Forest Lane, Wickham PO17

INTRODUCTION

Winner of the Individual Homes Award, this stunning architect designed Grade II listed former Chapel will certainly capture your imagination. Surrounded by countryside and set within just under an acre, encompassing great design and space, this truly unique family home is one of the areas best kept secrets. The chapel was thoughtfully developed and extended to perfectly match the former Mission School and main Victorian chapel.  The property also enjoys both redesigned and well cared for mature gardens set within 0.7 of an acre. The gardens certainly bring delight throughout every season due to the wide variety of colour in the spring, unforgettable mixed borders, autumns bountiful colours and the walks through it during the winter. All of this in conjunction with a wide variety of fruit trees, soft fruit beds and an extensive vegetable garden.

LOCATION

The property is situated along a quiet no through lane yet only minutes away from the pretty market towns of both Wickham and Bishop Waltham that offer a wide range of boutiques, coffee houses and eateries.  Fareham is also approximately 3 miles away, along with its mainline railway station to London & Brighton. Southampton Airport is also within easy reach, as are all main motorway access routes to Southampton, Winchester, Portsmouth, Chichester, Guildford and London.

INSIDE

The house is approached via a reclaimed tiled pathway leading up to the beautiful handcrafted front door which then leads through to the inviting hallway. From the hall there is a beautiful staircase that leads to the first floor with further doors through to the garage, lower level boot room and bathroom /shower room.  The ground floor bathroom has been again beautifully designed and includes a double width shower cubicle which is fully tiled with the room also then benefitting a double width hand basin with tiled shelving and low level WC.  Next along the hallway there is a good size utility /cloakroom which has a fitted worktop, sink and low level WC as well as space and plumbing for a washing machine and further appliance space.  In someways the very heart of the house has to be the kitchen breakfast room that is open plan to a dining area that enjoys panoramic views over the garden with door and steps to one side leading down to exceptional good size cellar room. Further along the hallway there is then a good size double bedroom which has fitted wardrobes and two original high windows that make the most of the property’s incredible views.  The kitchen itself enjoys views across adjacent fields and is fitted with a bespoke matching range of units and also comes with a Zanussi double oven, separate grill oven, along with further appliance space with the kitchen also benefitting with a breakfast bar to one side. The main room of the property is then the truly wonderful sitting room which has vaulted beamed ceiling, windows to all sides including two sets of French doors that lead out to the rear decking area with a further door towards the end of the room leading through to a pretty courtyard style seating area/garden. The main focal point of the room is then the open brick fireplace with inset wood burning stove with a staircase with oak and glass balustrade to the first floor. This staircase then leads up to a room that the current owners use as a hobby room which has wooden flooring, Velux windows to either side with steps that then lead up to the glorious master bedroom.  This is a dual aspect room with a vaulted, beamed ceiling along with double fitted wardrobes and a French door to one side that lead out to a private balcony overlooking the gardens.  On the first floor landing there are a couple of wooden steps leading up to the large second bedroom which is a triple aspect room with fitted wardrobes, wall lights and oak flooring. There is then a beautifully appointed and cleverly designed family bathroom complete with Italian Pozzi – Ginori fittings that include a low level WC, bidet, his and hers wash hand basin set on a oak shelf in addition to a rather stylish bath and heated fully tiled marble flooring. The property then has a double garage (that also has scope to be adapted into either additional accommodation or perhaps an annexe-subject to the relevant consents) that the current owners use as both an entertainment and games room which has two sets of wooden double doors to the front, wall lights, with the space also housing the new boiler which supplies the underfloor heating throughout the home with thermostats in every room, powered by an air source heat pump.

Externally

The front garden is predominantly laid to lawn, with a selection of character shrubs and climbers. Of particular note are the seasonal displays of hydrangea blooms in summer and crimson Virginia creeper leaves in Autumn. To the garage side of the property, a graveled area provides spacious parking for three vehicles. The sizable 0.7 acre rear garden can be accessed through vehicle-width double gates leading from the front of the property, in addition to the French doors leading outside from the living area. There are several distinct sections within the garden, including a secluded patio area sheltered by mature shrubs and a decked area perfect for alfresco dining. From here a sweeping lawn provides views down the garden and to thee fields and woodland beyond. Mature plantings of Italian cypress and pampas grasses offer shelter on the edges of the property. The furthest area of lawn is left to wildflower meadow at the current owners wishes, producing dazzling spring and summer displays of cowslips and ox-eye daisies. Across the garden a selection of fruit trees including apples, pears, cherries, plums and apricots can be found. There is also a substantial fenced vegetable garden, further improved upon by two greenhouses. A large shed provides ample storage for garden tools and equipment. Additionally a character 1950s caravan can be included within the sale, providing an ideal outdoor room for long warm summers evenings.

SERVICES:

Water, electricity with private gas and drainage are connected. Please note that none of the services or appliances have been tested by White & Guard

Broadband ; Superfast Fibre Broadband 79-80 Mbps download speed 19 - 20 Mbps upload speed. This is based on information provided by Openreach.