Location

Shorne Hill is situated within the Eastern Edge of the New Forest National Park. The property is excellently located for road, rail, and air communications, lying half a mile from junction 2 of the M27, giving fast access to Winchester and London via the M3. Southampton Airport Parkway train station (5 miles) makes for a convenient park and travel with train journey times within 90 minutes to London Waterloo. There are also international airports at Southampton and Bournemouth.

The New Forest National Park offers an array of outdoor activities including golf, walking, cycling, horse riding, sailing and a village cricket. Commoners’ cattle, ponies, and donkeys roam throughout the open heath and much of the woodland, and it is largely their grazing that maintains the open character of the Forest. There are also wild deer and during pannage pigs will eat the acorns. The Broadlands Estate (3 miles) is a wonderful venue for chalk stream fly fishing on the river Test. The South Coast and Isle of Wright are both within easy reach.

There are two highly acclaimed restaurants nearby: The original Pig in Brockenhurst and Limewood Hotel and Herb House Spa. The village of Lyndhurst (4 miles), the capital of the New Forest provides a wide range of amenities including a doctors’ surgery. The nearest Waitrose is in the market town of Romsey (5 miles), whilst Southampton, Salisbury and Winchester provide all the services expected of large and historic Cathedral cities.

There is an excellent selection of state and independent schools in the area such as King Edward VI (Southampton) and Peter Symonds College.

Description

Shorne Hill is a unique Grade II Listed country house designed by the late Ernest Willmott, pupil of Sir Herbert Baker and constructed in 1908. The property is an excellent example of a fine English building built in the Dutch South African style with an imposing tall colonial gable with curved pediment over the bowed garden porch, balcony over and a mansard roof. The round pergola columns with open timber roof running along the top terrace support mature wisteria and bind the east and west gardens to the house. This is a rare opportunity to purchase a property that has only changed hands three times.

The E-shaped formation allows for the main reception rooms and bedrooms to all have a picturesque South aspect. A wide and long hallway, and impressive barrel-vaulted landing gives access to these beautifully proportioned rooms. A large modern family kitchen and breakfast room extension was sympathetically added in 2012 along with an internal upgrade including: a new central heating system, full rewire, floor insulation, three bathrooms and restoration of the many character features.

In addition to the main accommodation there is a service wing comprising of laundry area, gym, and several storage rooms. The two bedroomed annexe on the first floor can be accessed from either the main landing or secondary staircase from the service wing. Mains water and electric, private drainage (sewage treatment plant), oil fired central heating. The Stables, adjacent to the paddocks is available under separate negotiation. The detached property is lawfully non ancillary and has planning permission and listed building consent for alterations to create a four bedroomed family property with annexe and separate garage.

GARDENS
The main approach to the property is via a long private sweeping drive lined by rhododendron’s leading to a forecourt enclosed by copper beech hedging. A secondary approach is via a 140m Avenue lined by lime trees and with views over the two, five-acre paddocks.

The property is in an elevated and central position within its 14.5 acres of land, offering a good degree of privacy and seclusion. To the north of the main approach is a spur of mature woodland carpeted with bracken and seasonal bluebells. The formal gardens are in a tiered arrangement adding interest and functionality with a mix of part stone part lawn terrace, central stone steps lead to a further lower tiered lawn enclosed by yew hedges, flower beds and a recently created stone pond surrounded by pleached beech trees. Beyond the formal gardens to the East is parkland and a 1.3 acre walled garden with greenhouse and storage/working area. This area needs restoration but may offer scope for ancillary development.