A little digging has unearthed a great deal about the inhabitants of Seechem Manor, a medieval manor house in Rowney Green Lane, Alvechurch, Worcestershire.
It was the previous owners, who purchased the 500 year old property in 1973, that uncovered the documentary, architectural and archeological evidence revealing its history.
The story of the present house begins during the War of the Roses. In the spring of 1474 (recently proved by tree ring dating), oaks were cut down to build a substantial open hall house at Seechem, much of which still survives.
In 1595, alterations were made to either end of the house by the construction of cross wings which would contain parlours and bed chambers, a buttery and pantry.
Only the wing containing the parlours and bed chambers remains, but early maps attest to the existence of the service wing as do foundations discovered in one of the lawns.
Seechem was owned by a wealthy and successful haberdashery and merchant adventurer in the Elizabethan era. At the time of the Civil War its owner, Thomas Millward, sided with Parliament and rose to prominence as a captain in Colonel Thomas Archer’s regiment.
For the past 200 years it has been the home of successful gentlemen, farmers and Birmingham industrialists.
Its most recent history as a working farm has been recalled in two books written by a descendant of the Quinney Family, who farmed there from 1879 to 1983.
Now Grade II* listed, the listed manor is being sold together with two self contained cottages and 15 acres of grounds which include charming gardens and parkland.
A long stone chipped driveway leads through the parkland to a gravelled parking area in front of the residence and a hard standing courtyard servicing the outbuildings. The many alterations are revealed in elevations of different heights and styles, yet they have blended together to quite charming effect, timber framing standing out against the white coloured facade to the front and side and mellow brickwork to the back.
A Gothic style stuccoed porch frames the entrance to the flagstone floored reception hall.
Off this there is a formal dining room with a large open fireplace, oak floorboards and bay window with views of the garden.
A small snug with an original internal leaded window links the hall to the well-proportioned drawing room, at the end of which is a study. The latter two rooms have been converted from brick farm buildings and feature impressive ceiling beams, brick and flagstone flooring. The drawing room has multi-fuel burning stove set within a brick fireplace with heavy beam over and French doors to the main courtyard.
An inner hall with original tiled floor is home to the main turned spindle oak staircase. A door leads off to a ground floor bathroom with roll top bath. Another ancient door opens to the wonderful sitting room featuring a heavily beamed ceiling and large inglenook fireplace with Elizabethan style mantel over. In the kitchen there are painted bespoke floor cupboards with granite work surfaces, a four-oven Aga within an inglenook recess and integral appliances which include a Neff single oven and electric hob, along with space for an American style fridge freezer. A former bread oven and heavy beam to the ceiling add character.
The quarry tiled flooring extends through to the former dairy converted into a breakfast room, utility, cloakroom and superb oak framed conservatory overlooking the beautiful gardens.
A concealed staircase from the kitchen rises to the master bedroom which has an en suite bathroom featuring a roll top bath and separate shower along with stained glass windows to the partition wall.
The main staircase splits to provide access to the further accommodation which includes the spectacular oak panelled second bed chamber with a large open fireplace and carved oak mantel over, oak mullioned windows and an oak boarded floor.
There are two more bedrooms on the first floor and a contemporary style shower room.
On the second floor there are two bedrooms and a study area within the timber framed roof.
A walled blue brick courtyard off the kitchen gives access to a wine store and the main yard off which the cottage, annexe and outbuildings are situated.
The cottage is currently being used by the gardener. It has a living room, bathroom and kitchen on the ground floor. An open staircase rises to a bedroom over.
A paved courtyard with circular pool and water feature provides access to the annexe which has a kitchen, living room with French doors, good size bedroom and bathroom.
Also part of this building are a large store room, workshop and impressive games room on the first floor.
(The cottage and the annexe are currently rented on Assured Shorthold Tenancy agreements providing an income).
The long driveway extends through a parkland area to the established gardens around the house which are mainly laid to lawn interspersed with many mature specimen shrubs and trees.
There is a timber framed car port next to an area which could be refurbished to create a hard surface tennis court.
At the back a large grass paddock is accessed via a grassed track.
The remainder of the gardens include an orchard, a vegetable garden featuring raised beds, a potting shed and greenhouse. Two garden pools connected by waterfalls provide a focal point.
Seechem Manor is close to picturesque Alvechurch which has many amenities including a supermarket, post office, doctor’s surgery, dental practice, opticians, greengrocers, pubs and restaurants. It also has playgroups, a nursery and school.
The village of Rowney Green is nearby with a village hall which hosts a variety of local clubs and also functions as a pub on a Friday evening.
Bromsgrove, Birmingham and the M42 are also within easy reach.
VIEWING INFORMATION
AGENT: Andrew Grant
TEL: 01905 734735
WEB: www.andrew-grant.co.uk
GUIDE PRICE: £1,750,000
