dating back to 800 bc) with spectacular unimpeded views as far as the Westbury Horse without another house in sight.
Following an exquisite and sympathetic restoration by the current owners the property has subsequently been meticulously looked after. All the rooms boast high ceilings and excellent proportions, with an array of characterful period features, including striking fireplaces, original styled radiators, fine cornicing, wide oak floorboards and elegant floor to ceiling windows with original shutters. Many of these interesting period features, especially the fireplaces, have been carefully sourced throughout Europe to be in keeping with its original era and Italian style. Included in the restoration is an outstanding Bath stone orangery extension which was expertly created by the proclaimed Bath architect Simon Morray-Jones and perfectly merges with the original house. Coupled by the overall traditional charm, the house benefits from modern technologies such as an inbuilt sound system and dimmer lighting.
<B>Coach House, Cottage and Outbuildings</b> Wadbury House has an abundance of ancillary accommodation including cottages that lend themselves to additional accommodation for house guests, staff, extended family or letting opportunities. This includes an incredibly attractive stone coach house, situated across the court yard from the main house. The coach house has been beautifully converted and is segregated into two parts. The part closest to the main house, which incorporates the original coach doors as windows, has an entrance hall, cloakroom, sitting room, kitchen, one en suite bedroom and a further three bedrooms, bathroom, shower room and garden, which is accessed via stone stairs from the first floor. One of these bedrooms is currently used as an additional sitting room. The second part of the coach house has two en suite bedrooms, one with a dressing room, sitting room and a pretty enclosed section of the court yard.
There are some lovely converted stables, within the court yard which have two en suite bedrooms. One with a showroom and the other with a bathroom and kitchenette within the bedroom. Also accessed via the courtyard is the one bedroom annexe, attached to the house, which has a separate sitting room and kitchen, plus views of the parkland and land beyond. By the drive entrance is a stone gatehouse, called Wadbury Lodge, which has a porch, two bedrooms, shower room, sitting room, separate kitchen and garden.
Halfway along the drive is Wadbury Fort which is a cottage with three bedrooms, one bathroom, WC, living room, sitting room, kitchen, two conservatories and garden.
In addition to the ancillary accommodation, there is a large agriculture barn and further outbuildings. The agricultural barn, subject to planning, would lend itself well to converting into further accommodation, spa or indoor riding school.
<B>Gardens and Grounds</b>The beautiful gardens and grounds extend to approximately 37 acres providing complete rural isolation and perfectly complements the scale of the house.
Immediately surrounding the house is an attractive stone terrace, which adjoins the orangery and incorporates the swimming pool, creating the perfect space for summer entertaining. Terraced lawns supported by stone walls extend down to a stunning Italian garden. In keeping with the Italian style, this garden has symmetrical borders with a central stone pond and ornate fountain, while English plants have been purposefully planted to produce maximum colour.
The formal garden and terrace are protected by woodland to the south and west and have open views to the east overlooking a wild flower meadow and beyond to the Westbury Horse. There are a wonderful collection of mature trees and shrubs throughout the grounds including a monkey puzzle, climbing wisteria and a splendid Italian beech tree in the turning circle to the front of the house. Since the Italian beech was replanted in English soil, in the Victorian era, it has slowly metamorphosed to produce English as well as Italian leaves.
A charming court yard, dotted with colourful herbaceous borders, connects the coach house and converted stables and leads to a walled kitchen garden. A door within the wall reveals a substantial original walled garden, currently laid to grass, with old stables.
The land beyond comprises handsome parkland, mown with inviting grass paths, pastureland and mixed woodland. All of this affording a rural lifestyle of grazing animals and countryside walks within your own boundaries. The cur
Location
Wadbury House is situated in a stunning prime rural location surrounded by its own land to the east of Mells, the highly popular and pretty estate village. Wadbury House is approximately 2.5 miles from the exclusive Babington House Country Club. Mells is a quintessential Somerset village surrounded by breath-taking rolling countryside. Village amenities include the church, shop, café, post office, school and renowned public house. The pleasing variety of mellow stone properties complement one another and provide a much sought-after setting in which to live. The nearby towns of Frome and Wells meet all day-to-day needs and the cities of Bath and Bristol offer extensive leisure, educational and cultural facilities.
There are a good selection of state and independent schools in the area, including Downside, Millfield, All Hallows and Sherborne schools for both boys and girls.
There are good recreational facilities in the area with private fishing on a short stretch of the Mells Stream in Wadbury Valley and there are well-stocked local lakes. There is rugby in Bath and a golf course at Orchardleigh nearby. There are a variety of footpaths and bridleways within easy reach of the property allowing access to the beautiful surrounding countryside.
Bath is approximately 15 miles to the north. The World Heritage city is famed for its Roman heritage and Georgian architecture and offers a wide variety of educational, cultural, leisure, sports and shopping facilities along with a mainline rail link to London Paddington and Bristol Temple Meads.
Square Footage: 10,737 sq ft
Acreage:
37 Acres
Directions
From the east, leave the village of Great Elm on the road to Mells. From the national speed limit sign, you will pass a house on your left and the gates to Wadbury House will be on your left. From the west, leave the village of Mells on the road to Great Elm. You will drive up a hill and the gates to Wadbury House will be on your right.
Additional Info
Wadbury House is built within the old fortification of an ancient promontory fort called Wadbury Camp that protected the mining district of the Mendip Hills in pre-Roman times. It is thought to have been an outwork of the larger Tedbury Camp and dates back to between 800 bc and 43 ad.
On the southern boundary of Wadbury House are the ruins of an old iron works, Fussell’s Iron Works, which mainly produced agricultural edge-tools that were exported all over the world and are now of major importance in relation to industrial archaeology. Many of the old photographs, diagrams, plans and tools are now exhibited at Frome Museum.
Description
Wadbury House is a magnificent example of a grand Palladian villa build in 1840 by the prominent Victorian architect James Wilson. This remarkably handsome house is built of Bath stone ashlar and proudly stands on an ancient hill-fort (dating back to 800 bc) with spectacular unimpeded views as far as the Westbury Horse without another house in sight.
Following an exquisite and sympathetic restoration by the current owners the property has subsequently been meticulously looked after. All the rooms boast high ceilings and excellent proportions, with an array of characterful period features, including striking fireplaces, original styled radiators, fine cornicing, wide oak floorboards and elegant floor to ceiling windows with original shutters. Many of these interesting period features, especially the fireplaces, have been carefully sourced throughout Europe to be in keeping with its original era and Italian style. Included in the restoration is an outstanding Bath stone orangery extension which was expertly created by the proclaimed Bath architect Simon Morray-Jones and perfectly merges with the original house. Coupled by the overall traditional charm, the house benefits from modern technologies such as an inbuilt sound system and dimmer lighting.
<B>Coach House, Cottage and Outbuildings</b> Wadbury House has an abundance of ancillary accommodation including cottages that lend themselves to additional accommodation for house guests, staff, extended family or letting opportunities. This includes an incredibly attractive stone coach house, situated across the court yard from the main house. The coach house has been beautifully converted and is segregated into two parts. The part closest to the main house, which incorporates the original coach doors as windows, has an entrance hall, cloakroom, sitting room, kitchen, one en suite bedroom and a further three bedrooms, bathroom, shower room and garden, which is accessed via stone stairs from the first floor. One of these bedrooms is currently used as an additional sitting room. The second part of the coach house has two en suite bedrooms, one with a dressing room, sitting room and a pretty enclosed section of the court yard.
There are some lovely converted stables, within the court yard which have two en suite bedrooms. One with a showroom and the other with a bathroom and kitchenette within the bedroom. Also accessed via the courtyard is the one bedroom annexe, attached to the house, which has a separate sitting room and kitchen, plus views of the parkland and land beyond. By the drive entrance is a stone gatehouse, called Wadbury Lodge, which has a porch, two bedrooms, shower room, sitting room, separate kitchen and garden.
Halfway along the drive is Wadbury Fort which is a cottage with three bedrooms, one bathroom, WC, living room, sitting room, kitchen, two conservatories and garden.
In addition to the ancillary accommodation, there is a large agriculture barn and further outbuildings. The agricultural barn, subject to planning, would lend itself well to converting into further accommodation, spa or indoor riding school.
<B>Gardens and Grounds</b>The beautiful gardens and grounds extend to approximately 37 acres providing complete rural isolation and perfectly complements the scale of the house.
Immediately surrounding the house is an attractive stone terrace, which adjoins the orangery and incorporates the swimming pool, creating the perfect space for summer entertaining. Terraced lawns supported by stone walls extend down to a stunning Italian garden. In keeping with the Italian style, this garden has symmetrical borders with a central stone pond and ornate fountain, while English plants have been purposefully planted to produce maximum colour.
The formal garden and terrace are protected by woodland to the south and west and have open views to the east overlooking a wild flower meadow and beyond to the Westbury Horse. There are a wonderful collection of mature trees and shrubs throughout the grounds including a monkey puzzle, climbing wisteria and a splendid Italian beech tree in the turning circle to the front of the house. Since the Italian beech was replanted in English soil, in the Victorian era, it has slowly metamorphosed to produce English as well as Italian leaves.
A charming court yard, dotted with colourful herbaceous borders, connects the coach house and converted stables and leads to a walled kitchen garden. A door within the wall reveals a substantial original walled garden, currently laid to grass, with old stables.
The land beyond comprises handsome parkland, mown with inviting grass paths, pastureland and mixed woodland. All of this affording a rural lifestyle of grazing animals and countryside walks within your own boundaries. The cur
Location
Wadbury House is situated in a stunning prime rural location surrounded by its own land to the east of Mells, the highly popular and pretty estate village. Wadbury House is approximately 2.5 miles from the exclusive Babington House Country Club. Mells is a quintessential Somerset village surrounded by breath-taking rolling countryside. Village amenities include the church, shop, café, post office, school and renowned public house. The pleasing variety of mellow stone properties complement one another and provide a much sought-after setting in which to live. The nearby towns of Frome and Wells meet all day-to-day needs and the cities of Bath and Bristol offer extensive leisure, educational and cultural facilities.
There are a good selection of state and independent schools in the area, including Downside, Millfield, All Hallows and Sherborne schools for both boys and girls.
There are good recreational facilities in the area with private fishing on a short stretch of the Mells Stream in Wadbury Valley and there are well-stocked local lakes. There is rugby in Bath and a golf course at Orchardleigh nearby. There are a variety of footpaths and bridleways within easy reach of the property allowing access to the beautiful surrounding countryside.
Bath is approximately 15 miles to the north. The World Heritage city is famed for its Roman heritage and Georgian architecture and offers a wide variety of educational, cultural, leisure, sports and shopping facilities along with a mainline rail link to London Paddington and Bristol Temple Meads.
Square Footage: 10,737 sq ft
Acreage:
37 Acres
Directions
From the east, leave the village of Great Elm on the road to Mells. From the national speed limit sign, you will pass a house on your left and the gates to Wadbury House will be on your left. From the west, leave the village of Mells on the road to Great Elm. You will drive up a hill and the gates to Wadbury House will be on your right.
Additional Info
Wadbury House is built within the old fortification of an ancient promontory fort called Wadbury Camp that protected the mining district of the Mendip Hills in pre-Roman times. It is thought to have been an outwork of the larger Tedbury Camp and dates back to between 800 bc and 43 ad.
On the southern boundary of Wadbury House are the ruins of an old iron works, Fussell’s Iron Works, which mainly produced agricultural edge-tools that were exported all over the world and are now of major importance in relation to industrial archaeology. Many of the old photographs, diagrams, plans and tools are now exhibited at Frome Museum.
