6 bed Flat For Sale £3,950,000
The principal apartment of one of the finest and most acclaimed Palladian mansions in Great Britain, and the largest in Wiltshire.
Description
The principal apartment of one of the finest Palladian mansions in the country and reputedly the largest house in Wiltshire. Comprising over 23,000 sq ft of accommodation on the ground and first floors, including most of the state rooms of the Castle and the magnificent 60ft central Rotunda. The apartment has unimpeded views across the Estate to the Nadder Valley and unspoilt Wiltshire countryside. Initially converted in 2000 under the supervision of world renowned minimalist architects, John Pawson, the property is now a home of unparalleled distinction.
The Central Hall or Rotunda
The Central Hall or Rotunda is approached from the entrance hall via an ante-hall with display niches and archway. The Rotunda, which is circular with a diameter of about 45ft, rises about 60ft to a magnificent skylit dome supported on eight composite columns. Twin cantilevered staircases with graceful balustrades rise from the ground floor to a circular gallery on the first floor or piano nobile, which provides access via a slightly curved and panelled doors to the principal state rooms. Around the side of the Gallery are six beautifully decorated coffered apses or deep niches. The north niche has coupled demi-columns and the south niche has Ionic columns with a straight entablature. The west niche incorporates a rare chamber organ which was installed by the 8th Lord Arundell in circa 1894.
First Floor
One of two Dining Rooms, approached via a doorway flanked on both sides by Doric pilasters and surmounted by an entablature with decorated plaster work above incorporating the Arundell coat of arms. The principal feature of this room is the magnificent ceiling with Lunettes and spandrels intricately decorated with long foliage scrolls, trophies and arabesques in stucco. Within the centre of the oval ceiling design there is a beautiful painting being a copy of Guido Renis’ ‘Aurora” by Pompeio Battoni. There is also a fine marble fireplace incorporating a carved figure and flanked by marble columns with a cast iron grate and marble hearth.
The White Room has cornices incorporating vase and flower patterns glided entablature over the doors and a marble fireplace with intricate floral patterns and sculptured figures with a cast iron gate. Interconnecting double doors to:-
The Saloon, the largest state room with a Venetian window having views towards the ruins of Old Wardour Castle. Coved ceiling with elaborate gilded and painted cornicing. Doorways and windows with entablatures over.
The Great Dining Room with Doric pilasters and an entablature and pediment over incorporates the Arundell coat of arms. High barrel-vaulted ceiling with cornice. Venetian window overlooking the forecourt and north garden. Marble fireplace with sculptured figures on marble slips and cast iron gates.
Interconnecting door to:- Master Bedroom, approached from the Rotunda via a curving passageway with two sets of doors. Marble fireplace with sculptured designs and inlaid slips with a cast iron gate. Decorative cornice and fiexe. Entablatures over doors.
Guest Bedroom, with a high ceiling and fine cornice. Marble fireplace with raised fire basked with bath, WC and basin.
Private Sitting Room or further Bedroom, with a fine cornice. Marble fireplace with sculptured pastoral scene and raised cast iron basked with en-suite, entered via two pairs of mahogany doors. The former Boudoir is probably one of the most attractive rooms in Wardour Castle. The east end of the room is curved and has a pair of glazed and convex part coffered niches. The ceiling was originally designed by Sir John Soane and comprises a series of three linked oval glided classic designs and a gilded and painted cornice. The fireplace is made of fleur de peche marble, inlaid with lapis and oynx, and is one of the most attractive fireplaces in the Castle. Opposite the fireplace is an arched recess with raised gilded leaf decorative entablatures over the doors.
Ground Floor
Leading off from either side of the Ante Hall of the Rotunda is a limestone floored circular Hallway running the circumference of the Rotunda and providing independent access to all of the main rooms on the ground floor. A Garden Room, with four display niches and French doors leads out onto south lawns. Kitchen/Breakfast Room, with French doors leading onto west lawns. An Office/Library has been used as a screening room. There are four further bedrooms with four further bathrooms (3 en-suite). The gym has a vaulted ceiling and stone bolection fireplace and is accessed both off the east circular hallway and directly from the main communal entrance hall.
Square Footage: 23,185 sq ft
Leasehold with approximately 968 years remaining.
Acreage: 5 Acres
Directions
Directions (SP3 6RH)
From London: Take M3 motorway and proceed in a south-westerly direction. Leave the motorway at junction 8 taking the A303 to the south-west and Andover. Continue on the A303 pass Andover and Stonehenge. About 9 ½ miles after passing through the village of Winterbourne Stoke, take a left turn (at the bottom of a long dual carriageway) signposted Fonthill Bishop/Hindon/Tisbury.
Continue on this road to Fonthill Bishop and at the t-junction by a telephone box, turn right signposted Tisbury/Mere/Hindon. Shortly afterwards, take a left turn after a Post Office, which goes through a magnificent stone archway. After approximately 1 mile, turn left at the crossroads adjacent to the Beckford arms pub, signposted to Tisbury. On leaving Tisbury, passing the railway station on the left and proceeding under the railway bridge, take the first right turn signposted Old Wardour Castle )there is a farm on the left 150m after turning).
Continue along this road for approximately 1.5 miles ignoring the small turning left signposted to Old Wardour Castle (which is a ruin open to the public) and continue on until you see the next turn left signposted Wardour Castle (there is a grass island here). Turn here and note the entrance goes straight ahead on the sharp left hand bend at the top of the hill.
The English Heritage signs to the left of the castle entrance are to Old Wardour Castle a mile or two further on. Drive up the tarmac surfaced drive to the mansion house, and press bell number 2.
There are a number of excellent private day and boarding schools for girls and boys within easy reach, including notably Marlborough, Sherborne Schools, Bryanston, Port Regis, Millfield, Downside and Claysmore.
Description
The principal apartment of one of the finest Palladian mansions in the country and reputedly the largest house in Wiltshire. Comprising over 23,000 sq ft of accommodation on the ground and first floors, including most of the state rooms of the Castle and the magnificent 60ft central Rotunda. The apartment has unimpeded views across the Estate to the Nadder Valley and unspoilt Wiltshire countryside. Initially converted in 2000 under the supervision of world renowned minimalist architects, John Pawson, the property is now a home of unparalleled distinction.
The Central Hall or Rotunda
The Central Hall or Rotunda is approached from the entrance hall via an ante-hall with display niches and archway. The Rotunda, which is circular with a diameter of about 45ft, rises about 60ft to a magnificent skylit dome supported on eight composite columns. Twin cantilevered staircases with graceful balustrades rise from the ground floor to a circular gallery on the first floor or piano nobile, which provides access via a slightly curved and panelled doors to the principal state rooms. Around the side of the Gallery are six beautifully decorated coffered apses or deep niches. The north niche has coupled demi-columns and the south niche has Ionic columns with a straight entablature. The west niche incorporates a rare chamber organ which was installed by the 8th Lord Arundell in circa 1894.
First Floor
One of two Dining Rooms, approached via a doorway flanked on both sides by Doric pilasters and surmounted by an entablature with decorated plaster work above incorporating the Arundell coat of arms. The principal feature of this room is the magnificent ceiling with Lunettes and spandrels intricately decorated with long foliage scrolls, trophies and arabesques in stucco. Within the centre of the oval ceiling design there is a beautiful painting being a copy of Guido Renis’ ‘Aurora” by Pompeio Battoni. There is also a fine marble fireplace incorporating a carved figure and flanked by marble columns with a cast iron grate and marble hearth.
The White Room has cornices incorporating vase and flower patterns glided entablature over the doors and a marble fireplace with intricate floral patterns and sculptured figures with a cast iron gate. Interconnecting double doors to:-
The Saloon, the largest state room with a Venetian window having views towards the ruins of Old Wardour Castle. Coved ceiling with elaborate gilded and painted cornicing. Doorways and windows with entablatures over.
The Great Dining Room with Doric pilasters and an entablature and pediment over incorporates the Arundell coat of arms. High barrel-vaulted ceiling with cornice. Venetian window overlooking the forecourt and north garden. Marble fireplace with sculptured figures on marble slips and cast iron gates.
Interconnecting door to:- Master Bedroom, approached from the Rotunda via a curving passageway with two sets of doors. Marble fireplace with sculptured designs and inlaid slips with a cast iron gate. Decorative cornice and fiexe. Entablatures over doors.
Guest Bedroom, with a high ceiling and fine cornice. Marble fireplace with raised fire basked with bath, WC and basin.
Private Sitting Room or further Bedroom, with a fine cornice. Marble fireplace with sculptured pastoral scene and raised cast iron basked with en-suite, entered via two pairs of mahogany doors. The former Boudoir is probably one of the most attractive rooms in Wardour Castle. The east end of the room is curved and has a pair of glazed and convex part coffered niches. The ceiling was originally designed by Sir John Soane and comprises a series of three linked oval glided classic designs and a gilded and painted cornice. The fireplace is made of fleur de peche marble, inlaid with lapis and oynx, and is one of the most attractive fireplaces in the Castle. Opposite the fireplace is an arched recess with raised gilded leaf decorative entablatures over the doors.
Ground Floor
Leading off from either side of the Ante Hall of the Rotunda is a limestone floored circular Hallway running the circumference of the Rotunda and providing independent access to all of the main rooms on the ground floor. A Garden Room, with four display niches and French doors leads out onto south lawns. Kitchen/Breakfast Room, with French doors leading onto west lawns. An Office/Library has been used as a screening room. There are four further bedrooms with four further bathrooms (3 en-suite). The gym has a vaulted ceiling and stone bolection fireplace and is accessed both off the east circular hallway and directly from the main communal entrance hall.
Square Footage: 23,185 sq ft
Leasehold with approximately 968 years remaining.
Acreage: 5 Acres
Directions
Directions (SP3 6RH)
From London: Take M3 motorway and proceed in a south-westerly direction. Leave the motorway at junction 8 taking the A303 to the south-west and Andover. Continue on the A303 pass Andover and Stonehenge. About 9 ½ miles after passing through the village of Winterbourne Stoke, take a left turn (at the bottom of a long dual carriageway) signposted Fonthill Bishop/Hindon/Tisbury.
Continue on this road to Fonthill Bishop and at the t-junction by a telephone box, turn right signposted Tisbury/Mere/Hindon. Shortly afterwards, take a left turn after a Post Office, which goes through a magnificent stone archway. After approximately 1 mile, turn left at the crossroads adjacent to the Beckford arms pub, signposted to Tisbury. On leaving Tisbury, passing the railway station on the left and proceeding under the railway bridge, take the first right turn signposted Old Wardour Castle )there is a farm on the left 150m after turning).
Continue along this road for approximately 1.5 miles ignoring the small turning left signposted to Old Wardour Castle (which is a ruin open to the public) and continue on until you see the next turn left signposted Wardour Castle (there is a grass island here). Turn here and note the entrance goes straight ahead on the sharp left hand bend at the top of the hill.
The English Heritage signs to the left of the castle entrance are to Old Wardour Castle a mile or two further on. Drive up the tarmac surfaced drive to the mansion house, and press bell number 2.
There are a number of excellent private day and boarding schools for girls and boys within easy reach, including notably Marlborough, Sherborne Schools, Bryanston, Port Regis, Millfield, Downside and Claysmore.
