Elkstone Manor

elkstone manor ELKSTONE • GLOUCESTERSHIRE elkstone Manor ELKSTONE • GLOUCESTERSHIRE • GL53 9PD An impressive and inviting 19th Century Manor House, with six ensuite bedrooms, four reception rooms, a separate self-contained flat, an indoor swimming pool complex and a hard tennis court - all in grounds of around 7.5 acres comprising lawns, woodland, ponds and courtyard with mature, formal gardens including shrubberies and wild areas Colesbourne village 2.5 miles, Cheltenham 7 miles, Cirencester 7 miles, Gloucester 13 miles Cheltenham Spa Train Station 9 miles (126 minutes to London Paddington plus fast connections to Birmingham and the north), Kemble Train Station 16 miles (71 minutes to London Paddington). Excellent roadlinks to the M5 and M4 via the A417. Summary GROUND FLOOR: Entrance Hall; Drawing Room; Dining Room; Office, Sitting Room; Kitchen Breakfast Room; Walk-In Pantry and Lobby leading to Utility Room with laundry area; Swimming Pool complex; 4-car Garage; Plant Rooms FIRST FLOOR: Master Bedroom with Ensuite Bathroom; Two Further Double Bedrooms (both ensuite) SECOND FLOOR: Three Further Double Bedrooms (all ensuite) and Considerable Under Eaves Storage Space FLAT: Stairs up to Double Bedroom, Bathroom, Living/Kitchen/Dining Room with views over the garden to east and west CELLAR: (accessed from main hall): Wine Storage Room, Billiard Room OUTSIDE: Sweeping driveway to the front; Church-facing enclosed courtyard garden to the rear; mature gardens featuring lawns, established borders and topiary hedging, potager/vegetable garden and woodland walks. Garaging for four cars and extensive outbuildings for storage, logs etc ALL IN APPROXIMATELY 7.5 ACRES 40 St James’s Place 43-45 Castle Street London, SW1A 1NS Cirencester, GL7 1QD T 020 7839 0888 T 01285 883740 [email protected] [email protected] www.thelondonoffice.co.uk www.butlersherborn.co.uk DESCRIPTION AND HISTORY Elkstone Manor lies on the edge of the hamlet of Elkstone, overlooking the village church. Originally built in 1873 by the Horlicks family (of bedtime drinks fame!) it formed the hub of the farming community. At that time, the estate was mainly dairy, with some sheep and also cider pressing (there are still one or two bins in the cellar that housed the vats for fermenting purposes). Expanded from its original size during the 1980s, Elkstone Manor has been further extended during the 31 year tenure of its present owners, who added the swimming pool complex, 4-car garage and other features to the north side. In 1990 they also planted more than 1000 trees, shaped the landscaping and water features and established a large vegetable garden. This vegetable growing area, along with a cuttings bed for flowers for the house, greenhouse, potting shed, compost heap etc is discreetly hidden behind a long evergreen hedge to the right, as one approaches the house. Finally, owing to regular maintenance of the building fabric, excellent insulation and installation of a well-disguised solar energy source, Elkstone Manor enjoys very little reliance on its oil-fired central heating – meaning it stays warm, and enjoys very low running costs. The main house offers substantial accommodation over three floors with plentiful ground floor space for entertaining (both inside and out) and the distinctive feature of all its bedrooms having ensuite bathrooms. Every room retains original features, is well-proportioned, high-ceilinged and spacious as well as benefitting from an abundance of natural light from its large windows. ACCOMMODATION Approached, from a quiet lane, through an electronically-operated gate, Elkstone Manor is situated at the end of a long winding drive through its own woodland that skirts the edge of the front lawn before arriving, in front of the house itself, in the shade of a large beech tree. The house is entered through period double front doors into a stone-flagged entrance hall. To the right, a door leads to the hallway from where there is an entrance into the impressive main drawing room. This runs the depth of the house and enjoys views to three sides. There is a large fireplace with mantlepiece to the northern side, and window seats along the southern wall. Double doors to the west lead out to the paved terrace. From the hallway there is a staircase (with mid- landing views to the garden) to the upper two floors, as well as (via a trapdoor) wooden stairs down to a large well-maintained cellar area currently used for wine storage and a billiard room. The entrance hall also gives access to the dining room, and a lobby area leading to the sitting room and office. The dining room is a stately and well-proportioned space which allows for at least 12 guests seated, and enjoys views through its tall windows to the church. There is also a large working fireplace and a beautiful original window seat. The office (previously the Estate Office where employees would receive their weekly monies) will hold two desks with ease, and even features the original safe embedded in the wall. From the lobby there is also a door leading to the enclosed rear courtyard, as well as the entrance to the sitting room. This room enjoys French windows out to the garden and a Godin woodburner situated in the large original fireplace. From here, a door leads into the large kitchen breakfast room with breakfast table, oil-fired Aga, plentiful cupboards, substantial black granite work surfaces and views on one side to the courtyard, and the other to the main front lawn. Beyond the kitchen there is a small lobby with door to the outside (and entrance to the self-contained flat), as well as access to the walk-in pantry. A door leads to a wide corridor from where one goes to the utility room (main house boiler, washing machines, dryers, water softener and “tool shed”), to the swimming pool zone and, beyond, to the garages. THE SWIMMING POOL ZONE Built as an extension to the main house and specifically designed to house the indoor pool, this complex is accessed up four steps into the shower and dressing area. This includes a walk-in shower, separate WC, cleaning materials cupboard and changing area with basin, built-in spin dryer, hooks and dressing table. A door leads into the pool itself. At 23m long by 5m wide (approx.), the ozone- treated pool was installed by the current owners and is heated by two ground source heat pumps. It is single depth throughout (approx. 1.4m) and has a robust mechanised cover. There is a door to the outside as well as large windows, reflected in a wall of mirrors. These mean that it retains a wonderful feeling of light throughout. Returning to the main entrance hall, a wide staircase takes you to the first floor. Here there are three large double bedrooms, including the master bedroom, all of which have ensuite bathrooms. The master bedroom is a wonderfully light and airy room with windowseats overlooking the lawns to the south and the established trees and planting, while its impressive bathroom enjoys views over the church to the east. Both other rooms on this floor also feature large ensuite bathrooms, big sash windows and plenty of space and light. The main stairway continues to the second floor where there are three further double bedrooms (all full height) and a shelved library area on the landing. All three bedrooms and bathrooms are again of an excellent size, and have views either over the gardens, or towards the village church. Approximate gross internal area Main House: 802 sq m / 8,631 sq ft Garages: 69 sq m / 747 sq ft Flat: 63 sq m / 682 sq ft Log Store & Store: 48 sq m / 514 sq ft Boiler Room & Pool Machinery: 31 sq m / 332 sq ft Total: 1013 sq m / 10,906 sq ft Flat Ground Floor Lower Ground Floor Flat Energy Efficiency Rating 76 60 First Floor Second Floor GARDENS AND GROUNDS The gardens at Elkstone Manor have been developed and enjoyed over many years by the current owners. The land surrounds the house on all sides, with the majority to the front. There is a large lawn running to the front of the house and terrace, bordered by hedges and woodland. To the northern side is the tennis court and ha-ha (in which the PV array sits). There is a secondary driveway to the property (for garaging and outbuilding access) directly off the village road. To the east of the house (the village side) there is a courtyard surrounded by yew hedging that is a favoured dining and entertaining area. The south side has established trees, beds, two ponds with lawn and shrubberies that lead to the vegetable garden, greenhouse and potting shed. Beyond the main lawn, and enclosing the first portion of the driveway, lie several acres of broadleaf woodland that was planted in 1990 by the current owners. There are several woodland paths and shady picnic spots (as well as a steady supply of firewood!). LOCATION Elkstone has a long history – it was mentioned in the Domesday Book (with its ‘high wild hills and rough uneven ways’) and, following the Norman conquest, was handed over to one of the most prominent landowners in the county - Ansfrid de Cormeilles. By the 1700s, Elkstone had grown substantially to number 35 separate dwellings housing 160 inhabitants – and in 1962 it had truly arrived in the modern age with the advent of electricity! It is now a thriving community where life centres around the village hall in the middle of the village, and the church. Located north of Cirencester and south of Cheltenham, Elkstone is ideally placed for driving to both centres for their extensive range of shopping, recreational and cultural facilities.

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