Bream Road, Lydney, GL15

Highbury House is an exceptional Grade II listed Georgian residence, believed to have been built originally for a mining manager, and occupies an elevated position overlooking the surrounding countryside. Rich in history, colour and architectural character, it combines the grandeur and proportions of a period country house with the comfort and practicality required for modern family life.

A particularly important feature of the property is the established holiday letting business operated from the handsome Victorian Coach House. Providing four individual two-bedroom holiday apartments, the Coach House represents a genuine income-producing opportunity alongside the main residence.

Each apartment has been thoughtfully designed and presented with its own identity and character, meaning that they do not feel like standardised holiday accommodation. Each offers guests a distinctive experience, while all benefit from the attractive setting and striking views across the valley, open countryside and towards the Forest of Dean.

The business currently enjoys occupancy of around 80%, comfortably covering its running costs and delivering a healthy profit with relatively little input. For prospective purchasers, this offers the unusual opportunity to acquire a substantial country house together with an established, up-and-running holiday business which can contribute significantly towards the cost of running the property.

The Main House

A grand entrance hall immediately establishes the character of Highbury House, with generous proportions and a wealth of original Georgian detailing. The rear hallway leads to an impressive, recently upgraded kitchen, where a striking skylight floods the room with natural light.

A large central island provides seating for four, while extensive storage and a comprehensive range of integral appliances make this a superb space for both family life and entertaining. An Aga sits within an attractive fireplace, complemented by modern ovens, hob and wine cooler.

Also accessed from the rear hallway are a cloakroom, utility room and staircase leading to the cellar.

The elegant drawing room is a particularly impressive reception space, with full-height shuttered windows facing south and east, capturing lovely views over the gardens. A glazed door opens onto the terrace, while an attractive fireplace and connecting doors to the dining room allow the two rooms to be used independently or opened together for larger-scale entertaining.

The dining room features its own stone fireplace and views across the south-facing gardens, while the morning room is arguably one of the property's most special spaces. Large picture windows frame superb easterly views across open fields towards Lydney and the Severn Vale.

Original fireplaces, dado rails and ceiling cornicing continue the Georgian character found throughout the house.

On the first floor are four generous bedrooms, each retaining its period character. The principal bedroom is particularly striking, with floor-to-ceiling picture windows framing distant views across the surrounding landscape.

The family bathroom and Jack-and-Jill bathrooms have all been comprehensively refurbished and feature underfloor heating.

Independent Self-Contained Apartment

The house also incorporates a self-contained one-bedroom apartment, accessed either via its own private ground-floor staircase or directly from the first-floor landing of the main house.

The apartment has its own hallway leading to a comfortable sitting room with fireplace and attractive bay window with window seat, together with a well-appointed kitchen and en-suite bedroom.

It provides considerable flexibility, whether for visiting family and friends, multi-generational living, staff accommodation or continued rental use, subject to any necessary consents.

Highbury Coach House

Four Individual Two-Bedroom Holiday Apartments:

The Coach House is, in my view, one of the property's most compelling features and an aspect of the marketing that I believe deserves much greater prominence.

This handsome Victorian, stone-fronted, two-storey building has been thoughtfully converted to provide four individual two-bedroom holiday apartments, each beautifully presented and deliberately different in style.

Each apartment has its own name, personality and identity, creating four separate holiday experiences rather than a collection of uniform rental units. They have been successfully operated as an established holiday letting business and currently achieve occupancy of around 80%.

The apartments benefit from the wonderful setting of Highbury House, with far-reaching valley and countryside views, attractive gardens and excellent access to the Forest of Dean and Wye Valley.

The Tack Room

Located on the ground floor, The Tack Room is vibrant, colourful and full of character. Its open-plan kitchen, dining and sitting room centres around a fireplace with wood-burning stove, with two attractive bedrooms positioned either side of a Jack-and-Jill shower room.

A charming outdoor seating area provides the perfect place for guests to relax and enjoy the setting.

The Grooms

Also located on the ground floor, The Grooms offers stylish open-plan living with a fully fitted kitchen, dining and sitting area.

The apartment was fully refurbished in 2021, including the two bedrooms and bathroom, and has been exceptionally well maintained. An outdoor terrace provides superb views across the gardens and fields beyond.

The Stables

Accessed via stone steps to the first floor, The Stables was refurbished in 2021 and offers stylish open-plan accommodation.

The main kitchen, dining and sitting space features a vaulted ceiling, creating a wonderful sense of volume, space and natural light. There are two double bedrooms and a modern bathroom.

The Carriage

Situated on the first floor, The Carriage was refurbished in 2022 and features a fitted kitchen with breakfast bar, which divides the kitchen from the open-plan dining and sitting area.

The accommodation includes two double bedrooms and a separate shower room.

Together, the four apartments provide an attractive and established holiday letting business with a proven trading history. Their individuality, quality of presentation, excellent location and striking valley views are important elements of their appeal.

Gardens and Grounds

Highbury House is approached through a walled entrance with stone pillars, opening into a generous parking area providing ample space for both the owners and holiday guests.

The gardens extend to over half an acre and have been beautifully landscaped and terraced using natural stone.

A series of seating areas, ponds, mature trees, established shrubs and lawns create a wonderful succession of spaces, with both sunny and shaded areas to enjoy throughout the day.

Behind the Coach House is a generous sitting and dining area, while winding paths lead through the gardens to two ponds and a large lawn. The gardens then rise towards the more formal areas in front of the house.

The property's elevated position is a defining feature. Bordered by open fields and woodland, the gardens enjoy far-reaching views across the valley and towards the Forest of Dean, with the Dean Forest Railway steam train occasionally providing an especially charming backdrop.

The Location

Highbury House sits just outside Lydney, close to the heart of this historic riverside market town on the edge of the Forest of Dean.

Local shops, services and amenities are within walking distance, while Lydney railway station is less than two miles away, providing useful connections for both residents and holiday guests.

The surrounding area offers an outstanding range of attractions, including the Forest of Dean, Wye Valley National Landscape, Lydney Park and its Roman remains, the Dean Forest Railway and numerous walking, cycling and outdoor pursuits.

The wider region, including the Cotswolds and Severn Vale, is also readily accessible.

 A Home and a Business:

Highbury House is an unusually versatile proposition. It combines a substantial and characterful Grade II listed Georgian home, a separate self-contained apartment and an established holiday letting business within the Coach House.

For the current owners, the combination has provided both a wonderful home and an effective source of income. The four holiday apartments have an established trading history, strong occupancy and their own distinct identities, all enhanced by their superb valley views and attractive setting.

For a new owner, Highbury House therefore offers the opportunity to acquire not simply an impressive country residence, but an established income-producing hospitality business, all within an exceptionally attractive part of the Forest of Dean and Wye Valley.

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Vendor Interview

We were attracted to Highbury House as an imposing building in a beautiful setting, perched on a hill with wonderful valley and forest views, say the owners of this Grade II listed home. We were also looking for a way to generate income, and taking on a profitable, up-and-running holiday letting business alongside the house made total sense

Highbury House not only has a great layout with plenty of space for day-to-day living and entertaining, they explain, it also includes a self-contained one-bedroom apartment with an en-suite, kitchen and living space. The Coach House offers a further four two-bedroom apartments. Current occupancy sits at around 80 per cent, comfortably covering running costs and delivering a healthy profit with very little input.

Since moving in five years ago, the owners have undertaken a series of thoughtful upgrades to the main house. We fully upgraded the kitchen and added a fantastic skylight, they say. It now has a large island with seating for four and generous storage. The family bathroom and Jack-and-Jill bathrooms have also been completely refurbished, all with underfloor heating.

While the house can feel grand, it is equally grounded in everyday comfort. You might expect our favourite moments to be those evenings spent relaxing in the drawing room, feeling a bit like Lord and Lady of the manor, they admit, but it's actually our first cup of tea in the morning room that we love most. From the picture windows, birds and woodpeckers gather as the forest beyond shifts with the seasons. Throughout, generous proportions define the house: a dining room that seats fourteen, original fireplaces and shutters, and a sweeping entrance hall, all combining to create a home that feels both stately and welcoming.