Property of the Week: No1 Wingfield House

Steeped in traditional English charm, this 18th-century manor house is the blueprint for British countryside living and offers a return to timeless Georgian and Victorian architecture, set within beautiful grounds.

It is often that we find ourselves yearning for a return to simpler times, and in an era when every modern convenience is becoming more prevalent, it is natural to miss the past. This elegant four-bedroom semi-detached home, built in the early 18th century and nestled on the edge of the picturesque village of Wingfield, brings the essence of times past back into one’s life. Originally an early Georgian country residence, it was substantially extended in the mid-19th century and, in the 1940s, divided into four houses, with No. 1 Wingfield House forming the heart of the original home.

The house succeeds in creating a harmonious blend of early Georgian and Arts and Crafts influences, commanding immediate attention by greeting visitors with a striking double-height entrance hall with York stone flooring and original features peppered throughout. Enter through an arched glazed screen leading to the magnificent Victorian music room, instantly transporting you to another era. With its oak timber barrel-vaulted ceiling, inglenook fireplace and trefoiled windows, it is a regal salon fit for welcoming guests on any occasion. Floor-to-ceiling windows frame impressive views of the attractive garden of just over an acre, the perfect vantage point from which to appreciate the surrounding grounds.

Elsewhere, you will find the library hall of the original 18th-century house and the drawing room, adorned with Georgian plaster panelling and featuring a wonderful period marble fireplace. The spacious Mark Wilkinson kitchen, complete with original working shutters and a fireplace, perfectly summarises the home’s ability to blend historic character with modern living.

Continuing the historic narrative, the principal bedroom suite is particularly striking, featuring bespoke Gothic-inspired woodwork, an oriel window with Pre-Raphaelite-style stained glass, and a concealed marble shower room. There are four large bedrooms in total, and one would be hard-pressed to find a better reading nook than the window seat overlooking the delightful garden below. Returning to the foot of the staircase, take a moment to look up at the magnificent glazed lantern positioned above the original stairwell, allowing an abundance of natural light to stream down to the ground floor.

French doors open onto the terrace, and a short stroll reveals a pond and just over an acre of landscaped gardens incorporating mature, attractive borders, as well as a large separate garage block and a wonderful Hartley Botanic greenhouse. The driveway passes mature beech hedges before reaching the main entrance of No. 1, with ample parking in front of the garages, ideal for welcoming the many friends who will no doubt await an invitation to your manor.

Once you manage to tear yourself away from the house, the surrounding area offers charming country pubs, scenic walking trails and heritage sites, all to be enjoyed at your leisure.

It is rare to find a home of this stature, your very own haven of history, immaculately presented and equally delightful to live in. An English rose of a retreat.