Property description
Key features:
* Magnificent Late Regency Mansion in Tudor-Gothic Style
* Part Exchange Considered
* Available as a Whole or in Separate Lots
* Lot 1 - Mansion House & Abbey Chapel
* Lot 2 - West Wing
* Lot 3 - Westbury Lodge
* Lot 4 - Dovecote
Brief Description
'Westbury Castle' - a Magnificent Late Regency Mansion in Tudor-Gothic style of interest to private buyers looking for a private home or developers for leisure, commercial or residential uses (subject to planning permission).
Full Description
Westbury Castle - History:
This majestic listed building and its grounds are set amid attractive north-westerly sloping woodlands, the position chosen for the outstanding views over its original parkland to the Irish Sea, the Great Orme, Anglesey, Lancashire and the Cumbrian Hills.
The site was first occupied by a son of Baron Mostyn of Mostyn in the 15th Century. In 1670, the title of 'Baronet' was conferred on Edward Mostyn of Talacre by Charles II in gratitude for his support in the Ulster Campaign. At that time, the family lived in a Jacobean Mansion House on the site.
The current Mansion was built by the 7th Baronet Mostyn in the 1820s and reflects the considerable wealth and status that the family had accrued. The House is late Regency in the Tudor-gothic style, built from Ashlar sandstone from the family's own quarries and using oak from the Estate.
The Talacre Estate originally comprised over 6,300 acres, which included farms, quarries and woodlands around Talacre Hall, plus the Greenfield Valley industrial area and adjacent farms and extensive land with valuable mineral resources including lead and coal. Stone from Gwespyr quarries, besides being used for building was exported as sharpening stones worldwide.
The Mostyns left the property in 1920 following the deaths of two Baronets in quick succession. It was occupied by an order of Benedictine Nuns as an Abbey until the late 20th Century when it once more became a family home.
The Mansion House:
The Mansion is Grade II* Listed. It takes the form of three wings around basement-level courtyards. The east and north wings constitute the principal part of the property, housing state rooms on the ground floor and bedrooms and bathrooms on the first floor. The second floor provides extensive space and potential for further accommodation. The under croft contains original wine cellars and numerous vaults, some with original stone fittings for 19th century domestic functions (these are detailed later).
North and East Wings:
The building is decorated by crenulated parapets, polygonal corner turrets to advanced gable ends and transverse rows of polygonal chimney stacks.
The main entrance features an oriel window over a 3-bay crenulated porte cochere with family crest.
It leads to the Entrance Hall:
The Entrance Hall features oak panelled dado, oak floor, stone fireplace with oak surround and panelled ceiling with historically important heraldic medallions. This room has separate doorways to the State Dining Room, Morning Room and Main Staircase.
The State Dining Room, facing East, features oak panelled dado, oak floor, stone fireplace and panelled ceiling with cornice featuring Trefoil Crest and Mostyn Rampant Lion. A second oak door designed to link the room with the Service (West) Wing now also links with the current Family Room / Kitchen next door.
The Morning Room, also facing East and adjacent to the Entrance Hall had the important function of providing a venue to welcome visitors who called before lunch.
The Drawing Room is in two parts, linked by large oak-lined double doorway, designed to partition the room for ladies and gentlemen after dinner; the eastern end has a fine ornate white marble fireplace with rampant lion over, panelled, finials and carved spandrels. The western end, the former library (where the gentlemen 'retired'), has a matching white marble fireplace with Trefoil badge and full height french windows leading out to the Conservatory. The impressive ceiling is identical in each half of the room with radiating mouchette patterns, crenellated cornices with openwork cresting and foliate basketwork to friezes. Outside is a paved terrace supported by a Gothic loggia. Extensive Views are over the grounds to the east and the sea to the north
The octagonal Conservatory benefits from the afternoon sun. It has a stone floor, arched full-height windows and French casement doors leading to a polygonal terrace. Views over the courtyard, fountain and woodlands to the west.
The Grand Staircase. Two separate doors lead from the Entrance Hall to this impressive feature with massive oak baluster and large leaded light window on the half landing, leading to the first floor landing and accommodation.
On the ground floor, passages from the Grand Staircase lead to the State Rooms, the Baronet's Study and an original feature cloakroom. The Cloakroom has a washbasin and separate Victorian toilet with original fittings.
The Study features an original stone fireplace, alcoves with bookshelves and a desk-style window ledge with cupboard beneath. This room also has a private access to the Undercroft, formerly used by visiting tradesmen. Views are over the Courtyard and towards the Riding School (the Baronet who built the house was a keen horseman)
The Family Room. This magnificent room, originally the private Mostyn family Chapel, has been converted to a stunning kitchen / breakfast / sitting room with vaulted ornate and gilded ceiling. The room features an original stone fireplace and stained glass window. The recently installed kitchen area comprises pine cupboards, granite worktops, a Belfast sink and double gas-fired Aga. There is a first floor gallery overlooking the room.
A large Utility Room with parquet flooring adjoins the Family Room. Linked to the Family Room by a passageway to the former Butler's pantry, now a comfortable Sitting Room.
The Abbey Church:
To the rear of the Family Room, a feature double door leads through to the former Abbey Church, presently used by the Vendors as a leisure suite and gym. The Church has a pitched slate roof, diamond leaded stained glass windows and oak parquet flooring throughout. The original Altar remains in the former sanctuary and a smaller alter in the side Chapel.
Principal Wing
First Floor
The first floor is reached by a domestic staircase in addition to the Grand Staircase. The Master Bedroom overlooks the gardens and grounds, with extensive views over surrounding countryside to the coast. There is an adjoining en-suite bathroom with roll-top bath, shower cubicle, wash hand basin and WC.
There are a further four bedrooms, two with en-suite facilities, one with separate dressing room and a further separate WC with feature oriel window.
Second Floor
Above the former chapel (kitchen / family room) are four spacious rooms which provide further attractive bedrooms. Above the main wing is a range of interconnected rooms with sloping ceilings and skylights.
The West Wing:
This is also arranged on four floors, amounting to approximately 21,000 sq ft. The accommodation retains its original room arrangements, providing potential for imaginative conversion to character accommodation.
The original rooms are known to be: Large Kitchen with ranges, baking oven and hand lift to Dining Room, Larder with shelving, Servants' Hall with range and cupboards, Housekeeper's Room with china and linen closets and large dresser cupboard, two store cupboards, Lamp and Boot Room.
Wash-basins, baths and toilets were formerly installed in some rooms to accommodate pilgrims on retreat at the Abbey.
There is a terrace at first floor level at the western end of this wing and on the second floor, a staircase to the octagonal roof terrace at the centre of the wing.
Westbury Lodge:
Westbury Lodge is under separate title from the main house.
A mature Three Bedroomed Detached house, originally built as the Presbytery at the same time as the Abbey. A traditional 1930s-style house, it is currently available to let. The property is adjacent to Westbury Castle, with its own gardens to the front and rear.
16th Century Dovecote
This 19th Century building was constructed around a 16th Century dovecote, ashlar-faced, with slate roof and a slatted turret.
The building was constructed to 'school' the 7th Baronet's racehorses and to teach the Baronet's Children riding skils.
The structure lends itself to an imaginative 'loft-style' conversion to provide character rooms (subject to the necessary consents) with a contemporary 'twist'. It enjoys outstanding views over the former parkland below to the sea and provides approximately 4,300 sq ft of floor space.
** PLANNING PERMISSION HAS BEEN GRANTED FOR CONVERESION INTO A RESIDENTIAL DWELLING **
The buildings provide a total approximate floor area of 50,000 sq ft
Grounds - The estate benefits from 7 acres of established and landscaped grounds which includes mature woodland and a 6 hole golf course. There are 5 pairs of electrically operated 15ft high grand double gates providing alternative access points to the estate.