12 bedroom detached house for sale

A few hundred metres walk will bring you to Castle Hill and the prominent Priory and Castle, the main shopping area and the rail station, giving access to Glasgow, Manchester and bringing London Euston within 2 hours 20 minutes. Royal Lancaster Infirmary, Lancaster University and the boys and girls Grammar Schools are also within easy reach.

The property has retained a surprising amount of the original structure with some fine fireplaces which display original delft tiling, oak staircase and plaster moulding and friezes. The windows to The Knoll are a particularly attractive feature and around the property are timber mullions, some fine leaded windows, an oriel window, arched openings and an interesting stained glass panel. The red brick building is designed on two main floors with an attic and basement level together with a very interesting viewing platform designed on the ridge of the central roof which gives glimpses across Morecambe Bay, Clougha Pike and towards the Castle and Priory; originally Hubert Austin must have enjoyed a stunning panorama.

The building, previously used as a resource centre would require some changes to the layout and adaptation to return it to a fine family home. Lancaster City Council planning department has provided some initial guidance for a change of use, including returning to a dwelling, with the possibility of a smaller house development within the grounds. Any change of use will require planning consent, including Listing Building consent. The sale of The Knoll provides an extremely rare opportunity so close to the City centre to acquire such a substantial property set in the extensive grounds and so handy for all amenities whether it be as a stunning home, or as an office work place or several other potential uses. The property has D1 use and could be potentially used for healthcare, office use, non residential training/education. There is plenty of parking on site and a detached garage block adjacent to the main house. 

Accommodation  

Ground Floor Front porch and vestibule with Victorian tiled floor and a glazed door and screen which opens into: 

Original reception hall Oak staircase and panelling, timber mouldings and period fire surround. 

Cloakroom  

Wash hand basin and WC.  

Drawing Room A fine generously proportioned room with impressive plasterwork frieze, windows on three sides including bay with sashes overlooking the south facing garden. Ornate fire surround with delft tile inset. Mahogany glazed alcove bookcase. Window seat. 

Dining Room Approached from the drawing room or the reception hall, this is an attractive room with frieze over the chimney breast and a carved oak surround to the fireplace with stunning blue and white delft tiles. Square bay window with leaded arch feature.  

Kitchen A good square working space looking out over the gardens and with a separate door to side porch and driveway. Stainless steel sink unit and various fitted cupboards. 

Inner hall  

Disabled WC  

Wash hand basin and WC.  

Side room  

A useful store or office.  

Study A corner room at the front of the house.

From the inner hall there is access via a stone staircase to a Victorian basement with original arched brickwork. Boiler room with gas boiler for central heating. Original wine cellar and large storage cellar with good head height, gas and electric meters and a small door and steps leading to a garden level. 

First floor The easy staircase with oak balusters and panelling opens out onto the generous first floor landing. There is a lovely window with feature arch and stained glass detailing. 

Room One A corner fireplace with delft tiles in carved surround and side window. 

Room Two A room at the front of the house with window seat beneath interesting orial window.

Rooms one and two have been split and could certainly return to one well proportioned room. 

Room Three A dual aspect corner room with window seats and a south facing outlook. Shelved alcove cupboard. 

Gents & Ladies Lavatories  

Room Four A pleasant room at the rear of the house with original fire surround, delft tiles and ornate fire basket together with south facing bay window. 

Room Five An internal room, originally part of room four which could easily be incorporated with the original ceiling mouldings still in place. 

Room Six An excellent room at the rear of the house with deep bay windows looking out over the gardens, cornice mouldings and fire surround. 

Secondary kitchen With a range of fitted cupboards and sink unit.

From the first floor there is a secondary staircase at the rear of the property linking to the ground floor garden and second floor. 

Second Floor  

Room Seven A pleasant room with corner fire surround and wide panelled window seat. 

Room Eight A room at the rear of the house with south facing window looking out to Clougha Pike in the distance. Fitted cupboard and window seat. 

Room Nine A good size room at the front of the property with a view through the trees of the Castle and Priory. Bow window and feature fireplace. 

Room Ten A room at the rear with square bay, south facing and eaves storage cupboard. 

Room Eleven A dual aspect room at the front with a sloping attic ceiling and original fireplace and connecting door to:  

Room Twelve An interesting attic room with turret roof and neat dormer window looking out over the garden.

Off the second floor landing, a tight turned staircase opens through a trapdoor onto the roof top viewing platform with safety balustrade. 

Outside The Knoll is situated on a very generous garden plot, in excess of 1 acre, unusually preserved so close to the city centre and very well screened with a variety of mature trees and shrubs. There is a good size, south facing level lawn providing an excellent amenity to the house.

The Knoll has the main driveway off Westbourne Road with a secondary driveway opening, not in current use. There is a lower car parking facility and plenty of parking on to the front of the house and a separate detached garage block and store.