Bramshaw, Lyndhurst, Hampshire, SO43

Fountain Court is an outstanding Grade ll listed Arts and Craftsmanor house built in 1916 by Sir George and Lady Thursby. The Thursby fortune was made from coal mining in Lancashire. Sir George Thursby was a founding member of the British Field Sports Society, an amateur Jockey, and Master of the New Forest Buck Hounds. He entertained lavishly at Fountain Court. Queen Mary often visited during Cowes Week to stay with her friend Lady Thursby. The Baronetcy became extinct on his death in 1941.

Completely surrounded by the New Forest, the house is designed to maximise its setting. The approach is up a long sweeping drive through the lovely grounds. The formal rooms are beautifully proportioned and open to a fabulous terrace and swimming pool that overlooks the lake. All the main bedrooms also have views to the lake. As expected from a house designed for entertaining, Fountain Court has a superb range of utility rooms, a back staircase that leads to the laundry area and 2 bedroom staff flat making 11 bedrooms in total.
The present owners, who have been at Fountain Court for more than 10 years, have taken great care to keep the house true to its heritage and any refurbishment has been carried out with great attention to detail, maintaining a wonderful, light and comfortable family home. The owners have also added a new orangery, with a separate kitchen and with an existing wine cellar for 1500 bottles.

The formal rooms are beautifully proportioned and open onto a fabulous terrace with views over the grounds. The main reception rooms include a drawing room, dining room, sitting room, library, staff kitchen, breakfast room, kitchen and orangery. Upstairs is a master bedroom suite with 2 bedrooms, 2 dressing rooms and bathroom, 5 further en suite bedrooms, study/further bedroom and laundry room. The house stands on a wonderful terrace surrounded by a beautiful 10 acre garden which includes a rose garden and orchard. The view from the house is dominated by a five acre lake with a large boat house, gazebo and island hide. There is a staff flat, separate Grade II listed cottage, swimming pool, tennis court, outbuildings, 6 stables, five paddocks, manège, tack rooms and a private entrance onto 90,000 acres of New Forest. In all about 65 acres.

M27 3 miles. Southampton 13 miles. Salisbury 14 miles. Winchester 19 miles. Lymington 14 miles. Distances and times are approximate.

The property is set within the beautiful New Forest National Park, a medieval deer hunting area created by William the Conqueror in 1079. It is still largely in the possession of the Crown, comprising woodland pasture, heaths, bogs and the remains of 17th, 18th & 19th century coppices and timber plantations. It is grazed by the ponies, cattle and pigs of the local “commoners” which add to the picturesque charm of the area. It is a walking and riding paradise unmatched anywhere in the south of England. Southampton and the Cathedral City of Salisbury have an extensive range of shops, restaurants and supermarkets. Lyndhurst, capital of the New Forest, is 5 miles away. The Solent, an important recreational area for water sports - particularly yachting, hosting the Cowes week sailing event - is 14 miles. Bramshaw Golf Club, with its highly regarded Manor course and the infamous Forest course, is 5 minutes. Southampton Airport is 13 miles and takes about 20 minutes by car. Heathrow Airport is 69 miles and can take 75 minutes. A direct train service runs from Southampton Parkway station to Waterloo taking 65 minutes. There is an excellent selection of private schools in the area including Chafyn Grove, Godolphin, Leehurst Swan and Leadenhall in Salisbury, Moyles Court at Ringwood, the Gregg and King Edward VI at Southampton, Embley Park, The Stroud and Stanbridge Earls at Romsey and Sandle Manor at Fordingbridge.