Ashwood Manor Narborough Road | Pentney | Norfolk | PE32 1JD ASHWOOD MANOR
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Ashwood Manor Narborough Road | Pentney | Norfolk | PE32 1JD ASHWOOD MANOR Business or Pleasure An opportunity to either live in a spacious country house or to continue operating a readymade holiday letting business, the property benefits from approx. 9.5 acres (stms) of land with good equestrian facilities with leisure benefits such as a sizeable indoor swimming pool, gym and sauna. (Accounts Available Upon Request) • A Large Victorian Extended Norfolk Country House Set on the Edge of a Leafy Village • Approx. 9.5 Acres (subject to measured survey) of Gardens, Grounds, Pond and Fenced Paddocks • Attached Indoor Swimming Pool (13.5m x 7.3m), Changing Rooms & Sauna • The Property Lends Itself to Either a Single Residence or a Home with Income • The Owner Operated a Successful Holiday Let Business Generating a Significant Income (Accounts Available Upon Request) • Currently Divided into 3 Properties but Could Revert Back into a Substantial Home • The Main House: 4 Reception Rooms & 4 Bedrooms. Approx. Floor Area 6,060 sq. ft • The Cottage: 3 Reception Rooms & 5 Bedrooms. Approx. Floor Area 1,936 sq. ft. • The Annex: 1 Reception Room & 2 Bedrooms. Approx. Floor Area 892 sq. ft. • Equestrian: 8 Stables, Manege Plus 3 Field Shelters & Post & Rail Paddocks It’s a fabulous place to live – there’s a Montessori just up the road where our children went to school, where there’s a nursery too, and five miles away in Swaffham is the Sacred Heart Convent - and a Waitrose and Tesco! - in fact there are lots of secondary school options in the area” Country House Hotel to Family Home A substantial and handsome house - surprisingly and thankfully “We had our engagement party here thirty-seven years ago there are lots of secondary school options in the area. But one not listed - built around 1840, is set back from a very quiet when it was a hotel – little did we know it would belong to of the overwhelming benefits of this place is that we receive wooded lane in a secluded spot, on the edge of the little us seventeen years later!” smile the owners who have brought such a revenue from renting out the cottage, and the wing, for village of Narborough straddling the River Nar. The property up their family here, some of whom are still occupants in holiday lets. With the way it is laid out, we don’t even notice has been a much-loved family home for the last twenty years, the attached wing. “It’s a fabulous place to live – there’s a that anyone is there. The main part of the house is so large that its paddocks behind amounting to seven acres, the plot itself Montessori just up the road where our children went to school, that could also be divided into two self-contained dwellings if being nearer to ten, and it has adjoining accommodation which where there’s a nursery too, and five miles away in Swaffham is someone didn’t want to live in it as we have.” provides an income into six figures every year. the Sacred Heart Convent - and a Waitrose and Tesco! - in fact Endless Options window, and held back over the wide opening into the room. Outside, the equestrian facilities are superb, with extensive With the Georgian-style light sconces (used throughout paddocks, stabling and manege, which could also be rented the property) adding to the illuminations, the room is truly out whether to an individual or as livery, if someone wasn’t splendid. “It all looks amazing at Christmas – sometimes interested in having horses of their own. One might ponder we have thirty or forty people staying here and this house over turning the whole property into a leisure/educational really lends itself to grand-scale entertaining; the dining room, retreat with courses and/or treatments – or holding art, with the curtains drawn across, feels so cosy as if you are crafts, cooking or creative writing courses; having yoga, music completely cocooned,” enthuses the owner. or even riding retreats; it could be a venue for weddings, or large celebrations, a film set, or for business purposes such as Farmhouse-Style Kitchen conferences or training courses. Stepping into the kitchen from here, a large chequerboard of black and white ceramic tiles are the foundations for a Viewing A Must vast open plan kitchen which has room for a comfy sofa On arriving at Ashwood Manor, through sturdy brick gate and chairs around another roaring fire (this time in a cast pillars, there is plenty of choice for parking: a wide, sweeping, iron stove), a long scrubbed pine table and dining chairs to gravel, carriage drive has further space on the grass under one side, and the beautiful bespoke fitted kitchen behind trees. The house is cream-painted brick under a mass of slate the big island in the centre. The owner is a professional cook rooves edged in terracotta ridge tiles which complement the so storage and catering facilities are paramount: a cream, attractive Victorian brick soldier courses above every window four-oven, oil-fired Aga nestles in a white-tiled alcove, whilst and atop the enclosing walls. The solid timber, blue front door an abundance of wall and base-level timber units painted welcomes you in to the most wonderful space with views cream, line the walls. Worktops are in gleaming black granite, onto the sunny south facing garden and paddocks beyond. with solid timber on the island which incorporates a ceramic Photographs do not do this place justice – you need to visit hob and an electric oven below. A butler sink sits under the to appreciate the space, light, quality of build and decoration, window over the garden, whilst another, round stainless steel and the warm and homely atmosphere! one, sits in the island. A fridge and freezer are integrated, and there is space under the counter for the owners’ dishwasher. The owners did a vast amount of work on Ashwood Manor when they first came here including having it completely French doors open from the kitchen into a timber-floored rewired, re-plumbed, damp-proofed, and the roof totally conservatory which projects into the south-facing garden, overhauled with new leadwork. Windows are all timber which has been the perfect place for young children to play framed and double-glazed. They also added the extension whilst the cook is busy in the kitchen, or for anyone wishing with the pool; everything has been well maintained so it is in to relax and enjoy the panoramic views of the garden. exceptionally good order. More double doors open onto a paved terrace – perfect for alfresco dining - which stretches across the back of Sumptuous Decor the house. This links with a veranda which has its original Underfoot, in the inner reception hall are laid the original terracotta quarry tiles in remarkably good condition, and a herringbone-pattern oak parquet tiles which stretch through sloping slate roof supported on pillars, to provide protection into the fabulous dining room where a roaring fire is in the from direct sunlight or the elements. grate and a large dining table easily sits in the middle under It all looks amazing at Christmas – sometimes we the sparkling chandelier and ceiling rose. The robust fireplace Before reaching the grand reception room at the western is Adams’ style, the ceiling is high, and cornices, dado rail and end of the house, you pass a door into another reception have thirty or forty people staying here and this house skirtings are of generous proportions. The walls are papered room. With a large window over the garden and a fireplace, really lends itself to grand-scale entertaining; the dining room, in a rich and sumptuous Colefax and Fowler red and gold it makes a lovely informal sitting room but would also work with the curtains drawn across, feels so cosy as if you are paper, which have co-ordinating plush thermally-lined well as a study; it is decorated in neutrals: mushroom- completely cocooned” curtains and pelmets with bullion fringing, at the huge bay coloured Laura Ashley papers such as broad stripes up to the dado rail and a flowing arabesque-style pattern above, is a theme running through much of the property creating an appealing unity. “We’ve chosen high quality paints, such as Farrow & Ball, and wallpapers and fabrics such as Colefax & Fowler and Laura Ashley throughout the entire house, the cottage and wing included,” states the owner. Magnificent Reception Room Moving on along the wide hallway, the magnificent main reception room is at the end. An L-shaped room with a pair of rather splendid Ionic columns at the sides, it is flooded with light as with all the rooms, windows overlooking the garden to the south and west. French doors open onto the south-facing terrace, ideal for summer entertaining. A grand piano and a number of large sofas are easily accommodated in the space. The wall to wall cream carpet layered with the owners’ Persian rugs, more rich red and gold paper in the panelled walls, and swags of luxurious curtains combined with a roaring fire create a warmth and cosiness despite the size of the room. Spectacular Leisure Area Back in the hall, to the right of the reception room is a door leading past a shower room and a utility room (a laundry room is conveniently positioned in the main hub of the house), and on to a fabulous leisure area where the pool, hot tub, sauna, showers, changing and exercise rooms are situated. There are even gents’ and ladies’ separate changing areas! This section of the property was added by the current owners and is in tip top order, with a brand new hot tub installed very recently.