Montgomery Manor, English Bicknor, Gloucestershire

This grand nine-bedroom home lies in English Bicknor, a pretty village in the Wye Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Grade II-listed, the house is defined by its period features, including arched windows with Gothic tracery, an oak-panelled dining room and a 17th-century tower. A large basement beneath the house has a dedicated wine cellar, and is currently used as a bar and entertaining area. Over two acres of gardens surround the house, including a large walled gardens and land suitable for grazing.



Setting the Scene



The village of English Bicknor lies close to the River Wye (on the opposite side of the river is its counterpart, Welsh Bicknor). The surrounding area has a rich industrial heritage centred around quarrying, coal mining, charcoal burning and ironmaking.



This fine stone-built manor originally served as a hall house in the 16th century, with later additions made in the 18th century. It was home to the Wyrall family, who were prominent landowners and foresters, until the 1800s. In the late 19th century, Dorothea Bate lived in the house, a pioneering palaeontologist who became international renowned for her expertise in fossilised mammals.



The house retains many of its original features, including arched windows with Gothic tracery, an oak-panelled dining room and a 17th-century tower accessed via a spiral staircase.



The Grand Tour



A sweeping driveway forms the approach to the house, its grounds embraced by a stone wall with wrought-iron gates. A panelled front door set into a neat pedimented doorcase opens onto an entrance hall of grand proportions, its walls washed in a deep plum tone.



A vast drawing room lies to the rear; here, French doors to the garden sit beneath a transom window with pretty tracery, and an original fireplace with stone surround occupies a central position.



At the front of the house, a light-filled morning room has original timber floorboards and shuttered sash windows. In the dining room, original oak panelling lines the walls; a section above the fireplace has an intricately carved motif, thought to have been salvaged from an Elizabethan four-poster bed at Clearwell Castle when it burned down in 1929.



The kitchen lies in the oldest part of the house. A large stone fireplace surround now houses an electric Aga, while built-in oak cabinetry is complemented by a tiled splashback. On the opposite side of the room, smart joinery is washed in cherry red, and there is an adjoining pantry and cold store. A spiral staircase ascends to a 17th-century tower, where three of the bedrooms can also be accessed.



This floor is also home to a peaceful study and a guest WC, the latter finished with Warner House wallpaper.



An original staircase ascends to the first floor, where there are four bedrooms. The principal is illuminated by two tall sash windows with treetop views. There is a brick fireplace, and original floorboards underfoot. It has an en suite bathroom, and there is a shared bathroom on this floor.



There are five further bedrooms; four on the second floor, and one on the third. House of Hackney wallpaper and classic papers by William Morris feature in the bedrooms, paired with either Farrow and Ball, or Edward Bulmer paints.



In the basement there are a series of versatile spaces, currently used as a bar, a wine cellar and and entertaining area.



The Great Outdoors



The garden is situated to the west of the house and is embraced by stone walls. A small stone building in the corner of the walled garden is thought to be part of a pair of early gatehouses from the 1500s or 1600s.



The grounds also include an area of steep, enclosed land across the lane from the pillared entrance measuring approximately 1.23 acres. This land has previously been grazed by sheep and horses and has pretty views towards English Bicknor.



Out and About



English Bicknor is a pretty village that sits within the Wye Valley Area of Natural Beauty, on the westerly edge of the Forest of Dean. It has a village hall and a primary school, with further amenities found in nearby Coleford. The pretty town of Monmouth is also close by, and has an excellent selection of independent shops.



The house is perfectly positioned for exploring in nature. The iconic Symonds Yat Rock and its panoramic river views is an eight-minute drive from the house, while the ancient woodlands of the Forest of Dean are only slightly further afield.



There are several schooling options in the area, including English Bicknor C of E Primary, Five Acres High School and the highly regarded Haberdashers’ Monmouth all-through school.



Lydney rail station is a 26-minute drive away, and runs regular services to Newport. From here, connections can be made to London Paddington. Gloucester train station is also reachable in around 35 minutes, with direct services from here to London in around one hour and 40 minutes.



Council Tax Band: G