SCONNER HOUSE Polbathic, Nr
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SCONNER HOUSE Polbathic, Nr. Torpoint, Cornwall SCONNER HOUSE Polbathic, Nr. Torpoint, Cornwall An imposing, elegant and extremely attractive detached Grade II Listed Georgian house believed to date from circa 1820 with later alterations, extending to over 9,000sq.ft. with accommodation arranged over three storeys, enjoying a wonderfully private setting with lovely views over the surrounding countryside. Approached over a long private driveway surrounded by circa 14 acres of garden and woodland. SUMMARY OF ACCOMMODATION Ground Floor: entrance porch, grand entrance hall, drawing room, sitting room, family room, music room, kitchen/breakfast room, inner hall, cloakroom, conservatory, pantry. Two staircases to the:- First Floor: 7 bedrooms (5 en-suite), 2 family bathrooms. Lower Ground Floor: A self-contained flat with independent access, comprising 2 bedrooms, sitting room, kitchen and bathroom. Additionally, there is a second sitting room, kitchen/scullery, 3 large store rooms, a utility room and a cloakroom. TWO STOREY DETACHED COACH HOUSE In need of some repair but currently providing storage to the ground floor/garaging with room for accommodation above (N.B. The Coach House has excellent potential for conversion to either two cottages or 1-2 apartments on the first floor with garaging/storage on the ground floor, subject to consent). Outside: the house and the coach house are approached over a long private driveway with the main house surrounding by formal gardens comprising lawns and well planted flower and shrub beds and borders with tiered gardens around the house giving way to wilder garden areas at the edges and mature woodland beyond. In all the grounds are approaching 14 acres. Viewing strictly by appointment through the vendor’s Sole Agent: Lillicrap Chilcott Landrian House, 59-60 Lemon Street, Truro, TR1 2PE. Tel: 01872 273473 Fax: 01872 273474 Email: [email protected] www.lillicrapchilcott.com DESCRIPTION It is fairly rare to find such a delightful, elegant and imposing period home in Cornwall, that is so well preserved, retaining most of its character features and yet offering generous and beautifully proportioned accommodation that is still manageable. Sconner House was originally built as a dower house for Harriet, Lady St Germans and is believed to date from circa 1820. The property is Grade II Listed and has been beautifully enhanced and preserved by the stewardship of the current owners. For many years the property was a private residence and then in the late 1900’s was, for some time, used as an hotel. The current owners bought it as an hotel, achieved planning permission to restore it back to a private residence and then spent the following years lovingly restoring the property, refurbishing and taking great care to keep the property true to its historical origins. The roof, wiring, plumbing and central heating systems have been overhauled/renewed over recent years. The house is approached over a long private driveway which is owned, but initially shared with two other properties for a short distance. The driveway forks, as it approaches Sconner House, sweeping through the grounds, providing privacy to the main house which is set well back within gardens and mature trees. The driveway culminates in a large turning circle in front of the house. This is a fine, beautifully proportioned, three storey residence offering over 9,000sq.ft. of accommodation. The introduction to the accommodation is initially via impressive granite steps that ascend to a pillared entrance porch with the front door opening onto a grand entrance hall with a tripartite vaulted ceiling and stone flagged flooring. An elegant turning staircase ascends to a galleried landing on the first floor. Through the five principal reception rooms there is an impressive 11’9” high ceiling height whilst on the first floor are seven bedrooms (five en-suite) and two delightful family bathrooms and a shower room. On the lower ground floor is a self contained apartment with independent access, comprising two bedrooms, a sitting room, a kitchen and a bathroom. Additionally there is a second sitting room, a kitchen/scullery, three large store rooms, a utility room and a cloakroom. Immediately adjacent to the main house is a detached two storey coach house, in need of some repair, but offering excellent potential for conversion (subject to any necessary consents). The Coach House would divide fairly easily into two separate cottages or apartments on the first floor and storage/garaging below. The gardens immediately surrounding the house are delightful, with broad expanses of level lawns on two sides, bordered by profusely stocked and landscaped flower and shrub beds and dwarf hedging. Further lawns and garden areas gently descend the slopes below the house towards the boundary with the road. The road boundary is shielded by mature trees keeping the house virtually invisible. The gardens behind the house are ascending tiers with areas of lawn and mature trees. Tracks have been created which circumnavigate both front and rear gardens providing lovely walks on shillett pathways all around the garden areas and providing vehicular access to most areas. Beyond the gardens the property also owns lovely areas of mature woodland and in all the grounds are approaching 14 acres. HISTORICAL NOTE In the book “Sheviock: History of a Cornish Manor and Parish”, Sconner House is stated as being Regency, stone built and stuccoed with the design attributed in part to Repton. The house is believed to have been constructed between 1815 and 1820 and was used as a dower house by Harriet, Lady St Germans (1790-1877). When the house was originally built it is reported that there was no road between it and the River Lynher and by 1823 its landholding had extended to some 124 acres. For at least ten years between 1841 and 1851 according to census information, the house was only inhabited by the gardener John Clements, his wife and their family. Possibly the owners used it as a weekend or holiday residence. In 1861 Annabelle Glanville (daughter of Reginald Pole Carew), was living there with her two daughters and four servants. She was married to Francis Glanville (1797-1881) of Catchfrench. Their second son Henry was rector of Sheviock for 45 years and she and three members of her family were still in residence in 1871. In 1823 Reginald Pole Carew came back into possession of the property. LOCATION Sconner House is accessed from the A374 which runs from the Trerulefoot roundabout on the A38, along the southern bank of the River Lynher all the way down to Torpoint where the River Lynher joins the River Tamar in the large estuary waters of Plymouth Sound. The house is approached over a long private driveway which sweeps through mature woodland up into the formal gardens, culminating in a large turning circle in front of the house. The property enjoys fantastic views over its own gardens and woodland and then out over many miles of open countryside with glimpses of the River Lynher. You can see all the way to the edge of Dartmoor on a clear day. The nearest towns are Torpoint and Saltash to the east and west respectively, both of which provide adequate facilities to cover day to day needs and the nearby village of Polbathic has a local inn and a road crosses the river to the village of St Germans which has a village shop, a post office and a mainline railway station on the direct line to London Paddington with approximate travel time on the fast train of 3½ hours. There is a boatyard in the village of Polbathic below the property village of Looe which remains an active fishing port and is a stone flagged flooring. Doors off to:- and the rivers and creeks that can be accessed from the Tamar popular tourist centre. SITTING ROOM – 22’3” x 18’. A wonderful room with estuary provide some excellent day sailing waters, emptying out There are primary schools in Antony and St Germans with large sash windows flanked by glazed screens on either side, into Plymouth Sound where the large estuary waters provide private and grammar schooling in the city of Plymouth. There overlooking the grounds and with shuttered reveals. Impressive access to the Rivers Lynher, Tavey and Tamar. The Dandy Hole is a Waitrose store approximately ten minute’s drive away, near slate fireplace and hearth with an open grate and ornamental is a famous stopping off point for sailing yachts and Plymouth Saltash and the surrounding rivers, creeks and open countryside outer timber surround and mantel with open shelving to the side. Sound provides direct access out into the English Channel. provide some wonderful scenic walks. Just a short drive away Exposed floorboards, ornate corniced ceiling. There are several active yacht clubs in the area and a wealth of there are also wonderful sandy beaches with lifeguards at sailing facilities which can be accessed from the town of Torpoint, CONSERVATORY – 23’7 x 13’1 into alcove. Double glazed Tregantle Fort and Freathy. seven miles away to the east. There are car passenger ferries windows on all sides overlooking the grounds, double glazed running from Torpoint across the estuary to the city of Plymouth THE ACCOMMODATION COMPRISES French doors opening onto the garden, twin folding doors to:- on the opposite bank, in Devon. (all floor plans and dimensions are approximate) FAMILY ROOM – 20’ x 13’9”. Dual aspect with sash windows This is a desirable and sought after location for several reasons having wooden panelled and shuttered reveals and one has a Impressive granite steps flanked by large copper wall hung as it has swift access into and out of Cornwall. The A38 window seat beneath. Attractive Adam style period fireplace lanterns with an ornate metal hand rail to one side, ascend to provides a quick route deeper into Cornwall and to the north at with open grate and marble hearth, exposed floorboards, ornate an open fronted entrance porch with sash windows on either the Tamar Bridge it crosses into Devon.