Property of the Week: Historic Grade II* listed Batheaston House

If your vision for a home leans toward the regal, Batheaston House more than rises to the occasion. This exquisite Queen Anne residence, linked to both Queen Elizabeth I and Queen Victoria, offers a rare opportunity to inhabit a property where history and elegance are deeply intertwined.

Dating back over 300 years, Batheaston House was built in 1712 and holds a coveted Grade II* listing. It was meticulously restored in 2015 by the renowned architects Watson, Bertram and Fell, preserving its period character while elevating it for modern living. Now, it has gracefully returned to the market.

The site’s story stretches even further into the past. In the 1500s, it belonged to Sir John Harington, Queen Elizabeth I’s godson and the famously eccentric inventor of the flushing toilet. The original house was later demolished, and in 1712 the High Sheriff of Somerset commissioned the elegant, symmetrical Bath stone residence that stands today.

Its rich narrative continued into the Victorian era, when the music teacher of Queen Victoria’s youngest daughter, Princess Beatrice, resided here. The princess herself is said to have stayed at Batheaston House on occasion, playing the piano within its walls.

This is no ordinary home. Batheaston House is a living piece of history, one that tells a compelling story while offering the rare privilege of becoming part of its next chapter.

With its historical significance well established, it is time to step inside. The interior showcases the architectural beauty of the region, where high ceilings, abundant natural light, ornate fireplaces, and tall sash windows with working shutters define the space. It is a showcase of period design that feels both timeless and inviting.

Upon entering, an elegant entrance hall leads to four exceptional reception rooms, including a south-facing drawing room opening onto the garden terrace and a charming garden room with a playfully hidden bar concealed behind sliding bookcases. With a magnificent central staircase at its core, the house is designed for living, inviting you to linger in each room before stepping through the full-height French doors when the sun appears.

Below, the living continues in the Tudor basement, where you will find the epitome of a British country kitchen, centred around a large working stone fireplace and a vintage AGA. This space extends to a pantry, larder, stone-vaulted media room, wine cellar, and plant room. As the oldest part of the house, it feels deeply historic, yet benefits from underfloor heating throughout.

Elsewhere, the first floor continues the theme of refined craftsmanship, with a series of panelled rooms including a principal bedroom overlooking the grounds with en suite, two further bedrooms, a dual-aspect bathroom, and an adjoining shower room. The second floor offers additional accommodation with three large bedrooms and two bathrooms, ideal for guests.

Set within 1.15 acres, the grounds enjoy direct access to the River Avon, with gardens designed to enhance the house’s architecture and historic setting. There is a sense of stepping back in time, reminiscent of a Regency-era landscape, with a dressed-stone wall enclosing the north courtyard, complete with a fountain and elevated bay hedge, while the west courtyard features sculptural yew topiary.

The expansive south-facing terrace offers endless summer hosting opportunities, with a stone orangery and sweeping views over the river creating an idyllic setting. The grounds also include a kitchen and cut-flower garden with raised beds, a bespoke Alitex greenhouse, a potting shed, mature specimen trees, a historic ice house, and a river water pump, reinforcing the property’s long standing connection to the landscape.

For added versatility, the former coach house has been converted into a garage and a separate one-bedroom annexe, offering self-contained accommodation.

This is a rare property of both historic and architectural importance, restored with sensitivity to its past. Owning Batheaston House is not simply a purchase, but an opportunity to become part of its continuing legacy.