Glenmore Lodge

CHELTENHAM • GLOUCESTERSHIRE

Glenmore Lodge WELLINGTON SQUARE, , GLOUCESTERSHIRE An elegant Grade II Listed villa of major historic significance

Entrance Hall, Reception Hall, Drawing Room, Dining Room, Kitchen/Breakfast/Family Room, Utility Room, Laundry Room, Cloakroom, Separate WC, Conservatory. Master Bedroom with En Suite Bathroom & Dressing Room, Three Further Bedroom Suites.

Lower Ground Floor Comprising: Library, Office, Games Room, Kitchen, Bedroom with En Suite Bathroom, Lobby, Hot Tub Room, Sauna. Gardener’s WC. Boiler Room. Three Under Pavement Storage Vaults.

Off Road Parking for Several Cars. Two Garages. Beautifully Landscaped Gardens to Front & Rear.

Planning Permission for a Detached Two Bedroom Single Storey Dwelling.

Chris Jarrett Savills Cheltenham Imperial Square, Cheltenham Gloucestershire, GL50 1PZ Tel: 01242 548 000 [email protected]

savills.co.uk

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3 Situation Wellington Square is one of Cheltenham’s finest squares, being As well as superb educational facilities the town is well known within walking distance of the town centre, Park and lakes for the many literary and music festivals that it holds, as well as and the historic Pittville Pump Room. the , cricket and National Hunt festivals. Cheltenham became a spa town in 1716, although its popularity Sporting opportunities within walking distance include squash, flourished after King George III visited in 1788. Its heyday as a tennis and swimming facilities whilst there are also a number of golf spa town was to last from about 1790 to 1840 and it was during courses on the edge of the town. these years that many of the town’s fine Regency terraces, crescents There is easy access to the M5 and a train service to London and villas were built. There is a wide range of excellent schools in Paddington from Cheltenham Spa station. Cheltenham, including Cheltenham Ladies’ College, (co-ed), St Edward’s and Dean Close.

4 5 Description Glenmore Lodge is a wonderful Grade II Listed villa, believed to date from 1826, with supremely elegant accommodation arranged over three floors. The property has undergone a comprehensive and sympathetic refurbishment and now offers a rare opportunity to purchase what is believed to be the first property built in Wellington Square. On driving through the automated gates to the parking area at the front of the house, one is immediately struck by the grandeur of Glenmore Lodge. Stone steps with painted balustrades to either side lead to the entrance hall which in turn gives access to the impressive reception hall with beautiful limestone flooring and a quite stunning glazed atrium, providing a profusion of natural light. The beautifully presented ground floor accommodation flows majestically from one room to another through attractive arches from the kitchen/ breakfast/family room to the dining room and onwards to the elegant drawing room. With floor to ceiling windows, stunning decorative fireplaces, working shutters, cornicing, picture rails and ceiling roses in all reception rooms, each of these rooms gives an insight into the original Regency styling from the period when the house was built.

6 7 The kitchen/breakfast room is open to the family room and was designed by Richard Benton (Somerset) and beautifully complements the house. The extensive range of fitted, hand-crafted units incorporate Kashmir lime granite worktops and include all that is needed for everyday convenience. There is a three oven gas fired Aga, with an additional attached gas/electric module allowing for the option of switching from the Aga to conventional cooking at any time. A fluted arched entrance leads through from the kitchen to the utility room and laundry room. The current owners have obtained planning consent for the erection of an exterior balcony through the French doors in the kitchen. To the other side of the house and approached from the reception hall, is a newly built conservatory. This “room” is glazed on three sides and provides a tranquil elevated view over the garden. From here a staircase leads down to the lower ground floor.

8 9 10 A beautiful stone staircase with painted balustrade all benefiting from underfloor heating. The master relative, staff or perhaps even as an extensive home No expense has been spared in creating the height and wooden handrail leads up to the first floor also includes a beautifully appointed walk in wardrobe. office. This area includes a superb library lined with of luxurious living and providing the perfect place to landing which has a central musicians’ gallery and the The lower ground floor offers a multitude of bookshelves, again created by Benton. The three retire to at the end of the day. bedroom accommodation leading off. Each of the possibilities with spacious accommodation which under-pavement storage vaults are accessed from this individually designed four bedrooms has an en suite, could be used as a self-contained apartment for a room, as is the boiler room.

11 12 GLENMORE LODGE Gross Internal Area House = 668 sq m (7,197 sq ft) Cellars = 34 sq m (366 sq ft) Garages = 44 sq m (474 sq ft) Total = 746 sq m (8,037 sq ft)

First Floor

Lower Ground Floor Ground Floor

13 The gardens have been designed and created by Graduate Gardeners (a multi award winning Cotswold based garden design and landscaping company) to provide a haven of peace and tranquillity for the house. To the front is a lawned area with shrubs and flower borders surrounded by elegant iron railings, whilst the garden area to rear includes two water features, lawn, formal (David Austin) rose gardens and herbaceous borders surrounded by yew hedging. The rear garden also benefits from sandstone terracing including a pergola covered terrace providing the ideal space for al fresco dining. The in and out carriage driveway is approached through majestic electric gates and provides ample parking for a number of cars. There are two spacious garages, one of which is approached through a secondary entrance via double wooden gates.

14 15 The History - from notes by the vendor The following anecdotes provide insight into the lives of some of the families who lived at 1856 map showing Glenmore Lodge in the 19th and early 20th Century. location of Glenmore Lodge in Wellington Sq. Lt Col Alexander Limond (owner 1826-1834) A Scot, widowed whilst on military service in India and remarried on his return home. In 1826 he purchased land from William Pitt and had the first house (Glenmore Lodge) built in Wellington Square. Alexander’s Brother-in-law was John Robert Hume, doctor to the Duke of Wellington and present with him at the Battle of Waterloo. The doctor was also Physician Extraordinary to the King (from whom he received personal letters).

Thomas Tyers Tyers (owner 1857-1883) Thomas Tyers Savage (Barrister) changed his surname to ‘Tyers’ by Royal Licence to inherit from his grandfather, a wealthy Barrister and broker in sugar and rum. He married Harriet Kennedy Brown, whose uncle was Godfather to Charles Dickens. Dickens’ middle name ‘Huffam’ is named after his Godfather. Harriet’s father, Captain Brown (later Admiral Brown) spent time playing chess with Napoleon whilst guarding him on the island of St. Helena.

Portrait of Harriet Tyers Tyers. Sale of Glenmore Lodge by auction in 1883.

16 William Frank Rees (owner 1925-1935) ‘Bill’ Rees was a cockney entrepreneur who built up a huge tarmacing business from scratch. During World War II his contracts involved surfacing over 100 aerodromes as well as runway construction, camps, defence works, railway depots, D-Day roads and take-off strips. Bill’s son Donald recalls family life at the house: “Glenmore Lodge, Wellington Square, Cheltenham, a very grand house lit by gas with vast coal cellars, a huge coal range, and wine cellar as well as basement staff quarters, a long row of servants’ bells activated by a complex system of wires - corresponding bells were in living room, bedrooms and even in the roof area, and each one had a different tone. William F. converted part of the basement into a splendid billiards room. I remember that the coal cellar was able to accommodate a full railcar of coal - enough to last the entire winter. On the other hand, ice cream was obtainable only in the summer when an Eldorado bicycle cycled the residential roads ringing his bell if he spotted a delivery request card placed in the window of a house. Milk was collected by the housemaid from the churn of a horse drawn float; each jug had a silk cover edged with beads to protect the milk from dust. Every Friday a leg or shoulder of lamb arrived from Wales to hang in the stone-lined larder for Sunday lunch for which William F. was often late having played golf at the Lilleybrook Club. Saturday night was family night, usually with charades in the lounge, singing around the piano.”

Photograph of William Frank Rees. Photograph of Glenmore Lodge taken in 1925 by William Frank Rees.

Dr Charles West (‘owner’ 1951-1955) Victor Webb (tenant 1945-1975) A retired dentist, Dr West bought Glenmore Victor was born in Southampton, the son of a heraldic artist. He moved to Lodge in the name of his second wife and son London in his twenties and became a commercial artist. One of his early jobs Alun. His grandfather (also Dr Charles West) was to paint murals at the swimming baths at Buckingham Palace. During his set up Great Ormond Street Hospital, the first career in London he worked as a professional artist painting mostly floral works, inpatient hospital for children in the English still life and portraits. In Cheltenham he and his family lived in the lower speaking world. Charles Dickens, a personal ground floor of Glenmore Lodge using the current Library as his studio where friend of Charles West, was one of the hospital’s he painted, displayed his work and gave lessons. He was a versatile and prolific first fundraisers. Dickens’ rousing speech at the painter using oils, watercolour and palate knife and creating works in several Freemasons Hall in 1858 pulled in more than different styles. £3,000, enough to extend the hospital. Dr Charles West.

17 Planning Consent Planning consent has been granted for a detached 2 bedroom single storey dwelling in the grounds (REF:11/0648/FUL) and for the erection of a balcony from the kitchen (REF:13/01420/FUL).

Services Mains water, electricity, gas and drainage. Gas fired central heating and Aga.

Local Authority Cheltenham Borough Council. Tel: 01242 262 626.

Postcode GL50 4JY

Viewing Strictly by prior appointment with the sole agents Savills.

Important Notice Savills and their client give notice that: 1. They are not authorised to make or give any representations or warranties in relation to the property either here or elsewhere, either on their own behalf or on behalf of their client or otherwise. They assume no responsibility for any statement that may be made in these particulars. These particulars do not form part of any offer or contract and must not be relied upon as statements or representations of fact. 2. Any areas, measurements or distances are approximate. The text, photographs and plans are for guidance only and are not necessarily comprehensive. It should not be assumed that the property has all necessary planning, building regulation or other consents and Savills has not tested any services, equipment or facilities. Purchasers must satisfy themselves by inspection or otherwise. Details and photographs - August 2014.

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