If you have a seven-figure sum to invest (one that leans more towards the higher rather than lower end), and fancy some stately splendour, cast your eyes towards Honiley, just outside Kenilworth, in Warwickshire.
It may only be a hamlet, but it certainly punches above its weight as far as one of its houses is concerned.
Honiley Hall is an impressive mansion that sits in some 34 acres of grounds.
One might expect it to have a long history, and it does, only not this particular incarnation.
Before the Norman Conquest the manor of Honiley was owned by Alwold, a Saxon.
In those days the area was thickly wooded and part of the Forest of Arden.
By 1086, when Honiley was listed in the Domesday Book as “Hunilege”, it was held by the Count of Menlon and subsequently passed to the Earl of Warwick.
In 1553 it reverted to the Crown and a year later Queen Mary granted it to Michael Throckmorton.
It then passed through Robert Earl of Leicester to the Burgoyne family of Wroxall Abbey in 1623.
By 1707, the manor was owned by John Saunders. However, around 1730, disaster struck and Honiley Hall was razed to the ground in a fire.
The land passed to the Granvilles who sold it on to Edward Willes of Newbold Comyn in 1837.
In 1913, it was purchased by Herbert Louis Wade JP, who finally got round to rebuilding it, though not in its former position by the church of Saint John the Baptist.
The house was passed on to his son, Captain MC Wade.
In 1999, it was sold to its present owner, Peter Warwick, a company director.
It is he who has been responsible for the major programme of enhancement that the hall has undergone, resulting in the impressive mix of grand rooms with traditional features in a home that is run with the very latest in technology.
Programmable Lutron lighting, central audio system, computerised heating, CCTV and sophisticated security systems, will all appeal to those who like comfort and entertainment at their finger tips.
The tone is set in the entrance hall with its high ceilings, oak floor, open fireplace and impressive principal staircase.
Radiating off it are the main reception rooms.
The drawing room features exceptional oak panelling and this room and the large dining room have particularly fine stone fireplaces.
A former ballroom is now being used as a large home office suite and was previously a billiards room. However, with its barrel-vaulted ceiling with intricate plasterwork, oak strip floor and beautiful murals, it would make a splendid space for entertaining on a large scale.
Other rooms include a library, morning room and sitting room.
The breakfast kitchen is now somewhere the family might like to linger, rather than where the staff would prepare meals for “upstairs”.
It is handily placed near cellars and a wide variety of stores.
There are extensive domestic offices with a utility and laundry rooms on the first floor.
Upstairs a galleried space has a fascinating arch-vaulted landing leading off.
The master suite is practically an apartment, with its beautifully presented bedroom, large sitting room, concealed kitchen area, well fitted dressing room and luxurious bathroom.
In addition there are two principal guest bedrooms plus a “family guest” suite with two bedrooms and a bathroom situated off a private hallway.
There are two further bedrooms and a bathroom at this level while a self-contained apartment with sitting room, dining room, kitchen, two bedrooms and a bathroom, can be found on the second floor.
Just outside the entrance gates to the main courtyard is a detached three-bedroom bungalow, ideal for dependent relatives, staff, guests or renting out.
Planning permission was granted in 2013 for replacement of the existing bungalow with a three-bedroom detached house somewhere else in the grounds.
Multi-purpose outbuildings are accessed via a covered loggia. They are a selection of traditional stores including a wine room and fuel store, workshop, gardeners’ toilets, integral double garage and dog kennels.
One wing of the outbuildings has been converted to create a games room, large air-conditioned gymnasium and shower room.
The two-storey former coach house was converted to create a display garage for luxury or collectable vehicles. The first floor has storage lofts with conversion potential.
In the kitchen garden there is a machinery store, large greenhouse, workshop and gardener’s room.
The captivating grounds at Honiley Hall provide a wonderful setting for the house. Feature and flood lighting has been installed throughout to produce spectacular night-time effects.
A long driveway leads up to the Hall through a splendid avenue of mature trees. An impressive set of entrance gates opens to the main front courtyard with central lawned island.
A separate branch of the drive is designed for deliveries, staff and large-scale parking when required in a car park hidden away to the north of the outbuildings.
Exceptional gardens lie to the south and east of the Hall. A large sheltered sun terrace is perfect for al fresco entertaining.
Expansive lawns stretch away from the property, one designed for croquet.
Near to the Hall is a stunning parterre garden with symmetrical beds surrounded by dwarf box hedging and paths leading from a central pool and fountain. A vast pergola creates a charming walkway draped with huge numbers of climbing plants.
To the south is the less formal water garden with fish pool, water-loving plants, mature shrubbery and specimen trees.
An extensive kitchen garden is ideal for growing fruit and vegetables.
The remainder of the grounds beyond the gardens includes an all-weather tennis court (in need of refurbishment), areas of woodland and open pasture of over 20 acres, ideal grazing land for livestock or equestrian purposes.
VIEWING INFORMATION
AGENT: Fisher German
TEL: 01295 271555
WEB: www.fishergerman.co.uk
GUIDE PRICE: Price On Application
