Le Frye House, Nailsea Court, Chelvey Road, Chelvey, North Somerset, BS48

Historical Note
Nailsea Court belonged in the thirteenth and early part of the fourteenth century to a family name Le Frye of Nailsea. It was built as an English Manor house. Pevsner (The Buildings of England: North Somerset and Bristol) describes the house as “historically highly instructive and interesting”. Over time the Court became a farmhouse and gradually fell into disrepair. In 1906, when Commander Evans bought the house it took seven years to restore under the guidance of Arthur L Stratton an architect and expert on Tudor houses. Please see brochure for full history details.

Le Frye House is the east wing and faces east and south, with wonderful open views across its park-like setting to open countryside, wooded hills and the adjoining land has excellent views of the surrounding countryside including to the Tyntesfield Estate at Wraxall (National Trust).

The present owners purchased the property in 2017 and have made major improvements to the exterior and interior including installing an excellent bespoke craftsman built kitchen with integrated appliances, and fitting an electric Aga into a large inglenook fireplace, complete with original settles on each side. Bath and shower rooms have been replaced where necessary. The interior is beautifully presented and has a lovely warm and friendly atmosphere.

All original features have been extremely well preserved.There are wood floors, stone mullion windows and window seats, wood panelled walls, oak panelled doors, beamed ceilings, and a fine oak staircase in the inner hall rises to the first and second floors. There is a secondary turning staircase in the breakfast kitchen that leads to the first and second floors.

The drawing room is a particularly atmospheric room, with four oak panelled walls and a stone fireplace fitted with a log burning stove. From the dining hall, an original solid oak door opens onto a flagstone courtyard garden. The first floor has the main bedroom suite, a bedroom and bath shower room and on the second floor, there are three bedrooms, one with en suite shower room and family bathroom.

Nailsea Court consists of a main three storey block with two wings with gabled roofs. The construction of the building includes four phases: the 15th century, the Elizabethan era, the 17th century and a restoration in the early 20th century. The interior has been changed many times since its construction. The building was split into three houses in 2000.

Outside
Nailsea Court is approached over a most impressive and long sweeping drive, creating its privacy and park-like setting. The open views over miles of countryside are outstanding. As you enter the property through the well manicured hedge you are on a large flagstone courtyard known as Pump Courtyard, which runs the length of the property on the East side. It has a substantial wall surrounding it with a set of stone stairs going to the north side of the house and dedicated parking spaces with a stone and tile garage adjoining the house.

Immediately at the rear of the House is an enclosed flagstone courtyard garden. Opposite the entrance courtyard is a large area of level lawn, once a grass tennis court. Adjacent to this area, through a white wooden gate is access to a small part walled paddock with raised beds and fruit trees, with a detached stone and tile 39' barn.

From the rear of the property, over a gravelled area, there is vehicular access to a paddock surrounded by recently rebuilt dry stone walls and farmland with superb open views.

Chelvey is a quiet and pretty hamlet comprising mainly period property located southwest of Bristol and about one and a half miles west of Backwell. It has a Grade I listed church. Nailsea Court is approached over a very impressive and sweeping tree lined long drive, creating its tranquillity and privacy. The open views looking over the woods on the northern slopes of the Mendip Hills are superb.

Backwell is a pleasant small village with the usual amenities including a farm shop nearby. Nailsea has an excellent range of shopping facilities including a Waitrose store, fish merchant, pharmacies and numerous cafes and restaurants.

The Backwell Academy is Ofsted rated 'good'. Private schooling is available in Bristol, Sidcot and the Downs Preparatory School at Wraxall. There are two primary schools in Backwell both rated 'outstanding' by Ofsted.