Luckington, Wiltshire, SN14

History
Local history of the surrounding area places Luckington Court on the site of a manor owned by King Harold II before 1066 who was killed that year in the Battle of Hastings.
Built in local creamy Cotswold stone, Luckington Court was first extended and remodelled in the 16th Century or earlier by the Fitzherbert family, who had purchased in 1632 and continued to own until the early 1800’s. There were further additions including the service wing to the north by the Johnson-Ferguson family in 1921.
Lt-Col Trevor Horn and his family purchased Luckington Court in 1947; he was renowned in the area for being the first director of the world’s most prestigious three day event, Badminton Horse Trials and remained at the helm until 1956. It has remained in the Horn family to this day. The property saw extensive renovations in 2003 which were conducted in a compassionate way to both improve and modernise the Estate.
In 1995, Luckington Court had both the exteriors and interiors used to showcase Longbourn, the Bennet family home, in the BBC’s TV series Pride and Prejudice, which starred Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle.

LUCKINGTON COURT
Luckington Court is a Grade II* Listed, Cotswold stone, detached dwelling house which was first extended and refashioned in a 16th Century style with original Tudor features at the rear including the stone mullioned windows. There is a Queen Anne front pillared portico with a magnificent wood carved doorway reputedly by Grinling Gibbons.
Constructed under a stone roof and ashlar stacks, with hipped roof, moulded coping to parapet and corner urns. There are eighteen pane thick glazing bar sashes in ovolo moulded stone surround. Internal features include the bolection moulded hall fireplace, the enclosed staircase with panelled dado and turned balusters to the landing. Luckington Court provides flexible living accommodation with a combination of naturally lit and open flowing areas, excellent for entertaining.
The accommodation briefly comprises a large welcoming reception hall with large limestone flagged floor and bolection moulded hall fireplace which leads to a central inner hall and doors to the principal reception rooms. The dining room has an open fireplace and access to a separate study. The large drawing room has decorative panelling, a stone open fireplace and doors through into the music room with a French door into the garden. The cellar is accessed from this room. The sitting room provides a more intimate space with an open inglenook fireplace.
The large open plan family kitchen/breakfast room with comprehensive range of fitted units and four oven AGA provides an ideal everyday living space with a separate scullery and utility room.
From the inner hall, there are a pair of cloakrooms and steps up into the summer kitchen and beyond into a charming triple aspect stone loggia. These delicate full height French doors within the enclosed loggia connect the outside with the inside seamlessly through the characterful stone pergola.
The rear covered space of the ground floor provides an integral staff w.c and laundry room, with a separate boot room and three further store rooms and wood store.
The first floor of Luckington Court can be accessed from either of two staircases with a generous circular landing with useful linen cupboards. There are seven well-proportioned bedrooms with six bathrooms, in addition to an integrated staff flat.
The top floor has further rooms which could be utilised as either additional bedrooms, hobby space or could make a great nanny suite.
This exemplary English country dwelling house, with its elegant well-proportioned rooms, good ceiling heights and tall sash windows, provides not only a wonderful home but also a profitable Estate, with a good residential income stream.

Outside

Luckington Court is approached down a gravel driveway through impressive gates via a wild meadow, orchard of mature apple and cherry trees with traditionally managed parkland on either side. The extensive lawns approaching Luckington Court are dominated by a 400 year old Lebanese Cedar, which has one of the largest girths ever recorded within the UK, which is interspersed amongst tall and majestic Scots Pines. The sweeping gravel driveway finishes in front of the dwelling house and provides ample parking.
There are many ancient ornamental pears and other species of attractive small trees throughout the grounds including a specimen golden Catalpa, Tulip tree, fruiting Mulberry, a Davidia ‘Handkerchief’ tree and many Lilacs.
From the loggia, on the main croquet lawn, there is a ‘York Cathedral’ paved terrace which leads into a shady Wisteria covered pergola with a stone carved bench and oval vista set into high garden walls with extensive views over the parkland. The roman inspired portico, said to be designed by Capability Brown, together with its double wrought iron gates and oval vistas have been carefully restored. This leads through to the tennis court with a lavender planted path and wild flower meadow with several specimen trunked silver Birch trees and Sorbus.
The rose garden is approached through a wrought iron gate and is encompassed on three sides by a ‘Cotswold stone’ wall and 19th Century stable block. There are espaliered fruit trees and two climbing rose pergolas, one of which straddles the traditional Cotswold broken paved pathways. There is a separate rose bush parterre in front of the Rose Garden Cottage and dovecot.

TRADITIONAL OUTBUILDINGS
The Stable Block
A Grade II Listed traditional range of Cotswold stone built buildings with stone tiled roofs comprising of seven loose boxes, cart shed, tack room and feed store with attached double garage/workshop with separate W.C. The stable block overlooks the rose garden with The Coach House incorporated within and has huge potential for redevelopment (subject to planning).

The Dovecote
A superb Grade II listed 17th Century square dovecote built from dressed limestone with pyramidal tiled roof and original wall nesting recesses.

Outdoor Riding School
Situated to the north of the residential cottages, there is an outdoor school and is bordered by Cotswold stone walls.

Home Farm Buildings
Home Farmyard is a traditional range of buildings, with their own gated access off Church Road, which provide functional accommodation but also lend themselves to further redevelopment (subject to planning).
Extending to some 4190 sq ft (389.35 sq m), the accommodation includes a Cotswold stone built storage shed, steel portal framed cattle building on a concrete pad and two former bull pens. In addition, there is a purpose built cattle yard, separate general purpose building and two further pole barns. These could easily accommodate a range of stables and equestrian facilities
Mains electricity (rewired 2016) and water connected. Home Farmyard is also the site for the Biopure sewerage plant (installed 2011) which supports the residential properties and caters for up to 28 residents.

THE COTTAGES
There are four cottages. These are well presented with modern interiors and well maintained exteriors. Most have their own enclosed private gardens and all have allocated parking. These are largely let on Assured Short Hold Tenancy’s. There is a further communal gravel parking area. We are aware of an error in the floorplan regarding the Courtyard Flat - Please contact the agent for clarification.

LAND
Luckington Court is an excellent permanent grassland estate with good sized paddocks. The soil is a fertile lime rich loam over clay and classified as Grade 2/3 quality. The land is fenced with mature hedges and stone walls.

Situation

Luckington Court is located in the attractive Cotswold village of Luckington, close to the Gloucestershire/Wiltshire borders being accessible by road and rail, and has excellent communication links from the M4.
Luckington village provides the community with a primary school, public house, village hall, shop and church.
Bristol Airport (28 miles) and Kemble Airport (14 miles) plus local airfields which can all accommodate private aircraft.
The area is well renowned for its excellent choice of schools including Westonbirt, Beaudesert Park, St Marys Calne, Badminton School, Kingswood and Marlborough College. There is a good network of bridleways and national trails across the county.

Additional Information

COUNCIL TAX BANDS 2022/23

PROPERTY BAND
Luckington Court H £4062
Rose Garden Cottage B £1580
The Coach House A £1354
The Courtyard C £1805
The Studio N/A
Court Farm Cottage D £2031

Services
Oil fired central heating, private drainage, mains electric.