House For Sale £4,950,000
Sedgehill Manor is a historic and substantial country home with a rich history, comprising over 12,000 square feet of internal accommodation, with a wealth of period features, sash and leaded windows and an enviable elevated position within extensive landscaped grounds. The property is surprisingly unlisted. An imposing oaken door beneath a carved motto leads into the impressive reception hall, with its striking central fireplace and its fine surround. The drawing room has a carved oak fireplace and doors onto the sunny south-facing terrace. The library has a large leaded bay window which catches the sunset over the western hills. The 40-foot lavish dining room, with its six sets of arched double doors streaming warm natural light into the space, offers access to the croquet lawn and garden. The study has a door to the evening terrace, and cupboards for the TV, computer and filing. The kitchen, with a cobalt aga cooker has ample space for informal dining and leads to the terrace. Beyond is a walk-in larder and pantry cupboard. There is also a playroom and boot room by the back door.
The gracious wide oak staircase is a notable feature of the property. From the landing, three doors lead to the principal suite, the guest wing, and the family wing, each of which can be shut off when not in use. The principal suite has a working fireplace and five windows looking over the pastures of the Vale to the Wessex Heights. The en-suite bathroom has large hanging and clothes cupboards; bath and basins are positioned to allow enjoyment of the extensive views. The guest wing has two bathrooms (one Jack and Jill), a loo and three large and light bedrooms. One of these is circular with a high domed ceiling of intricate plasterwork. This was designed in the 1890s by Lady Agnes Grove as her morning room. Thomas Hardy called her his ‘good little pupil’, and here she would write her books and discuss improvements with him. Stairs from the curved passage lead up to the attic room. The family wing has three bedrooms and a bathroom. Beyond this is the convenient upstairs laundry room with large fitted cupboards. Finally there are the two rooms and bathroom of the flat, which can also be separately accessed from the back staircase.
The two-storey stable cottage can be entered from the back gate. It comprises a boot room with doors opening onto a characterful sitting room with a corner feature fireplace and stairs to the first floor. A kitchen/dining room sits adjacent, offering plenty of space for formal dining. There is a ground floor bedroom and bathroom. Upstairs, are two further bedrooms and a bathroom. The cottage has its own, entirely private, garden. The pretty cobbled stable yard has three stables, a playroom, three garages, a store room and a garden shed. There is a long wooden workshop and a boiler room.
Sedgehill Manor is in a picturesque quiet setting about two miles from the villages of Semley and Motcombe, which provide a delicatessen, village shop, public house, post office and church. Nearby Shaftesbury offers a comprehensive selection of amenities, including High Street and boutique shopping, a delicatessen, supermarkets, numerous restaurants and cafés, a health centre, hospital, library and arts centre. Gillingham also offers a wide range of shopping including a Waitrose, together with recreational and leisure facilities and a mainline station with regular services to London Waterloo. The Cathedral city of Salisbury is within easy reach, with the A303 providing excellent communication links to the national motorway network, London and the West Country. The area offers a wide range of notable independent schools, including Port Regis, Sandroyd, Hazelgrove, Handford, Clayesmore, Bryanston, Leweston, Godolphin, Kings Bruton, Sherborne and Downside.
The approach to the Manor is dramatic and delightful via a curving tree-lined driveway, with pastoral views, leading to the wrought-iron pillared gates, the gravelled square and the handsome frontage. The large garden encircles this elevated home. There are two terraces, a breakfast garden, a herb garden overlooked by a giant tree house and a croquet lawn leading to the sunken swimming pool sheltered by rose covered banks. There is an orchard, a tranquil pond, full-sized tennis court, greenhouses and a large vegetable garden. Wide spreading trees ensure there is always shelter from the summer sun.
The land includes a pony paddock with access from the drive, and Hayes Copse, an ancient woodland of oak and ash with hazel underwood. It provides the firewood for the house, and its oaks provided the pool diving board and tables about the garden. In the spring it is a thick carpet of Bluebells, white wood anemones, star of Bethlehem and early purple orchids.
In total the acreage extends to approximately 55.76 acres. This land is formed of a mix of formal gardens, pasture land and woodland. Lot 2 provides 14.4 acres of pasture land to the north of the house whilst Lot 3 lies to the south; this parcel is formed of 12.06 acres (9.94 acres of pasture land and 2.1 acres of woodland). Lot 4 is formed of 13.4 acres as a mix of woodland and pasture land and has good road access.
The gracious wide oak staircase is a notable feature of the property. From the landing, three doors lead to the principal suite, the guest wing, and the family wing, each of which can be shut off when not in use. The principal suite has a working fireplace and five windows looking over the pastures of the Vale to the Wessex Heights. The en-suite bathroom has large hanging and clothes cupboards; bath and basins are positioned to allow enjoyment of the extensive views. The guest wing has two bathrooms (one Jack and Jill), a loo and three large and light bedrooms. One of these is circular with a high domed ceiling of intricate plasterwork. This was designed in the 1890s by Lady Agnes Grove as her morning room. Thomas Hardy called her his ‘good little pupil’, and here she would write her books and discuss improvements with him. Stairs from the curved passage lead up to the attic room. The family wing has three bedrooms and a bathroom. Beyond this is the convenient upstairs laundry room with large fitted cupboards. Finally there are the two rooms and bathroom of the flat, which can also be separately accessed from the back staircase.
The two-storey stable cottage can be entered from the back gate. It comprises a boot room with doors opening onto a characterful sitting room with a corner feature fireplace and stairs to the first floor. A kitchen/dining room sits adjacent, offering plenty of space for formal dining. There is a ground floor bedroom and bathroom. Upstairs, are two further bedrooms and a bathroom. The cottage has its own, entirely private, garden. The pretty cobbled stable yard has three stables, a playroom, three garages, a store room and a garden shed. There is a long wooden workshop and a boiler room.
Sedgehill Manor is in a picturesque quiet setting about two miles from the villages of Semley and Motcombe, which provide a delicatessen, village shop, public house, post office and church. Nearby Shaftesbury offers a comprehensive selection of amenities, including High Street and boutique shopping, a delicatessen, supermarkets, numerous restaurants and cafés, a health centre, hospital, library and arts centre. Gillingham also offers a wide range of shopping including a Waitrose, together with recreational and leisure facilities and a mainline station with regular services to London Waterloo. The Cathedral city of Salisbury is within easy reach, with the A303 providing excellent communication links to the national motorway network, London and the West Country. The area offers a wide range of notable independent schools, including Port Regis, Sandroyd, Hazelgrove, Handford, Clayesmore, Bryanston, Leweston, Godolphin, Kings Bruton, Sherborne and Downside.
The approach to the Manor is dramatic and delightful via a curving tree-lined driveway, with pastoral views, leading to the wrought-iron pillared gates, the gravelled square and the handsome frontage. The large garden encircles this elevated home. There are two terraces, a breakfast garden, a herb garden overlooked by a giant tree house and a croquet lawn leading to the sunken swimming pool sheltered by rose covered banks. There is an orchard, a tranquil pond, full-sized tennis court, greenhouses and a large vegetable garden. Wide spreading trees ensure there is always shelter from the summer sun.
The land includes a pony paddock with access from the drive, and Hayes Copse, an ancient woodland of oak and ash with hazel underwood. It provides the firewood for the house, and its oaks provided the pool diving board and tables about the garden. In the spring it is a thick carpet of Bluebells, white wood anemones, star of Bethlehem and early purple orchids.
In total the acreage extends to approximately 55.76 acres. This land is formed of a mix of formal gardens, pasture land and woodland. Lot 2 provides 14.4 acres of pasture land to the north of the house whilst Lot 3 lies to the south; this parcel is formed of 12.06 acres (9.94 acres of pasture land and 2.1 acres of woodland). Lot 4 is formed of 13.4 acres as a mix of woodland and pasture land and has good road access.
