Ilmer House

History and Heritage

There has been a manor on the site since before the conquest when the land belonged to Earl Leofwin. In 1086 it had passed to the ownership of Bishop Odo of Bayeux, the brother of William the Conquerer. The Domesday Book mentions a moat, a remnant of which remains as the lake in the grounds of Ilmer House. In the 12th century the manor was in possession of the family of Rumenel who held the office of marshal and keeper of the king's hawks and other birds and this role came to be the serjeanty connected with the manor. In 1338 Sir John De Moleyns petitioned the king for a grant of the office with the fees and wages, asserting that it was parcel of the manor and this was granted “because the manor is said to have been held by such service” In 1610 Sir Robert Dormer received a confirmation of the serjeanty. After Sir Richard the manor passed to the Earls of Carnarvon and Chesterfield, being held by the latter until the 19th century.

History cont'd

The property is situated next to the Grade II* listed Church of St Peter which is one of the oldest churches in the Oxford diocese and was originally built by Bishop Odo in Norman times, rebuilt in the 14th century, and restored in 1860. One of the features of the church, the angels carved in oak, dating from 18th century, are dedicated to the memory of Robert H. Attenborough, (1880-1968) who lived at Ilmer House.
The current house dates back from the 20th century and is Edwardian in style with a pillared colonnade with a balcony over, spanning the front and side of the house. It retains period features including ornate coving, dado and picture rails and fireplaces which have been combined with modern amenities including contemporary sanitaryware in the bath and shower rooms.

Ground Floor

Access from the front is via an Orangery which was created by glazing part of the Edwardian portico. It has a quarry tiled floor and space for seating. Doors lead to the spacious reception hall which has stairs up to the galleried landing on the first floor with a walk-in understairs cupboard, as well as a built-in cupboard for coats and shoes. The rear door leads into a rear hall/boot room which has access to the utility room and the kitchen/breakfast room.

Reception Rooms

The formal dining room has parquet flooring, and an impressive inglenook fireplace which has two built-in seats, a brick open fireplace, and built-in shelved cupboards either side. There is a bay window and French doors to a walled rose garden at the side of the house. The drawing room has dado and picture rails, dual aspect bay windows with views over the gardens, and an ornate fireplace with a built-in cupboard and display shelves in one of the chimney recesses. The drawing room also has original radiator covers with brass grills. The morning room also has dado and picture rails, and has a bay window with a door to the front under the portico. There is a window seat in the bay with views over the garden and countryside beyond. An Adam style fireplace has display shelving in the alcoves on either side. The study also has a bay window to the front overlooking the grounds, and built-in shelving. There is also a screen which monitors the security system which includes infra (truncated)

Gym and Cellars

This room was originally the kitchen and still retains a cast iron range, and built-in cupboards. It measures over 24 ft and is currently used as a gym but could be used as a games room if preferred.
A door leads to stairs down to the fully tanked cellar which is divided into two rooms which both have windows, shelves and built-in cupboards for storage. The original game hooks are still in place from when this was used as a larder/pantry for the kitchen above.

Kitchen/Breakfast Room

The kitchen/breakfast room has three windows overlooking the drive and was originally used as a games room. It is fitted in a comprehensive range of wooden wall and base units, including glazed display cabinets, pan drawers and pull out baskets, with complementary work surfaces incorporating a one and a half bowl sink and drainer. Appliances include a two oven oil fired Aga, a separate electric hob, an integrated dishwasher and fridge and two eye level Bosch ovens. There is space for a breakfast table and chairs.

Utility Room

This room was originally the butler’s serving pantry. It has additional storage, and space and plumbing for two fridge/freezers, a washing machine and a tumble dryer.

First Floor

The stairs from the reception hall split at a half landing and then lead up to two separate landing areas. The landing to the west has French doors to a balcony which is over the portico and extends the full width of the property as well as continuing around one side. The balcony has space for seating and panoramic views to the south east over the gardens, paddocks and countryside beyond towards the Chilterns.

Principal Bedroom Suite

The principal bedroom has windows to the front with views towards the Chiltern Hills. The suite includes two dressing rooms both of which have built-in wardrobes. One of the dressing rooms has a door to the landing and the other has a door to the fully tiled en suite which has a bath, a vanity washbasin and a WC.

Other Bedrooms and Bathrooms

There are two further double bedrooms and a single bedroom off the West landing, all with views to the rear including the Grade II* listed village church. The two double bedrooms have vanity washbasins and there is also a fully tiled bathroom which has a bath, a double shower cubicle, a vanity washbasin, a WC and an airing cupboard.
The east landing can also be accessed via a secondary staircase near the study on the ground floor. There is an airing cupboard, a further built-in cupboard and access to the former servants’ wing which could be used as a separate annexe.
There is a double bedroom with a range of built-in furniture, a window to the rear, and a fully tiled en suite which has a bath, a separate shower with a rainwater showerhead, a WC, bidet and vanity washbasin. Two further double bedrooms both have built-in wardrobes and vanity washbasins and share a shower room which is fully tiled and has a walk-in shower with rainwater showerhead, a vanity washbasin, a WC (truncated)

Ancillary Accommodation

The ancillary accommodation comprises a two bedroom cottage with its own entrance but can also be accessed from ground and first floors therefore making it ideal accommodation for staff. The entrance is from the drive at the side and leads into a hall which has stairs to the first floor with an understairs cupboard. There is a modern kitchen with fitted base and wall units and integrated appliances, a cloakroom, and a sitting room which has a fireplace and built-in cupboards. On the first floor there are two bedrooms, both with washbasins, and a fully tiled modern bathroom which has a bath, a separate shower, a vanity washbasin and a WC. A built-in cupboard houses the new pressurised hot water system.

Gardens and Grounds

The property has a plot of approximately 11.66 acres of gardens and grounds which are accessed by two separate gates. One gate leads to a gravelled, tree lined drive which leads to a parking area at the front of the house. The other electric gate is at the rear of the property just beyond the church and leads to a long, block paved driveway which has access to the double and triple garages and ends in an extensive parking area with a turning circle and steps up to a raised terrace leading to the rear entrance door.

Formal Gardens

The formal gardens include the secluded rose garden at the side of the property which is enclosed by walls and hedges and has beds with established roses and flowering shrubs. The south east facing lawned gardens in front of the property lead down to the lake which includes an island which can be accessed via a bridge. There is also a small landscaped stream, powered by a pump, with a small bridge crossing it. There are established shrub beds, clipped hedges and gravel pathways. Numerous mature trees are interspersed throughout the grounds, including sycamore and lime trees, and there are two orchard areas with apple and pear trees. The garden has several taps.

Tennis Court and Swimming Pool

The tennis court and swimming pool are both accessed via the formal gardens. The tennis court is surrounded by chain link fencing and is sheltered by hedges. The swimming pool measures 32 by 16 ft., and is surrounded by a paved terrace for outside dining and entertaining. It is screened from the house by tall trees and hedges, but has open across the property’s paddock land and the countryside beyond towards the Chilterns. There is a large pool house which has changing facilities and a shower.

Outbuildings

A branch off the front drive leads to a gravelled parking area with gated access to the property’s paddock land, and two outbuildings for garden machinery and storage. Beyond the tennis court there is also a further outbuilding which has power and light and comprises workshops and store sheds, and a greenhouse which has raised beds, a water trough and a tap. There is a gardener’s cloakroom at the rear of the house.
The property also has two separate detached garages, accessed off the rear drive. The double garage has electric doors, power and light, and a first floor store accessed via a pull down ladder. The triple garage also has power and light, automated doors and a first floor store. There is also a store room and a workshop at the rear.

Outbuildings cont'd

At the rear of the property is a plant room which houses the oil fired boilers, oil tanks and three pumps. There is 3 phase electricity and a diesel generator which activates automatically in the event of a power cut. An electric car charger is fitted near the rear parking area.

Situation and Schooling

Ilmer is approached via a quiet no through road, is surrounded by open countryside and is in the centre of a network of footpaths and bridlepaths connecting to Longwick, Owlswick, Horsenden, Towersey and Bledlow. Most of the village is within a conservation area centred on the church of St. Peter. The village is situated between the market towns of Princes Risborough and Thame so the rural tranquillity is combined with the convenience of being only 3.4 miles from Princes Risborough which has a variety of shops, supermarkets, boutiques, restaurants, GP and dental surgeries, a sports centre and a railway station with services to Marylebone, Oxford and Birmingham. The M40 is only about 15 minutes’ drive away for access to London and the Midlands.

There is schooling for all ages and the property is in catchment for grammar schools in Aylesbury.