Rockwood House Barnsley Road | Denby Dale | Huddersfield | HD8 8XF ROCKWOOD HOUSE
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Rockwood House Barnsley Road | Denby Dale | Huddersfield | HD8 8XF ROCKWOOD HOUSE This majestic country house, which was built in circa 1870 by prominent landowner and founder of the Rockwood Harriers, Walter Norton, occupies a glorious location on the fringes of Denby Dale. An impressive 19th Century country house occupying a delightful 7 acre parkland setting approached by a sweeping tree lined driveway with landscaped south facing grounds incorporating a swimming pool and an all weather tennis court. Rockwood House enjoys the most idyllic of locations on the outskirts of this sought after village positioned on the edge of the Pennines being highly commutable and well served by an abundance of local services including highly regarded schools. A substantial family home with retained period features, sympathetically restored throughout with an option to purchase the former coach house (3,000 sq. ft.) and additional 4 acre grounds which would result in a substantial country estate with equestrian facilities. In short a fine country mansion house set within exquisite grounds commanding stunning views and enjoying the perfect location. Presenting an awe inspiring presence and a statement of both character and grandeur accompanied by a wonderful welcoming family feel. Approached through a grand stone pillared entrance an impressive sweeping driveway leads through a glorious tree lined parkland; in parts allowing a glimpse of the property through gaps in the tree’s, before the final turn opens to reveal Rockwood House and the beautiful hamlet in which it sits. This magnificent 19th Century home; commissioned by one of the area’s most prominent mill owners, has been carefully designed and crafted transforming an agricultural estate into one of the area’s finest homes. Privately enclosed within a beautiful parkland setting, retaining original period features throughout, having been tirelessly and sympathetically restored by the current owner resulting in a wonderful family home. Stone steps lead to the main reception with tall doors opening to the formal entrance to the house. The centrally positioned, spectacular T shaped hallway presents an immediate impressive introduction to Rockwood House showcasing original features including deep skirting boards and an impressive high ceiling height (a theme which is continued throughout), ornate coving and the most spectacular bespoke, carved oak staircase and stained glass leaded window reminiscent of the period of build. Seller Insight This majestic country house, which was built in circa 1870 by prominent landowner and founder of the Rockwood Harriers, Walter Norton, occupies a glorious location on the fringes of Denby Dale. “It was my father who purchased Rockwood House around forty years ago,” says Ben, “and for him, looking after the house itself and transforming the gardens has been a lifetime project. It’s an extremely impressive home, almost like a fairy-tale castle with its turrets and castellations. As you approach it via the very long, private driveway, you come around the corner and through the trees and the house slowly comes into view; it’s incredibly striking.” “It was a magical place to grow up in, very grand in both its appearance and scale. Every room, including the bathrooms has a beautiful open fireplace, and the house as a whole is awash with gorgeous period features. The rooms are all very large and the ceilings are high, but it’s a very comfortable family home and particularly conducive to entertaining.” “My father invested a lot of time and effort into completely transforming the gardens,” says Ben, “and as well as adding lots of beautiful plants, he also had the tennis court refurbished and a swimming pool installed; it’s now an absolute paradise. The views are magnificent and a dense wood of exotic trees that were planted by Walter Norton, who was also a keen botanist, surrounds the house. As a boy I would spend my days playing in the woodland, running around the gardens and messing about in a boat on the pond; it was idyllic. My son is enjoying it all now, and I know that he’s going to really miss having such a wonderful place to grow up in.” “There are so many outstanding rooms in the house, but the kitchen area has always been the heart of the home,” says Ben. “It consists of three separate rooms - a space for cooking, another for dining and a seating area with a lovely old Aga as the focal point. It’s less formal than the rest of the house and a lovely space in which the family can gather.” “In my mind the location couldn’t be better,” says Ben. “We’re on the edge of the Peak District, surrounded by glorious countryside, but the communication networks are so good that getting to places such as Sheffield, Leeds and Manchester couldn’t be easier.” “The informal dining room has French doors that open out onto a patio terrace that’s partly sheltered by an ornate iron awning,” says Ben. “The terrace is huge and it leads onto a rolling lawn and, on the other side, across to the pool; it’s a beautiful spot for a summer party.” “For me, one of the nicest times in Rockwood House is the house at Christmas, when we put up a huge tree and gather in the dining room or drawing room, with the fire glowing in the hearth and the decorations up. More than ever, the house really comes to life at that magical time of year.” “I will be sad to leave Rockwood house, but I have forty years of wonderful memories to take with me,” says Ben. “It is a house that has a feeling like no other, a very special place that I feel extremely privileged to have grown up in.” Formal living accommodation on either side of the ground reception presents spacious rooms commanding situated to the rear aspect of the house presenting a living kitchen with French doors opening on to a pleasant views over the house gardens and showcase exquisite retained original features including ornate substantial external seating terrace sheltered by an ornate iron awning, with an open fire and immediate cornices, architraves, deep skirting boards, a high ceiling height, and period fireplaces. Floor to ceiling windows access to the glorious gardens. The garden room also opens to a covered seating area with open plan access to all main reception rooms command an inspiring outlook over the grounds. The less formal rooms are to a secondary terrace which is home to the south facing swimming pool. The informal dining room has French doors that open out onto a patio terrace that’s partly sheltered by an ornate iron awning.” “The terrace is huge and it leads onto a rolling lawn and, on the other side, across to the pool; it’s a beautiful spot for a summer party.” There are so many outstanding rooms in the house, but the kitchen area has always been the heart of the home.” “It consists of three separate rooms - a space for cooking, another for dining and a seating area with a lovely old Aga as the focal point. It’s less formal than the rest of the house and a lovely space in which the family can gather.” The principle bedrooms are accessed from the impressive landing, a characteristic attribute to the property being spacious with retained original period features. All bedrooms to the first floor enjoy a delightful outlook over the house grounds and original fireplaces; as do the two generous bathrooms. From the rear landing access to the second floor offers versatile accommodation and the original servants back staircase leads to the less formal rear ground floor accommodation. HISTORY Walter Norton JP Esq was born into a wealthy textile mill owning family, who commissioned the construction of both Bagden Hall and Nortonthorpe Hall. Walter Norton built Rockwood in 1870 trans- forming a 33 acre agricultural estate and woodland into a delightful parkland estate with fine mansion house accompanied by stables, garaging / coach house, a chauffeur’s house, gardeners lodge and fur- ther outbuildings. A keen huntsman Walter Norton formed the well- known Rockwood Harriers Hunt in 1868; who still hunt retaining the name taken from Walter Norton’s principle residence. In turn a type III HUNT Class Escort Destroyer, ordered from Vickers-Armstrong, was launched on 13th June 1942 as the first Royal Navy ship to carry the name Rockwood, that of the Yorkshire fox-hunt. With the death of Walter Norton in 1909 and with no heirs Rockwood passed to Mr Duncan Alistair MacGregor before being purchased by Col W.A. Bristow in 1945. Rockwood then became a private school known as St. Aiden’s a name which was retained until 1964. Through the 1950’s and 1960’s Rockwood passed in owner- ship 3 times, most noticeably to Commander Henry George Kendall before being bought in 1972 by the Rockwood House Country Club; a licenced restaurant and club, and remained so until 1976 when sold at auction. The current owner bought Rockwood in 1980 carrying out extensive refurbishment to both the house and grounds re-instating the grandeur of Rockwood and the parkland style setting. Local Area Rockwood House occupies an enviable position on the edge of The National Peak Park privately enclosed within a glorious parkland setting built overlooking south facing grounds above Denby Dale. An absolutely charming village located to the southeast of Huddersfield, northwest of Barnsley, surrounded by glorious un-spoilt countryside. Locally there are quaint village pub’s and restaurants including the locally famous 3 Acres whilst local services are in abundance ranging from small gift and clothes shops to smaller supermarkets and a swimming pool.