House For Sale £4,600,000
Listed Grade II* being of architectural and historic interest, Rivenhall Place has Tudor origins clearly seen in the magnificent chimneys. The house has evolved over the years, most notably in the 18th Century alterations advised by Humphry Repton creating the perfect symmetry of the white stuccoed front elevation.
Internally the house combines elegant, light and spacious reception rooms with comfortable bedroom accommodation on the first and second floors. In recent years the house has undergone an extensive refurbishment programme including a new bespoke kitchen by Yeo Deign with a unique sculpted style and clean lines and full length sash windows opening onto the south facing garden terrace. The Great Hall with its striking sense of light and space as you enter the house has double doors opening into the beautifully proportioned drawing room which itself is centred on a magnificent hand carved fireplace with a woodburning stove. The house is a very manageable family home combining today’s modern living standards with a deep sense of history. The ground floor reception areas have a comfortable flow whilst each of the principal bedrooms on the first floor enjoy very special views over the Repton landscape.
Adjoining the principal house is the three bedroom cottage which is currently let on Air BnB providing a useful income but could readily be incorporated into the house to give additional accommodation.
Historical Note
Early records suggest that the grounds of Rivenhall Place were part of a hunting park owned by Edith of Wessex, Queen of England from 1045 – 1066 after marrying Edward the Confessor. From the 13th century the property was owned by the Scales family until Thomas, Lord Scales was killed attempting to hold London for Henry VI. His daughter Elizabeth
inherited and married Anthony Woodville, Earl Rivers who was murdered by Richard III in order to seize the control of the Princes in the Tower and became king.
In 1590 the house was sold to Ralph Wiseman head of a catholic family and the priest’s hole can still be seen in the fireplace in the Great Hall. After three generations the Wiseman family sold the house to the Western family who renamed it Rivenhall Place. Thomas Western supplied timber to King Charles II’s navy and the secondary staircase winds round a ship’s mast.
Many famous visitors have been entertained at Rivenhall Place including the artists Hogarth, Constable and Landseer. In 1738 Hogarth painted the Western family in the Great Hall, a picture which is now displayed in the National Gallery of Ireland. Humphry Repton took on Rivenhall Place as his first commission in Essex in 1789 and added the second lake including the bridge whilst advising on the transformation of the house into the Georgian style.
Anthony Trollope, the celebrated author was a regular visitor to Rivenhall Place where he stayed for long periods during the hunting season. His host, Thomas Western MP featured in cameos in his novels and sketches usually referred to as ‘the old squire’.
The gardens and grounds provide a tranquil yet mature setting for the house. Designed by the pre-eminent landscape architect Sir Humphry Repton with more recent embellishments. To the south a paved terrace is shaded by a magnificent Cedar of Lebanon and enjoys views over the formal gardens and lawns sweeping gently down to the first of the two lakes. Concealed by mature yew hedges is the swimming pool with separate Jacuzzi, hot tub and well fitted pool house.
Rivenhall Place lies in the heart of 68 acres of mature rolling parkland designed by Sir Humphry Repton overlooking the twin lakes. Local amenities are available within one mile at Silver End where there is a doctors surgery, pharmacy, library, post office and small supermarket whilst nearby Witham, just three miles south offers a shopping centre and choice of supermarkets. More comprehensive facilities are to be found in Chelmsford and Colchester both 12 miles distant where there is a choice of shopping in each town including a Waitrose and Sainsburys.
Fast and frequent trains leave Witham reaching London Liverpool Street in about 44 minutes whilst the A12 is within three miles linking directly with the M25 and national motorway network. National and international flights are available from Stansted which is 20.5 miles away.
There is a broad and highly regarded selection of schools in the district, including Felsted, ,New Hall (Chelmsford), St Mary’s and Holmwood Hall in Colchester. There are strongly performing Grammar Schools in both Chelmsford and Colchester.
The district offers a variety of recreational facilities including local golf courses at Braxted Park, Braintree Golf Club at Stisted, Burton Hall Golf and Country Club at Wickham Bishops and nearby Rivenhall Oaks Golf Club. There are a selection of marinas and sailing clubs notably at West Mersea and Tollesbury, whilst there is excellent walking and riding opportunities in the surrounding countryside
Internally the house combines elegant, light and spacious reception rooms with comfortable bedroom accommodation on the first and second floors. In recent years the house has undergone an extensive refurbishment programme including a new bespoke kitchen by Yeo Deign with a unique sculpted style and clean lines and full length sash windows opening onto the south facing garden terrace. The Great Hall with its striking sense of light and space as you enter the house has double doors opening into the beautifully proportioned drawing room which itself is centred on a magnificent hand carved fireplace with a woodburning stove. The house is a very manageable family home combining today’s modern living standards with a deep sense of history. The ground floor reception areas have a comfortable flow whilst each of the principal bedrooms on the first floor enjoy very special views over the Repton landscape.
Adjoining the principal house is the three bedroom cottage which is currently let on Air BnB providing a useful income but could readily be incorporated into the house to give additional accommodation.
Historical Note
Early records suggest that the grounds of Rivenhall Place were part of a hunting park owned by Edith of Wessex, Queen of England from 1045 – 1066 after marrying Edward the Confessor. From the 13th century the property was owned by the Scales family until Thomas, Lord Scales was killed attempting to hold London for Henry VI. His daughter Elizabeth
inherited and married Anthony Woodville, Earl Rivers who was murdered by Richard III in order to seize the control of the Princes in the Tower and became king.
In 1590 the house was sold to Ralph Wiseman head of a catholic family and the priest’s hole can still be seen in the fireplace in the Great Hall. After three generations the Wiseman family sold the house to the Western family who renamed it Rivenhall Place. Thomas Western supplied timber to King Charles II’s navy and the secondary staircase winds round a ship’s mast.
Many famous visitors have been entertained at Rivenhall Place including the artists Hogarth, Constable and Landseer. In 1738 Hogarth painted the Western family in the Great Hall, a picture which is now displayed in the National Gallery of Ireland. Humphry Repton took on Rivenhall Place as his first commission in Essex in 1789 and added the second lake including the bridge whilst advising on the transformation of the house into the Georgian style.
Anthony Trollope, the celebrated author was a regular visitor to Rivenhall Place where he stayed for long periods during the hunting season. His host, Thomas Western MP featured in cameos in his novels and sketches usually referred to as ‘the old squire’.
The gardens and grounds provide a tranquil yet mature setting for the house. Designed by the pre-eminent landscape architect Sir Humphry Repton with more recent embellishments. To the south a paved terrace is shaded by a magnificent Cedar of Lebanon and enjoys views over the formal gardens and lawns sweeping gently down to the first of the two lakes. Concealed by mature yew hedges is the swimming pool with separate Jacuzzi, hot tub and well fitted pool house.
Rivenhall Place lies in the heart of 68 acres of mature rolling parkland designed by Sir Humphry Repton overlooking the twin lakes. Local amenities are available within one mile at Silver End where there is a doctors surgery, pharmacy, library, post office and small supermarket whilst nearby Witham, just three miles south offers a shopping centre and choice of supermarkets. More comprehensive facilities are to be found in Chelmsford and Colchester both 12 miles distant where there is a choice of shopping in each town including a Waitrose and Sainsburys.
Fast and frequent trains leave Witham reaching London Liverpool Street in about 44 minutes whilst the A12 is within three miles linking directly with the M25 and national motorway network. National and international flights are available from Stansted which is 20.5 miles away.
There is a broad and highly regarded selection of schools in the district, including Felsted, ,New Hall (Chelmsford), St Mary’s and Holmwood Hall in Colchester. There are strongly performing Grammar Schools in both Chelmsford and Colchester.
The district offers a variety of recreational facilities including local golf courses at Braxted Park, Braintree Golf Club at Stisted, Burton Hall Golf and Country Club at Wickham Bishops and nearby Rivenhall Oaks Golf Club. There are a selection of marinas and sailing clubs notably at West Mersea and Tollesbury, whilst there is excellent walking and riding opportunities in the surrounding countryside
