Areley Lane, Stourport-on-Severn, Worcestershire

Description

Owned by the same family for 35 years, the property is now offered for sale with immediate vacant possession, the sellers having already secured their next home. The accommodation is extensive, extending to approximately 350 square metres (3,767 square feet) across three floors, plus large cellarage, outbuildings, a double carport and timber garaging. The house lends itself superbly to entertaining, with generous reception rooms and expansive outside areas suitable for events, parties and lifestyle uses, while the paddock land offers potential for the keeping of recreational horses and livestock, subject to requisite consents.

Setting

Described perfectly as “a country house in the town”, The Lower House combines a distinct rural feel with a highly accessible location. Dating from circa 1705, it is believed to have originally served as the farmhouse for the historic Areley Hall Estate, which has even earlier origins tracing back to the late 16th century. The setting is exceptional within the Areley Kings Conservation Area, a timeless and leafy enclave close to the picturesque banks of the River Severn. The conservation character appraisal of the location by Wyre Forest District Council refers to the property directly as “a fine example of Queen-Anne architecture”. The property displays the balanced symmetry and handsome proportions typical of the period, with tall sash windows, a central entrance door with classical detailing and mellow red-brick elevations that sit harmoniously within the surrounding landscape. To the rear, a modern oak framed garden room enjoys views across the back lawns and paddock (truncated)

Location

Areley Kings is a small village community on the edge of Stourport-on-Severn, lying just over the river and approximately one mile south-west of the town centre. Despite this proximity, it retains an authentic village atmosphere, with its own church, amenities, green spaces and an active community. Stourport-on-Severn is surrounded by glorious North Worcestershire countryside yet benefits from a superb geographical position between the two major cities of Worcester and Birmingham, each offering extensive cultural, retail and employment opportunities. • Worcester is approximately 12 miles to the south, providing access to the M5 motorway. • Birmingham, the vibrant Second City, lies around 21 miles to the north-east. With a population of around 20,000, Stourport is an historic Georgian riverside town whose development was shaped by the canal system, once serving as one of the principal distributing centres for goods across the West Midlands. The location also offers (truncated)

Schooling

The area is ideally placed for families, offering access to well-regarded public and independent schools. Primary schools include Areley Kings Primary School, St Bartholomew’s CE Primary School, Astley CE Primary and Wilden All Saints CE Primary. Secondary education is provided locally by The Stourport High School & Sixth Form College, with other options available across the Wyre Forest including Bewdley School and King Charles I School. For those seeking independent schooling, there is excellent provision nearby, including Kings Hawford and The King’s School Worcester, RGS Worcester and Winterfold House School at Chaddesley Corbett.

Boundaries

The purchaser shall be deemed to have full knowledge of all boundaries and neither the vendor nor the vendor's agents will be responsible for defining the boundaries or ownership thereof. The included plan is for identification purposes only.

Wayleaves, Easements, Rights of Way

The property is sold subject to, and with the benefit of, all easements and quasi-easements and rights of way, declared and undeclared and whether mentioned in these particulars or not. There are no rights of way through the gardens and grounds. The shared bridleway, over which the property is approached, is in itself a public right of way for pedestrians only and leads to the riverside. The property also has a right of way over Lower House Barn to access the paddock/pasture land.

Planning

The property is sold subject to any development plan, tree preservation order, town planning schedule, resolution or notice which may be, or become to be, in force, and subject to any road widening or improvement schemes, land charges and statutory provisions or bylaws without any obligation on the vendors to specify them. Our comments do not constitute advice and prospective purchasers should make their own independent enquiries. The property is located with the Areley Kings Conservation Area and is also Grade II Listed. The British Listed Buildings website records the property under Listing Entry, 1209444, along with the following description:-

Listing Entry

House. Early C18. Brick with hipped plain tiled roof. 3 storeyed, 3 bays, square in plan. Entrance front, faced in a redder brick, has central 6 panelled door with overlight in moulded doorcase with console brackets to architrave. 12-pane sash windows have flat arched rubbed brick heads. Horizontal sliding sashes to attic storey. Garden front also of three bays though central bay taken up by stack and with blind window recesses. Casements with mullions and transoms and small leaded panes in right hand bay. Long stair window in rear elevation. Additional bay to north east possibly early C20 century, with asymetrical gable. Side wall stacks. Original staircase survives inside.

Access is gained via door to:

'L' Shaped Reception Hall

with door concealing steps which descend to:

Cellarage and Cold Store

8.77 x 3.72 - plus 8.35m x 1.54m

From the Hall doors lead to:

Living Room

4.91 x 4.88 - with windows to front and side, open fireplace.

Dining Room

5.40 x 4.87 - [including Inglenook fireplace] with window to front elevation and Inglenook fireplace with wood burning stove.

Sitting Room

5.13 x 3.67 - [including chimney breast] with window to side elevation, door to side elevation opening to outside, fireplace with gas fire.

Study

2.90 x 2.45

Cloakroom/WC

with low level flush wc and hand wash basin.

Oak Framed Garden Room

3.65 x 2.90 - [max] facing south-east with windows to all sides and so with lots of natural light.

Utility Room

4.50 x 2.75 - with windows to side and rear, door opening to outside, range of wall and base mounted units, 'Worcester' central heating boiler.

Dining Kitchen

6.58 x 4.31 - [max] with two windows plus two roof lights and door to outside. Range of fitted units plus island, Belfast style twin sink, 'Rangemaster cooker.

Walk-In Pantry

2.73 x 2.17 - window to side elevation, fitted shelving and Belfast style sink.

From the Reception Hall a wide half turned staircase rises to:

First Floor Landing

Bedroom One

4.90 x 4.88 - with window to front elevation and door to:

Dressing Room

2.42 x 1.82 - [including fitted wardrobe] with window to front elevation.

Bedroom Two

5.05 x 5.04 - [max] with built-in cupboard, window to front elevation and door to:

En Suite Shower Room

2.07 x 1.24 - with low level flush wc, pedestal hand wash basin and enclosed cubicle with electric shower.

Bedroom Three

3.82 x 3.71 - [including chimney breast and fitted wardrobe] with window to side elevation.

Bathroom

3.65 x 2.04 - [including airing cupboard] with window to rear elevation, low level flush wc, pedestal hand wash basin and bath, fitted airing cupboard.

Shower Room

1.88 x 1.78 - with window to rear elevation, low level flush wc, hand wash basin and mixer shower.

Separate WC

2.36 x 1.16 - with low level flush wc, pedestal hand wash basin.

From the Landing a further door conceals access to stairs

which rise to:

Second Floor Landing

5.17 x 3.13 - [including stairs], doors to:

Bedroom Four

5.10 x 4.91 - with windows to front and side.

Bedroom Five

5.04 x 3.74 - with window to front elevation.

Sitting Area

3.94 x 3.75 - [max] with window to rear elevation and doors to:

WC

with low level flush wc and pedestal hand wash basin.

Bedroom Six

3.86 x 3.83 - [including chimney breast] windows to side and rear elevations.

Outside

Double gates open to an extensive gravelled driveway for numerous vehicles. A walled patio outside the kitchen contains a working restored hand pump.

Brick/Timber and Tile Double Carport

with adjoining Log Store.

Timber Double Garage

Field gates from this area also permit direct access into the PADDOCK/PASTURE LAND.

Gardens and Grounds

The property is held on two separate Titles. Please see the Promap for identification purposes ; this shows the gardens in blue and the pasture/paddock land in red.

The Gardens [1.157 acres]

Held under Title Number HW98290 to include the house with delightful wrap around gardens with extensive sheltered lawns, a section of which was formerly home to a grass tennis court. Further spacious lawns extend to the rear of the property and include stock proof fencing as the sheep are sometimes transferred here. There is also a vegetable garden and chicken run plus various stores and greenhouses. The gardens contain several diverse types of mature fruit trees.

Paddock/Pasture Land [1.543 acres]

Held under Title Number HW128519. Divided into two sections and currently used for sheep grazing - see photos. The land can be accessed directly from the formal gardens. Additionally the property also has a right of way over neighbouring home - Lower House Barn - which serves a further field gate which opens onto the top north-western boundary of the paddock/pasture. This also includes use for vehicles.