Wolsingham, Bishop Auckland

Coves House is an exceptional Grade II listed country residence occupying a wonderfully private and picturesque position overlooking the beautiful Weardale countryside.

Rich in history, character and architectural interest, the property provides substantial and highly versatile accommodation together with a collection of ancillary buildings, secondary accommodation and approximately 6.18 acres of gardens, grounds and paddocks.

The house has been sensitively restored and improved by the current owners, retaining a wealth of period features whilst creating a comfortable and characterful family home. Alongside the principal residence are Stables Cottage, a converted former stable block and a substantial event venue/bunkhouse, providing considerable flexibility for multi-generational living, working from home, guest accommodation or potential income-producing uses.

For purchasers requiring a larger country holding, further adjoining land is available by separate negotiation.

Coves House - The principal house provides substantial accommodation arranged predominantly over two floors, with additional attic rooms offering further potential, subject to any necessary consents.

At the heart of the house is the impressive Long Room, a wonderfully proportioned principal reception room providing ample space for both sitting and dining areas. The scale of the room, combined with its period character and outlook, makes it particularly well suited to entertaining.

The kitchen has tremendous character, with the traditional inglenook fireplace and Aga forming a natural focal point. The practical accommodation is complemented by a laundry room and boot room, particularly useful given the property's rural setting.

A separate library provides another attractive reception space and offers flexibility as a study or home office if required.

The bedroom accommodation is equally generous. The principal bedroom benefits from its own en-suite facilities, with five further bedrooms served by additional bathrooms and WCs.

There is also useful cellar accommodation incorporating the boiler room and gun store, while the attic rooms provide further potential to extend the usable accommodation of the house, subject to the appropriate listed building and planning consents.

Part of the house has previously been arranged to provide spacious self-contained guest accommodation and has formerly operated as farmhouse bed and breakfast accommodation.

This element of the property provides considerable flexibility. It could continue to provide independent accommodation for guests or extended family or potentially support a future hospitality or accommodation business, subject to any necessary consents and the purchaser's requirements.

Event Venue & Bunkhouse - A particularly interesting feature of Coves House is the substantial event venue and bunkhouse.

Originally converted from a redundant cattle building in 2010, parts of the building were subsequently adapted to provide accommodation, and it has historically been used for small events, group gatherings and other activities.

The scale of the building provides a significant amount of additional space and creates considerable potential for a purchaser wishing to develop complementary leisure, hospitality, business or recreational uses.

Alternatively, the building could simply provide extensive private recreational, hobby, studio or storage accommodation, subject to the necessary consents.

The building also benefits from renewable-energy infrastructure, including solar thermal panels for hot water and a wood pellet boiler serving the central heating system.

Stables Cottage - Stables Cottage provides valuable secondary accommodation separate from the principal house.

The cottage comprises an expansive open-plan living space together with two bedrooms, each benefiting from its own en-suite shower room.

The accommodation enjoys attractive elevated views across the paddocks and surrounding countryside and could be particularly well suited to extended family, guests, staff accommodation or potential letting use.

Farm Office / Cottage Annexe - A converted former stable block provides another extremely useful and flexible element to Coves House.

The building has been finished to a high specification and incorporates an open-plan office, kitchen, bathroom and mezzanine.

Originally utilised in connection with the operation of the estate, the quality and configuration of the accommodation give it considerable potential for a variety of alternative purposes.

It could provide an excellent home office, studio or business space, while there may also be potential for ancillary residential or guest accommodation, subject to obtaining any necessary planning, listed building or other regulatory consents.

(Both Stables Cottage & the Farm Office/Annexe are currently rented to the same tenants for a rent of £1,000 per calendar month.)

Gardens & Grounds - The gardens surrounding Coves House are an important part of its appeal and provide a wonderfully established setting for the historic house.

The current owners have invested considerable time in restoring and developing the gardens, creating a variety of attractive areas for outdoor entertaining, relaxation and family use.

Mature trees, traditional stone walls, lawns and terraces combine with the surrounding countryside to create a particularly private and peaceful environment.
The elevated position affords beautiful views over the surrounding Weardale landscape, while the paddocks provide an attractive rural outlook as well as practical amenity land.

Closer to the main residence is a traditional range incorporating garages and a workshop, adding further practical space and enhancing the versatility of the property.

Land - Coves House is offered with approximately 6.18 acres in all, incorporating the house, buildings, gardens, grounds and paddocks.

The paddock land includes parcels of approximately 3 acres and 1.28 acres, providing useful grazing and amenity land immediately associated with the house.

The configuration gives the purchaser the benefits of a genuine country property without the responsibility of managing a significantly larger agricultural holding.

Planning permission was granted for a timber stable block in September 2016 under reference DM/16/02194/FPA but will require renewing to be constructed.

Stabling, Outbuildings & Additional Land Available - For purchasers looking to acquire a larger holding, further adjoining land, stabling and outbuildings is available by separate negotiation.

60.33 acres of additional land available as detailed on the blue line on the neighbouring map.

A large agricultural building provides general-purpose storage and incorporates four loose boxes, making the property particularly attractive to buyers with equestrian interests.

There is also a substantial concrete yard providing useful space for machinery, vehicles and general storage.

Sporting & Recreational Appeal - The additional land at Coves House will undoubtedly appeal to purchasers with an interest in the countryside and outdoor pursuits.

Historically, the additional land has supported a variety of country sports and recreational activities, with the combination of pasture, woodland, ponds and surrounding countryside creating a particularly attractive environment. The farm has operated a small shoot providing clays of up to 50 birds on four drives.

The sporting rights, insofar as they are owned, are included in the sale, while mineral rights are excluded and reserved to a third party.

Rights Of Way & Access - The property is crossed by two public footpaths. The definitive routes of the public rights of way should be referred to when considering the property, although the routes generally used on the ground follow established tracks.

The property is sold subject to existing rights, easements, wayleaves and covenants.

The vendors will retain appropriate rights of access over the existing access route to any land retained following completion.

Full details of the proposed retained rights and boundaries will be provided
through the vendors' solicitors.

Location - Coves House occupies an enviable rural position approximately two miles from the centre of Wolsingham, an attractive and historic market village situated beside the River Wear in Weardale.

The surrounding countryside provides exceptional opportunities for walking, cycling, riding and outdoor pursuits, with a network of footpaths and routes running through the wider landscape.

Wolsingham itself provides a useful range of everyday facilities including shops, medical facilities and other local businesses, together with primary and secondary schooling.

For independent education, a number of highly regarded schools can be found within the wider region, including options in Barnard Castle, Durham and Newcastle.

Despite its rural setting, Coves House remains well positioned for access to the principal regional centres. Durham City is approximately 17.4 miles away, Newcastle city centre approximately 25.2 miles and Newcastle International Airport approximately 28.9 miles.

Durham and Newcastle provide extensive shopping, cultural, leisure and educational facilities together with mainline rail connections to destinations throughout the UK.

Directions - From the centre of Wolsingham, head west along Front Street/A689. After passing Wolsingham School, continue for approximately 0.9 miles before turning left and crossing the bridge over the River Wear.

Immediately after the bridge, follow the road as it turns sharply right and then left onto the country lane. Continue along the lane for approximately 0.4 miles, keeping right when passing the farm buildings. Shortly afterwards, keep right and follow the track towards Coves House.

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Services, Utilities & Property Information - The property benefits from mains electricity, private spring water and private sewage disposal.

The private water source is located on land outside the title area, with rights of access and maintenance associated with the supply. The water has historically been filtered and treated to satisfy the Private Water Regulations.

The property has a private sewage disposal system. Any electricity assets are under an easement to Northern Powergrid.

The event venue benefits from solar thermal panels providing hot water together with a wood pellet boiler serving its central heating.

Optic Fibre broadband is on the property but not installed in the buildings.

Agents Note - Please note that some of the photographs used in these details were taken in 2021.

Viewing Arrangements - Strictly via the vendors' agent; Fine & Country Durham and North Yorkshire -