7 bedroom house

An enchanting manor house with about 55 acres of pasture and woodland with further farm buildings.


Description

Vastern Manor was originally part of a large medieval estate called Great Park. It is reputed to have been used by Henry Vlll as his hunting lodge and a place to romance his mistress during his marriage to Catherine Parr. She owned the property until her death in 1547. The present manor is probably a fragment of the gatehouse of the primary manor.

Vastern Manor is an architecturally important house which retains all the period features expected of a 15th century manor house, although altered significantly in the 17th and 18th centuries. The stone and timber mullion transomed windows, splendid fireplaces,17th century oak panelling and doors all help create a charming home which has been little altered over the years. The front door opens into a Library Hall (the panelling is said to be the oldest in Wiltshire) with fireplace which then leads into the impressive Drawing Room having a 16th century fireplace with carved overmantle and arms of Englefield, owners at the time. Concealed staircase to wine cellar. The adjacent Dining Room is a wonderful entertaining room with secondary front door and served by a dumbwaiter from the kitchen. An inner hall gives access to the everyday Sitting Room, Cloakroom and Store Room. A secondary staircase rises to the upper ground floor level and Study, Boot Room, Larder, Pantry and Kitchen/Breakfast Room with 4 oven Aga. An outside door leads out to a garden terrace.

The main staircase rises from the side wing and off the landing are four bedrooms and three bathrooms, one being ensuite, together with a walk-in linen cupboard. A further three bedrooms are found on the second floor along with a bathroom.

OUTSIDE
A crooked shaped yew hedge flanks the drive which leads up to a gravelled parking area to the front of the house. Opposite is The Jack House (originally housed the stable boys and carriage horses) which provides ground floor storage and a first floor snooker room. The drive continues up to the Stables having original stable stalls below a first floor Staff Flat. Further Stabling is found close by. Across the drive is the Garaging, extensive stores , tack room and opening into an enclosed courtyard is the Farm Office which could be used as a further games room. Nearer to the house are a further range of Garden Stores, Workshops and Ancillary Buildings.

The gardens and grounds are a particular feature of the property and create a perfect setting for the house. Approached from the house is a colourful cottage style garden which leads through to a walled, box hedged garden with bay trees and to a kitchen garden with soft fruit trees. Indeed this part of the garden has a Mediterranean feel about it and on the opposite side of a garden wall there are further herbaceous border with lawn extending to the lower orchard, and to woodland adjoining the old canal. There is a higher orchard approached from the garden via a Clematis and Honeysuckle covered pergola.

On the opposite of the house is a less formal area of garden with a ‘Bowls Green’ adjacent to the former Dovecot which is attached to the estate office and garaging. The lawn is beside the hard tennis court which in turn overlooks the pony paddock. Mature trees are very evident throughout and help in breaking the grounds into distinct areas. The property also has the advantage of a secondary access via a back drive. The box and yew hedges replaced large a yew hedge (mentioned in Pevsner) along the road some of which remain.

A derelict cottage known as Vastern Farm Cottage and situated on the edge of the main property. The cottage previously benefitted from planning permission for alterations and extensions; planning reference 08/01263 (Wilts Council) and subject to planning consent a very comfortable and appealing property could be created.

There is a mature garden to the front and a substantial area of concrete and further buildings to the rear which were formerly a milking parlour and as a consequence provides further footprint and ample room for parking, garaging etc. The plot extends to 0.77 acres and access is via a separate drive from a council road.

The farmland at Vastern comprises an combination of attractive permanent grassland and mature deciduous woodland extending to about 49.05 acres in all. This includes about 43 acres of grassland and about 3 acres of woodland.

In addition to the land there is a farmyard which includes a clear span livestock building of modern construction with a concrete floor and apron which would be ideally suited to equestrian purposes (approx. 100’ x 45’) . Additionally there are a number of smaller ancillary buildings located close to this livestock building.

Location

Vastern Manor is found in the hamlet of Vastern which is about 1.2 miles from Royal Wotton Bassett Close to the Marlborough Downs, the area has extensive walking, riding and cycling opportunities. The Wiltshire Golf and Country Club provides a spa as well as an 18 meter swimming pool and a par 72 golf course. The Bowood Golf and Country Club is also nearby. Royal Wootton Bassett is less than 2 miles away provides for everyday requirements including a post office, supermarket, banks, solicitors and doctors surgeries. The ancient market town of Marlborough lies to the south and along with its boutique shops, antique dealers, art galleries and tea shops it is home to Marlborough College. Other popular schools in the area include St Mary’s Calne, Pinewood Preparatory School, Stonar School and the primary school at Broad Town.. Other sporting activities include motor racing at Castle Combe, horse racing at Bath and hunting with the Duke of Beaufort.

Communications are also excellent with Junction 16 of the M4 being 4 miles away and Swindon station a further three miles. Also a wide range of water sports are found at the Cotswold Water Park.

Square Footage: 4,912 sq ft




Acreage: 60.91 Acres

Directions

Directions from J16 of the M4 - follow the A3102 through Royal
Wootton Bassett. Vastern Manor will be found after approximately 1.25 miles. on the right hand side and virtually opposite the entrance to The Wiltshire Golf and Country Club.


Additional Info

Royal Wootton Bassett 1.25 miles • Calne 8.25 miles, Swindon railway station (London-Paddington approx. 55 minutes) 8.5 miles • Marlborough 13.5miles Swindon Station 8 miles • M4 (Junction 16) 3 miles • London 86 miles (All distances are approximate)

Marketed by: Savills, Cirencester