5 bedroom house for sale

Tenure: Freehold

Situation

Approached up a quiet lane through an avenue of limes, Horton Hall stands above a beautiful green rolling valley at the gateway to the enchanting historic village of Horton. Rural, but easily accessible, Horton is a picturesque village of period cottages and houses, well manicured gardens and the Church of St Michael perched at the top of the hill in a quiet corner of the Staffordshire Moorlands. The larger village of Biddulph and nearby towns of Leek and Congleton offer excellent amenities and schools. The area is noted for its great beauty and is on the fringes of the Peak District with its glorious countryside offering some of England's finest walking, cycling, climbing and caving.

There is good road access for daily commuting to Manchester and a number of Midland Business centres including Derby, Stoke on Trent and Newcastle under Lyme. Regional International airports include Manchester, East Midlands and Birmingham.

Description

HISTORY
Horton Hall was built on the site of an earlier house dating back to the 12th Century when a portion of land was acquired by Adam de Egge of Horton. It remained in the Egge (later Edge) family until 1720.

At the time of the Civil War (1642) between Charles 1st and Parliament, Horton was awkwardly placed between a Royalist Garrison at Leek. Facts seem to indicate that the house was damaged about this time. The Edge's of this period were a divided family, the eldest son of the house John Edge was a Royalist in arms for the King, while Richard Edge his Father and Timothy his younger brother were of Roundhead sympathies hence Timothy succeeded his father in 1647 in preference to his elder brother.

Timothy Edge was appointed Justice of Peace in 1653 and the rebuilding of the present house can be ascribed to him; his initials with the date occur on the lintel of the gateway in the garden.

The 17th century house is stone built with the original staircase intact. The principle rooms were remodelled in the mid 18th Century together with the south front being given sash windows and the main doorway was moved to the centre to make the hall symmetrical. It is thought that the north east wing was also built around this time. In the early 19th Century canted bay windows were added to the west front and a coach house with stables were then also built in the late 19th Century.

HORTON HALL
Horton Hall is a beautiful Jacobean country house with a perfectly symmetrical Georgian façade standing in glorious walled gardens. The house, which embraces wonderful views over a rolling valley, has three cottages, paddocks and land.

A much loved family home of historical importance and architectural significance, Horton Hall is Grade II listed with well preserved features throughout. A well centred and comfortable house with an easy flow of rooms, it lends itself to both everyday living and entertaining.

The front door opens into an impressive dining reception hall with a stone flag floor and fireplace with deep corbels over and two elegant reception rooms leading off. One is panelled with a double aspect through sash windows with deep window seats and a canted bay window framing the stunning views across the valley. The traditional style bespoke hand painted kitchen with its stone flag floor, and black AGA range, offers a contemporary living space combining a sitting and dining area.

Two oak staircases lead to the first floor, the main one of which leads through a 17th Century panelled archway from the hall, with a wide moulded hand rail, carved newels and lit by a deep Georgian window. The principal bedrooms are light and spacious and the second floor has a number of attic rooms which could be adapted back to create further bedrooms if required.

WESTWING
The West Wing of the house has been divided to create a self contained cottage with exposed beams and leaded mullion windows. A fitted kitchen and good sized sitting room leads off a central hall with two bedrooms and a bathroom. This could be incorporated back into the house if required.

THE COTTAGES
These have been available for holiday lets and benefit from their peaceful setting, beautiful countryside and close proximity to the Derbyshire Peak District, Chatsworth, Alton Towers and other local attractions.

GARDEN COTTAGE
The Garden Cottage is a charming former barn which has been converted to provide an open plan living room with kitchen area. Above are two bedrooms and a bathroom.

COACH HOUSE COTTAGE
The wisteria and rose clad coach house, a stone building with mullioned windows, was converted in recent years to provide a comfortable house with a sitting room and kitchen, three bedrooms and a bathroom.


GARDENS AND GROUNDS
The house stands in magnificent formal walled gardens with pathways between manicured terraced lawns, box hedges and topiary, a nut walk, stocked scented borders and a productive kitchen garden. Behind is a delightful wildlife garden which alights in spring with a floor of bluebells, azalea and rhodendron and is overhung by a glorious horse chestnut tree.

PADDOCKS AND LAND
There are three post and railed paddocks and land of permanent pasture, ideal for equestrian purposes and livestock. In all the gardens and land extend to approximately 13.56 acres

Accommodation

Directions

From Leek take the A523 north, signed to Macclesfield. After approximately 2.4 miles turn left onto Rudyard Road signed Horton & Rudyard. Continue for 0.9 miles up the hill into the village of Rudyard and at the roundabout bear to the left onto Dunwood Lane (B5331). Continue for a further 0.7 miles and then turn right onto Tollgate Road. Continue up Tollgate Road for 0.6 miles, passing Horton Head Farm and Horton Hall is located on the right hand side.