Property description
A spectacular thatched period family home, reputedly dating back to circa 1730, standing in the most beautiful south-facing lawned gardens, abutting the open forest offering the occupants total privacy and seclusion in grounds of approximately 1.62 acres.
Thatchers is quietly situated off a gravelled lane on the periphery of this ever popular forestside hamlet, yet within close proximity to the renowned Georgian market town of Lymington. The property affords an array of naturally well lit accommodation arranged over 2 floors, with all rooms enjoying a magnificent outlook across the gardens. Opening off a through hall, the extensive ground floor provides for a charming well proportioned drawing room, a separate dining room and a bespoke kitchen/breakfast room with a separate utility room. To one side, accessed from the house or via a secondary lobby, is a useful sitting room that opens to a fine gardenside conservatory. Overhead, the first floor provides for a total of 4 bedrooms served by 3 bathrooms, currently arranged in various suites with characteristic twin stairwells. Externally, the property hosts an excellent range of purpose-built outbuildings in the form of 2 extensive garaging blocks providing secure garaging for a minimum of 6 cars, with a further outbuilding providing a useful home office/workshop store.
The gardens form an undoubted feature to this most tranquil of locations and will be of particular appeal to any discerning plantsman, the whole offered for the first time to the open market in nearly 30 years, having been maintained and regularly updated to the most exemplary order.
4/5 bedrooms, 3 bath/shower rooms, cloakroom, sitting room, dining room, family room, conservatory, kitchen, breakfast room, utility room, 2 garaging complexes, workshop/store/home office,
superb gardens and grounds extending to approx. 1.62 acresNORLEY WOOD Located on the periphery of the hamlet of Norleywood, the property is within easy reach of the Georgian market town of Lymington, famed for its river, marinas and yacht clubs. The town provides an excellent range of leisure, educational and shopping facilities, with a useful branch line connection to the neighbouring forest village of Brockenhurst that offers a mainline rail connection (London/Waterloo approximately 90 minutes). Approximately 3 miles due north of the hamlet is the charming Manorial village of Beaulieu, with its neighbouring riverside hamlet of Bucklers Hard. The shoreline abutting The Solent can be accessed via Tanners Lane at nearby East End (approximately 1½ miles due south).
ACCOMMODATION IN MORE DETAIL Traditional canopied storm porch with panelled door opening through to:
RECEPTION HALL Wall light point. Picture light. Turnaround stairs ascending to the first floor. Access to a deep understairs store cupboard. Wall mounted thermostat control. Door to:
CLOAKROOM Fitted with a white suite comprised of a low-level WC together with a pedestal wash hand basin, the whole set in a tiled surround. Access to a deep cloaks store cupboard to one wall. 2 wall light points.
SITTING ROOM A naturally well lit dual aspect reception room featuring a projecting bay to fore affording vistas across the gardens. Extensive exposed ceiling beamwork. Open fireplace incorporating a projecting natural brick hearth, the whole surmounted by a rustic wooden mantel. 4 wall light points.
DINING ROOM Characteristic traditional dining room of good proportions with exposed ceiling beamwork. 5 wall light points. Areas of recessed high level open display shelving.
BREAKFAST ROOM Situated to the front of the property with exposed ceiling beamwork. Feature fireplace of natural brick with a projecting capped tiled hearth, the whole surmounted by rustic beamwork. 2 wall lights. Picture light. Areas of open display shelving to adjacent recess with base store cupboards. Stable style door through to kitchen.
KITCHEN Fitted with a bespoke range of painted carved natural wood store cabinets to both base and high level with discrete surface downlighting over the surrounding pearlised granite worksurfaces with an integrated twin bowl Belfast style sink with an Edwardian style monobloc tap. Built in Britannia Range cooker set under a canopy extractor with a fine range of pull out pan drawers to side. Further built-in appliances in the form of a full height fridge with base freezer and a concealed Neff domestic dishwasher. Recessed ceiling lights. Tiled floor covering. Panelled door to rear lobby. Further stable style part glazed door through to:
REAR HALL Secondary stairs ascending to the first floor.
UTILITY ROOM Space and plumbing for a stack style system washing machine and tumble dryer. Twin bowl integrated sink with monobloc tap. Further range of base store cupboards for utility storage. Tiled floor covering.
FAMILY ROOM A fine dual aspect room affording an outlook across the informal entertaining area and gardens beyond. Extensive exposed ceiling beamwork. 3 wall light points. Recessed ceiling lights. Lead light glazed bi-fold style doors opening through to:
CONSERVATORY Constructed of rendered brick incorporating UPVC low-maintenance double glazed casements, the whole surmounted by a pitched roof. Tiled floor covering throughout. Glazed double doors to paved seating terrace and gardens beyond.
REAR LOBBY Tiled floor covering. Glazed door to exterior. Cloaks hanging area to side.
ON THE FIRST FLOOR The first floor accommodation is arranged off twin stairwells to provide for a total of 4/5 bedrooms, served by 3 bath/shower rooms. The primary stairs serves 2 sizable suites, with the secondary stairs serving an additional 2 bedrooms that share a bathroom.
The twin stairs afford great versatility, though the entire accommodation at first floor level could be accessed off the primary stairs with a degree of remodelling.
OUTSIDE The property is approached off a gravelled lane over a gated driveway featuring a cattle grid at the head, with a casual sweep terminating in a block paved apron with characteristic rendered wall screening that features:
GARAGING COMPLEX The principal complex comprises a 3 CAR GARAGE with remote up-and-over doors, the whole of colour washed block construction. Within the complex is a useful GARDEN CLOAKROOM.
Further twin gates set on brick piers opening through to:
COURTYARD Enclosed on all sides with a further range of outbuildings in the form of a linked TWIN DOUBLE GARAGES currently used for workshop/garden store purposes. Adjacent range of deep 2 BAY GARDEN STORES.
To one side of the house and overlooking the tracts of lawned garden is a further outbuilding, built very much in keeping that provides for a substantial WORKSHOP/STORE which links to an adjacent STUDY/HOME OFFICE served by a CLOAKS/SHOWER ROOM incorporating a tiled shower cubicle, low-level WC and pedestal wash hand basin.
GARDENS An undoubted feature of the property for the discerning plantsman, laid essentially to sweeping tracts of well-maintained undulating lawn, the whole having the backdrop of maintained coniferous hedgework entirely in the ownership of the property. The boundaries of the property actually extend beyond, thereby affording the occupants total control over their privacy and seclusion. The gardens centre on a fine raised ornamental pond with crazy paved edged surround incorporating a traditional water wheel and rill, with well stocked ornamental rose beds. Surrounding are a number of raised planting beds, with a further series of island style beds incorporating a diverse array of ornamental shrubs providing seasonal colour and interest throughout the year. Adjacent to the property is a fine, full width paved SEATING TERRACE capped by a dwarf brick wall, extending to one side to a substantial block paved informal area of seating with a delightful outlook across the gardens, ideally suited to informal entertaining. Within the walled backdrop gated access opens to an area of informal garden beyond, which would make an ideal setting, should it be desired for a swimming pool.
SERVICES Mains water, electricity. Oil fired heating. Private drainage. The services and equipment remaining with the property have not been tested by John D Wood & Co. and we are unable to verify that they are in working order.
FIXTURES & FITTINGS All items usually denominated as fixtures and fittings, apart from those mentioned specifically in these particulars, are excluded from the sale.
DIRECTIONS From Lymington, continue on down the High Street bearing left into Gosport Street. At the roundabout, turn right over the causeway crossing over the Lymington River, following the road out onto the open forest beyond Walhampton. On crossing over the cattle grid on the open forest, continue on up the hill, turning right into Norleywood Road. Continue alongside Norleywood Inclosure, driving through the hamlet without deviating. Pass the bus stop on the right and then turn into Thatchers Lane, where the property will be found on the left hand side.
VIEWING Strictly By Appointment through John D Wood & Co.
Property Info: