Little Horkesley, Colchester, Essex, CO6

A beautiful Tudor Manor House set in stunning grounds of circa 20 acres. Offering a most sympathetic and extensive restoration with the main house offering almost 24,000 sqft. Extensive range of income producing cottages, outbuildings and mature formal gardens. Equestrian facilities and further commerical potential. Ideally located within close proximity of Colchester, with its mainline station into London Liverpool Street in 50 minutes. EPC Exempt.


HISTORY
Westwood Park, originally built in 1692, was rebuilt in Elizabethan style by W.J.M. Hill c.1908. In 1874 the surrounding parkland covered 65 acres and there was another 9 acres of gardens and 'pleasure grounds'.

LOCATION
Westwood Park is a beautiful Grade II* listed Tudor Manor House dating back to the 17th Century set in stunning gardens and grounds. The property is ideally located close to the Roman Town of Colchester in the Stour Valley, made famous by the paintings of John Constable who depicted themes from around the neighbouring villages including Nayland, Dedham and East Bergholt. The nearby villages of Great Horkesley, Nayland and Stoke-by-Naylad all have excellent local facilities including various shops, Post Offices, a doctors' surgery and public houses/restaurants. Colchester the oldest recorded town in England, offers a much wider range of recreational, shopping and educational facilities and the commuter can take advantage of a regular inter-city train service from Colchester to London’s Liverpool Street Station, the journey taking from 50 minutes. The property is highly accessible
to Colchester with the town centre and train station located approximately 4 miles away. The property also has good links with the A12 which provides a direct route to London, Ipswich and Cambridge via the A14. The A12 link will improve further once the proposed new junction to the north of Colchester is complete. The A120 is also accessible which provides access to Stansted Airport.

Acreage: approx 20 Acres - Further land available by separate negotiation

Additional Info

The estate is located between the villages of Great Horkesley to the north-west and West Bergholt to the south-east with much of the estate lying in the parish of Little Horkesley. The land slopes away from the site towards the banks of the River Stour, with the Dedham Vale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty to the north-east.

The earliest surviving record of Westwood Park dates from 1385-6. The Westwood Estate was developed by the Lynne family in the seventeenth century, with Westwood Park built in 1692. In 1906 Captain Hill extended the house and refashioned the house in the Jacobethan style.

Westwood Park is a red brick house with stone dressings and red clay tile roofs and is characterised by its Dutch gables, octagonal chimney stacks and mullioned and leaded windows. The house is in a secluded location which cannot be viewed from the road and is situated within a series of walled gardens and lawns in excess of 10 acres.. The 18th century ornamental gardens or ‘Pleasure Grounds’ are located to the north of the site, and a terrace extends along the western side of the house facing the west lawn. This lawn is shaded by a number of mature trees, most notably a large Cedar of Lebanon which occupies a central position. A gate reputedly from Dick Whittington’s London home leads into a wilderness garden which runs alongside the 18th century ornamental lily pond containing koi carp.

Internally, the house benefits from an exceptionally large, panelled hallway and entertaining area, with a historic oak staircase and galleried landing leading to the principal bedrooms. The hallway opens directly into the principal reception rooms which are mostly decorated with moulded ceilings, Jacobean style oak panelling and carved oak fireplaces. The first floor bedrooms are mostly decorated in a neo-classical style.

A separate two storey chauffer’s home on the east of the house is built of red brick with red tile details and was designed in an Arts and Crafts style.

A fibre broadband connection runs directly from the exchange direct to the house (giving an uncontended internet connection of 100Mb.)

Hot water is generated from thermal solar panels in the summer.

The Main House includes 5 bathrooms and 4 ground floor WC cloakrooms.

Both the Main House and East Apartment have bespoke handmade Humphrey Munson kitchens. The Main House also has a dressing room and study handmade and installed by Humphrey Munson

Agents Note :
Westwood Park has significant income streams with various rentals, AirBnB, farming and livery which covers the entire annual running expenditure of the main house and estate. There is further opportunity to increase the current annual income substantially, with additional holiday cottage rental and extensive serviced office space available if required. The main residence itself was previously a nursing home and later serviced offices prior to our client’s occupation. Westwood Park could, subject to change of use, become a commercial enterprise once again.