Ashley, Tetbury, Gloucestershire, GL8

Exquisite Grade II* listed Manor, steeped in history, with a fascinating timeline to the present day.

Description

During their 22-year tenure, the present owners have undertaken extensive renovation work, with meticulous attention to detail, painstakingly restoring the Manor to its former glory.
They commissioned award winning architects Watson, Bertram & Fell to undertake the restoration. The result is a stunning family home, fit for 21st century living, that epitomises warmth and welcome, whilst providing the ability to entertain at scale.

Original architectural and design details abound throughout the house. These include intricately carved oak panelled walls, stone mullioned leaded light windows, 24 and 28 pane sash windows with window seats, wooden shutters and chamfered beams with unusual heart carvings. Very tall ceilings, tall Georgian French doors, striking stone fireplaces, and original flagstone and elm floors, all feature and tell the story of this fascinating Manor.

The tall ceilings and large windows throughout flood the house with natural light. The walls, finished with authentic lime render and painted in muted shades of casein distemper, create a soft and warm ambience to the interior.

The dual aspect, striking dining hall spans the depth of the east wing of the house. This room has a large open fireplace, deep window seats and unusual carved oak panelled walls, which continue down the hallway to the west wing.

The west wing, formed of the central library with the beautiful drawing room and sitting room either side. Each room has pairs of tall Georgian doors, providing the ability to open up creating a generous entertainment space. The library, with its booklined walls and semi glazed French doors has stunning long views through the Plane Tree Avenue and beyond.

The drawing room and sitting room, both dual aspect, share the wonderful views. Both have beautiful open fireplaces and window seats. The drawing room also features full height painted panelled walls.

The dual aspect kitchen, still retains its magnificent stone fire surround, now housing the four door Aga. Bespoke, painted wooden cabinetry sits beneath granite worktops. A door opens to the southerly terrace and south lawn below. Two sets of doors open directly to the dining hall, creating flexibility when entertaining. Just off is a utility room with walk-in larder.

The extensive cellars are accessed via a stone staircase from the cloakroom. One of the cellars housing the boilers and hot water tanks, is used as a drying room, the other for storage and still retains its original well.
The main staircase, accessed through a stone arch off the library, winds to the first floor.


Outside
The driveway to Ashley Manor meanders gently round, past the Grade I listed, 12th century church, to a gravelled courtyard, where the entrance to the house sits centrally between box parterres, beneath the magnificent and architecturally fascinating north elevation of the house.

The gardens and land wrap around the house with the beautiful church to the easterly aspect. The exquisite gardens are formed as a series of rooms surrounding the house, separated by mature yew hedging and mellow Cotswold stone walls. Designed and implemented by the present owners, they display a wonderfully naturalistic style throughout.

The south and west lawns both have deep herbaceous borders frothing with imaginative and successive planting and colour, both with delightful stone terraces. French doors open from the library to steps that drop to the terrace bordering the west lawn. Here wisteria festoons the walls of the house. During summer months croquet becomes the focus of this garden. Striking far reaching views have been created through an avenue of oriental plane trees to the uninterrupted Cotswold views beyond. Adjacent, is the topiary garden and summerhouse garden. The latter with its south facing Cotswold stone summerhouse, presently used as an art studio, and a natural pond is a wonderful spot to while away time. The enclosed swimming pool garden, with its stylish, Georgian inspired pool house, is situated to the southern boundary. A well-established vegetable and herb garden is formed around two sides, planted specifically to attract pollinators.

Beyond the gardens is a very productive orchard, the second natural pond beneath the canopy of a small copse, the walnut paddock, and the main paddock with the Plane Tree Avenue. Beyond the ha-ha is the 11.4 acre field.

A second driveway leads from the entrance courtyard, through the land to the lane towards Tetbury.
The gardens have been open for the National Garden Scheme and a bi-annual local charity event, Twenty Magical Gardens, organised by The Friends of Tetbury Hospital.

Square Footage: 6,566 sq ft


Acreage: 17.2 Acres