Description
Historic stone-built former Rectory in the heart of West Wight. With 6 Bedrooms, 5 Bathrooms, Reception Hall, 3 Reception Rooms and a fine Conservatory, this elegant period property is built in a gentle Gothic Revival style and is presented to a high standard. it stands in spectacular grounds including Tennis Court with Pavillion, and former Coach House with Office Suite, Garaging and Stabling. Countryside views and accessible to wonderful walking and riding country as well as to both the sandy beaches of Compton Bay and the ferry at Yarmouth. Literary connections include Tennyson who once said the view from the gardens was 'a glimpse into paradise'.
The Coach House A short distance from the house is The Coach House; a stone and slated former coach house and stables which has been superbly converted to provide garaging, stabling and a fine open plan office above. It comprises a double garage, W.C., kitchen, stabling on the ground floor and the office on the first floor. The Coach House has vehicular access from the main drive which sweeps through the grounds. It could, subject to obtaining the necessary statutory consents, be converted to ancillary annexe or holiday accommodation.
Gardens & Grounds To the front of the house the garden comprises formal lawns, herbaceous borders and mature specimen trees and shrubs. The gardens extend around to the south front and are exceptional; the lawns are presently set out to include a private putting green. The fine, mature trees include: yew, beech and acer. There is a charming walled garden with pergola; brick built outdoor oven and hot tub area. Close-by the Coach House are the vegetable gardens which include orchard and fig trees, a glasshouse, a fruit cage and vegetable beds. There is a fine tennis court with artificial grass ‘Astroturf’ synthetic and sand surface with catch – netting, viewing deck and retractable lighting. Overlooking the court is the Old Bothy - a tennis pavilion including kitchen and changing room, shower and W.C. facilities. The lawns are watered by a concealed automatic irrigation system with rain sensors.
Services and Heating
Mains water, electricity and foul drainage are all connected to the property (subject to the stipulations and conditions of the relevant utility companies). The two boilers at the property are oil-fired, and heat the property via a combination of radiators and under floor heating. The Coach House and Old Bothy are both partly heated by electric heaters.
Council Tax: Band G Amount Payable 2011/12: £2,437.19 (There is currently a 10% discount available on properties used as second homes)
The Isle of Wight
The Isle of Wight, situated off the South Coast of England, is becoming an ever-more popular location for permanent and second homes. Made popular by Queen Victoria, who had her maritime residence at Osborne, the Island is famous for sailing in the Solent; for Cowes Week; for its beautiful coastline including sandy beaches and The Needles; spectacular countryside and long sunshine hours. There are now many more facilities than once was the case, Waitrose, Sainsbury, Tesco and M&S all now have a presence as have other national chains. Communication and transport links are excellent; regular car ferries connect with the national motorway network and fast catamarans have connections via Southampton and Portsmouth to direct trains to London Waterloo which can be reached within 2 hours of leaving the Island shore. Government-funded schools are numerous and independent schools thrive on the Island with some children attending prep and public schools on the mainland. Leisure opportunities abound - walking, riding, paragliding, hang-gliding, team sports, sailing, wind surfing and other water sports, rugby, football (Newport Football Club) cricket and golf clubs. Good transport links enable day trips to the shopping centres of West Quay, Southampton and Gunwharf Quays, Portsmouth.
Calbourne Calbourne is a popular village in the heart of the sought-after 'West Wight' about 5 miles south east of the well-known sailing town of Yarmouth and 6 miles west of the Island’s main shopping and administrative centre of Newport. Within the village there are a church, a public house, community centre, farm shop and water mill with restaurant. The countryside is beautiful and unspoiled. It offers access to the footpaths and bridlepaths of the long distance Island trails. The spectacular and rural south west coast of the Island with its cliffs and sandy beaches is only three miles distant as the crow flies. There is excellent sailing from both Yarmouth and Cowes (9 Miles) and the rural National Trust Harbour at Newtown is nearby. The property is well-situated for the County Town of Newport with shops including many national chains, restaurants and facilities. Golf courses are at Freshwater, Newport and Cowes. Beautiful walking is available in the surrounding countryside. More extensive shopping is available in Lymington and particularly in Southampton which are both easily accessible by ferry. Sea fishing is available on the Solent and coarse fishing at various freshwater lakes and a wealth of other sporting opportunities are available in the local area. There are excellent communications from Yarmouth and Cowes via ferry. From Southampton fast rail services and the M3 afford straight forward travel to London. Southampton Central to London Waterloo 1hr 10 minutes (fast train).
Newport
Newport is the Island’s main shopping and administrative centre it has bus links to all the coastal towns and most villages. Within the town there are schools for all age groups, a cinema complex, theatres, doctors, hospital, restaurants, Inns, a tidal harbour and many other amenities. National shopping chains in Newport include Sainsburys, Morrisons, Marks and Spencers, W H Smith, Boots, Halfords, Currys and Dixons and many others. Ferry ports for vehicles are situated at Fishbourne (to Portsmouth) about 4 miles distant and East Cowes (to Southampton) about 5 miles distant and Yarmouth (to Lymington) about 10 miles distant.
Historical and Literary Note Calbourne was originally known as Cawelburn said to arise from cawel being the old name for kale and burn meaning stream. The village has a long and very close association with the See of Winchester. Land was granted by King Egbert in 827. The Bishops of Winchester, as recorded in Domesday held extensive lands here and did so until the 13th century. Nearby Sweyn's Town, now called Swainston but pronounced as 'Swanston' was to become a Bishop’s palace, the remains of which can still be seen about a mile or so from The Old Rectory. The other manor of Calbourne - Westover, was remodelled by John Nash and was once the home of the Moulton Barretts with close associations with the 'Barretts of Wimpole Street' and the poet Elizabeth Barrett Browning.
The picturesque stream-side thatched cottages of Winkle Street are well-known and may be named from an old English word meaning angle or corner or from an old verb to 'winkle' which means to sparkle or twinkle. The church at Calbourne, with half a hide of land, was held at the time of the Domesday by Malger. In the time of Bishop John Sendale (1316–19) proceedings were taken against the Rector for making away with the furniture of the chancel and the Rectory and for not contributing his tithe for the support of the Crusades.
Alfred Lord Tennyson is said to have written part of 'Maud' at nearby Swainston and 'In the Garden at Swainston' after Sir John Simeon, the owner at the time, and one of his greatest friends. Tennyson is said to have been a great friend of Calbourne Rector Thomas Woodroffe and he is reputed to have composed poetry while in its garden once commenting that the view from the Rectory garden was ' a glimpse into paradise'. A further literary association of The Old Rectory is the popular Victorian novel ‘The Silence of Dean Maitland.’ The author Miss Tuttiett wrote under the male pseudonym of Maxwell Grey; she was the daughter of a Newport physician and worked on her novel in the Rectory whilst her father was visiting village patients. It tells of Maitland, an ambitious cleric who kills a man whose daughter he has made pregnant, then lets his best friend take the blame for manslaughter. Eighteen years later, the respected Maitland is forced to confront his guilt when the friend returns after his release from prison and, surprisingly, forgives him. The Rectory - as Malbourne Rectory, features several times in the text.
The neighbouring church of All Saints contains some Norman masonry in the west wall and much remains of rebuilding in the reign of Henry Ill (12161272). The north aisle was for the tenants of Swainston, the south for those of Westover. The deeply splayed lancet windows in the aisles, barely seventeen inches across, are fine examples of early English architecture. The tower bears the inscription, ‘I am risen from ye ruins of near 70 years’ when the tower was rebuilt in 1683 after an earlier lightning strike In the wall of the south chancel is the effigy of a Knight, his feet resting on a dog and the details of dress and armour artistically carved. It is believed to represent William de Montacute, Earl of Salisbury, and a Governor of the Island, killed in a tournament in 1383 jousting with his father who, heartbroken, created alter tombs in every church in every village in which he owned land or houses.
Tenure & Possession, Fixtures & Fittings
The property is offered Freehold with vacant possession on the whole upon Completion. The seller does not include in the sale any electrical appliances, however connected, or any other fixtures, unless expressly mentioned in these particulars as forming part of the sale. Some items may be available by separate negotiation.
© Copyright Creasey Biles and King Ltd September 2011
Directions:
Yarmouth, proceed east on the A 3054 (signed to Newport) proceed through the traffic lights in Shalfleet and turn right into Elm Lane, (signed to Calbourne). At the crossroads in Calbourne village proceed straight ahead, (crossing the B3401) into Lynch Lane (signed to Brighstone). After a short distance, pass the village pump and the church of All Saints, Calbourne will be seen on the left. Turn left onto the green and the timber gates to the Old Rectory will be found on the far side of the Green.