A 'majestic' Grade II-listed property with fascinating medieval roots has come on the market near Bristol.
Chewton Place is an astounding country home situated on the River Chew, equidistance between Bristol and Bath, with a rich history dating back centuries. The estate also comes with a lodge, cottage and coach house along with expansive grounds totalling more than seven acres of land.
It is believed there has been a building on these grounds since medieval times. Chewton Place originally belonged to the Abbey of Keynsham and was thereafter sold to the Popham family – one of Somerset’s main landowning families. In turn, the estate, including the Lordship of the Manor was sold to Thomas Lediard in 1766, the year the current Grade II-listed building originates from.
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The house was revived in the 1930s after it entered a period of tenancy by a Mr and Mrs Hall who were known to host concerts on the grounds. Post-war, the future of Chewton Place was very uncertain until 1963 when it was purchased by multinational company Imperial Tobacco (headquartered in Bristol) as its new base and training centre.
From 1963 until 2013 the estate was in commercial use with extensive accommodation, conference centres and staff blocks built on the grounds and onto the house.
Fast forward to modern times, Chewton Place returned to private use with the current owners embarking on extensive restoration work to return the home to its 1860s appearance. The work has included the demolition of the commercial buildings and extensions, restoring much of the river walls and replanting the parkland supervised by a conservation architect.
The listing describes it as a landmark country home marketed for £4.5million through Knight Frank, with five bedrooms and four reception rooms situated in the main building. The additional buildings on the estate make this an ideal property for family members with ample space to host guests.
It's blessed with superb natural light and high ceilings throughout and the impressive entrance hall sets the grand tone on arrival. While the current owners have worked tirelessly to renovate the home to its original majestic features, there are contemporary flourishes throughout including modern kitchen and bathroom finishes.
The oak staircase leads you to the main bedroom coupled with an ensuite along with four further bedrooms, two family bathrooms, a study and a dressing room. Work is currently taking place and will reach completion by autumn 2022.
But it's the parkland that elevates this property to almost a regal status, a space that oozes tranquillity encircling the River Chew. The grounds are listed in their own right and contain several Grade II-listed structures including a Ha-Ha, two bridges and a large waterside folly. The Owl Tower, an obelisk structure made of limestone, is something of a local landmark dating back to the late 18th century.
This is an incredibly rare opportunity for a prospective buyer with deep pockets to own a period home revived with a contemporary feel and a captivating history. Please contact Knight Frank's Country Department for more information.
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