Martyr Worthy, Winchester, Hampshire, SO21

A magnificent Grade II listed period home that has been meticulously renovated to the highest specification with delightful landscaped gardens.

Description

Martyr Worthy Place is a magnificent and expansive home that has been meticulously restored through an extensive renovation. This historic property, with its Queen Anne, Georgian, and Edwardian influences, is featured in the Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England. A perfect blend of original and contemporary comforts, it offers a truly exceptional living space. The house is set within beautifully landscaped gardens, and many rooms boast uninterrupted, south-facing views across the rolling hills of the South Downs National Park.

Approached via a tree-lined gravel drive, the stately entrance leads into a grand reception hall, complete with original parquet flooring and a sweeping staircase. The generous, double-aspect drawing room opens out to the terrace and garden, featuring a cosy wood burner. Next to it, the morning room offers a bay window and an open fireplace, making it an inviting, informal space. The dining room is a striking space, fully wood-panelled with a dramatic stone open fireplace. The kitchen, designed by the current owners has a central island, bar seating, a range cooker, and integrated appliances, making it a wonderful family room. The open-plan living space is spacious and versatile, offering room for a large informal dining table and a cosy seating area, with French doors leading to the south-facing terrace and garden. Adjacent to this area is the utility room, equipped with an American-style fridge-freezer, as well as a boot room, hallway, and back staircase that leads to a large cellar, which includes both a wine cellar and a gym. This part of the house also provides access to an annex, featuring a living room, kitchen, bedroom and shower room.

Upstairs, the generous sized principal bedroom has breath-taking south-facing views. The en suite bathroom is elegantly appointed with a roll-top bath and a spacious walk-in shower, and it connects to a separate dressing room. A library with exposed beams, a wood burner, and shelves of books is situated next to the main bedroom, offering an ideal space for a home office. There are two more bedroom suites with well-designed bath rooms, as well as a laundry room and a separate cloakroom. There is a staff flat which includes a sitting room with a kitchen area, a bedroom, and a shower room. The second floor, accessible by a sweeping staircase, features four additional bedrooms (one with an en suite bathroom), a separate shower room, and attic storage.

OUTSIDE
The stunning gardens, which have been redesigned by landscape designer John Brookes, blend formal and informal planting to create a variety of distinct spaces. The south garden, bordered by a brick wall and espaliered hornbeam trees, features a sunken garden with a globe water feature. There is an original croquet lawn, formal terrace, and tranquil pond with a fountain flowing through yew hedges into wildflower meadows. Additional lawns, woodlands, a walled kitchen garden, and terraces offer plenty of space for outdoor entertainment. In a secluded corner, shielded by a clipped yew hedge and brick wall, lies a newly built heated swimming pool with a wide stone terrace and pool house.

Location

Martyr Worthy is a delightful rural village situated to the east of Winchester in the heart of the Itchen Valley. It is an exceptional location for access to central Winchester which offers a superb range of amenities as well as renowned schooling including Winchester College, St Swithun’s School and Peter Symonds Sixth Form College. Preparatory education can be found at Prince’s Mead in Abbots Worthy, Pilgrims’ in Winchester and Twyford School. The pretty market town Alresford is 5 miles east which has lots of independent shops and a weekly market.

Communications are excellent with the M3 (junction 9) 3 miles away, providing fast access to central London, London Heathrow and Gatwick to the north and Southampton and its airport to the south. There is a train service from Winchester to London Waterloo from 58 minutes.

Hampshire is renowned for chalk stream fishing and the River Itchen is regarded by many as one of the best fly-fishing rivers in the country. There are also some beautiful walks in the area, with the Pilgrim’s Way giving access to a network of footpaths. The south coast, with numerous sailing opportunities is close at hand and there are golf courses at Winchester and Alresford. Winchester is an historic cultural hub with many excellent restaurants, a farmers’ market, Cathedral and the Theatre Royal.

Square Footage: 10,064 sq ft


Acreage: 6 Acres

Additional Info

Mains water, electricity and gas. Private drainage (septic tank).
Freehold
Council Tax Band F