Bonchurch, PO38 1RQ
£1,350,000
Key features:
- Wonderful location and views
- Historic connections
- Swimming pool
- Access to beach
- Self contained staff flat
- 4 bedroomed cottage. Available under separate negotiation
- 4 receptions
- 7 bathrooms
Description
"I think it is the prettiest place I ever saw in my life, at home or abroad" – Charles Dickens 1849 Lot 1: Main House and Garden Entrance hall 2 sitting rooms Drawing room Dining room Kitchen/breakfast room Utility/secondary kitchen Study Cloakroom 7 bedrooms 7 bath/shower rooms Self-contained staff flat Landscaped gardens with swimming pool and path leading to the beach. In all about 1.5 acres Lot 2: Hadfield Cottage – Available under separate negotiation: Guide Price GBP 295,000 Kitchen/breakfast room Sitting/dining room 4 bedrooms 2 bathrooms Courtyard garden Winterbourne House Winterbourne House is an impressive 4 storey house believed to have been built in around 1800, in a glorious south facing setting overlooking the English Channel. The property has been run as a guest house in recent years with a 5 star Gold award from Visit Britain and the AA. It has now been granted planning permission to revert to being a private house. The principal reception rooms are on the first floor overlooking the south facing rear gardens and the sea beyond. Most of the bedrooms also benefit from the stunning views, with the main two bedrooms also having their own separate sitting rooms. Delightful lawned gardens lead to a lower garden with a swimming pool, beyond which the coastal path leads down to the beach. Winterbourne's History The house has many historic connections, including Charles Dickens residing at the house in 1849, during which time he wrote several chapters of his novel 'David Copperfield'. Whilst at Winterbourne he entertained many of his literary friends, including Tennyson, Thackeray, Carlyle and Mark Lemmon. A letter dated 16 June 1849 from Charles Dickens to his wife Kate reads; "I have taken the most delightful and beautiful house belonging to White at Bonchurch, cool, airy, private bathing everything delicious - I think it is the prettiest place I ever saw in my life, at home or abroad." Ground Floor The principal entrance to the house has a fine carved stone arched doorway with stone mullioned windows and a studded oak front door. This leads to an entrance lobby with an inner door opening to a reception hall incorporating a seating area with fireplace. Adjacent is the study. An ornate period staircase leads to the upper floors. A self-contained staff flat includes a bedroom, storeroom, bathroom, sitting room, and a kitchen/breakfast room fitted with a range of built-in cupboards. This has an independent access from the eastern elevation, where there is a small enclosed patio serving the flat, as well as having access from the main reception hall. There is also a cloakroom and boiler room with twin Vaillant gas fired boilers. First Floor A pair of impressive carved hardwood doors open to a wide landing with access to the principal reception rooms and the kitchen. The kitchen/breakfast room is fitted with a range of base and wall cupboards incorporating work surfaces and an island unit. There is a range of Neff appliances including a double oven, a single oven, a microwave, two gas hobs and a frying unit as well as an AEG dishwasher. The adjacent dining room has a bay window incorporating a pair of French doors opening to the terrace and garden, with wonderful sea views. A secondary kitchen/utility is fitted with further worksurfaces and cupboards, a sink unit and has space for a dishwasher and additional cookers/freezers. The beautifully proportioned drawing room has a pair of French doors opening to the terrace, with southerly views over the gardens and English Channel beyond. There is an ornate cast iron fireplace, as well as a picture rail and decorative coving. An adjacent sitting room also has a bay window with French doors to the terrace, again providing wonderful southerly sea views. There are two bedroom suites approached from a half landing between the ground and first floors. Second Floor A wide landing provides a seating area. The principal bedroom suite includes a bedroom and bathroom en suite and adjacent sitting room with connecting doors, both with fine sea views. Bedroom 2 also benefits from fine sea views and has a bathroom en suite and dressing room. A further bedroom suite is accessed from a half landing between the first and second floors. Third Floor An impressive bedroom suite with wonderful views incorporating a seating area, a dressing area and bathroom. There is an additional bedroom and bathroom and a good sized store room with potential to be converted into an eighth bedroom. Gardens & Grounds
A driveway leads down to a gravelled parking area for numerous cars to the side of the house. The gardens predominantly lie to the south of the house where there are extensive terraces from which lawns sweep southwards with an array of well stocked borders to either side, all with wonderful sea views over the English Channel. A path meanders past well established roses and an assortment of exotic plants, down towards the lower garden with a swimming pool, with an extensive paved terrace surrounded by further borders with lush grasses and palms forming a stunning setting with a semi-tropical feel. A path leads on through woodland adjacent to a stream, providing access to the coastal path, which in turn leads down to the beach. There is a dilapidated stone outbuilding within the gardens that has potential for conversion, subject to the necessary planning consents. To the east of the main lawned garden is a further rose garden and lawns, together with mature fig trees. Lot 2 – Hadfield Cottage – Available under separate negotiation Approached by a wrought iron pedestrian gate into a stone walled garden, this period cottage adjoins Winterbourne House. The property has been successfully let over many years, giving the option of either staff or guest accommodation
to the main house or a rental investment. Ground Floor Open plan sitting and dining room, with French doors to a west facing terrace. Kitchen/breakfast room with a range of built-in cupboards including a hob, oven, dishwasher and sink unit. There are two double bedrooms one of which has French doors opening to the courtyard garden to the front and a shower room. Utility with space for a washing machine/dryer and housing gas fired boiler and hot water tank. First Floor There are two further bedrooms and a bathroom. Rights of Access
The property is approached via a pair of wrought iron gates set in gate pillars, with a tarmacadam driveway leading down to a parking area over which Spring Cottage, an adjacent property, has a right of way. At present Hadfield Cottage has parking to the front of Winterbourne House. Services
Mains water, electricity and gas. Private drainage. Gas fired central heating. Postcode: PO38 1RQ Directions
From the A3055 (Leeson Road) take the turning onto Bonchurch Shute. Proceed down to the bottom of the Shute, taking the turn on the left towards the 11th Century Church and then bear right where the entrance to Winterbourne House can be found. Viewings
Strictly by appointment with the sole agents Christopher Scott and Knight Frank. Christopher Scott,Pimento House, Number One The Parade, Cowes, Isle of Wight PO31 7QJ
Tel: 01983 200 880
sales@christopherscott.co.uk