House for sale in Fowberry Tower, Chatton, Northumberland - 10 bedrooms, 5 reception rooms, 4 bathrooms

  • Offers in excess of £2,500,000
  • House
  • 10 bedrooms, 5 reception rooms, 4 bathrooms
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Spectacular residential estate bordering the River Till

  • 10 bedrooms
  • 5 reception rooms
  • 4 bathrooms
  • Stable Block & 3 bed Cottage
  • Sea Trout Fishing & 33 acres

Tenure: Freehold
Savills negotiator: Jennifer Beeforth
Spectacular residential estate bordering the River Till
Accommodation: SITUATION
Fowberry Tower is an impressive yet manageable small country estate lying within a mature parkland setting on the banks of the River Till. Despite the unspoilt rural location the property benefits from good access to the main road and rail networks. The property lies 2 miles north west of the attractive village of Chatton which has a village shop and a Public House. The A1 trunk road lies 6 miles to the east from which access can be gained to Berwick upon tweed (18 miles) Alnwick (16 miles) and Newcastle upon Tyne (44 miles). The main east coast railway line can be joined at Berwick upon Tweed or Alnmouth and there are International Airports at Newcastle and Edinburgh (59 miles). Northumberland is renowned for its unspoilt beaches, Castles and National Park and is particularly well served for those interested in shooting, fishing, racing or golf. Alnwick was recently voted the - best place to live in Britain' by Country Life Magazine.



HISTORY

The property began life as a Pele tower and was first mentioned in the Testa de Nevill in the early part of the 13th Century. It was owned by a family whose name was spelt variously as Folebyr or Folbery. In 1591 the house was mortgaged and finally assigned to Lancelot Strother. In 1666 it was rebuilt as a comfortable country house for Squire John Strother and remained in the Strothers possession until 1776 when the property was sold to Sir Francis Blake. Sir Francis remodelled and enlarged the existing manor house and in 1807 sold it to Matthew Culley who completed the work and whose family occupied the house for the next 113 years. In 1920 the property was purchased by Captain A W Milburn whose family were in occupation until the house was bought in 1978 by the vendor's father.

The house, which is built of local Doddington pink Sandstone under a slate roof; was completed in 1809 and has classic Georgian elegance to the south faade. The north faade was finished in 1776 and is of a more pronounced gothic style and was made one storey less to allow for higher ceilings in the dining and drawing Rooms. Fowberry Tower is one of the very few houses in the country which followed the gothic taste pioneered by Horace Walpole at Strawberry Hill. The dining room and drawing room have been described as - probably the finest examples of Strawberry Hill Gothic in the North of England'. It should be noted that the architecture is an elegant and light Strawberry Hill Gothic, not a Heavy, Victorian revival type gothic. Fowberry Tower was also described by Sir Nikolaus Pevsner As having - delightful interiors - and also - one of the finest surviving pieces of Georgian Gothic in the North: not a sham Castle but an English Gentleman's home. - (The County Book of Northumberland H.L.Honeyman.)

DESCRIPTION

Fowberry Tower is an elegant stone built country house lying within 33 acres of mature parkland over which there are views towards the Northumberland hills (house looks away from Cheviots). A private driveway passes under the archway of Fowberry Bridge and through mature woodland following the banks of the River Till before rising gently to the south front of the house.

Despite the impressive appearance, Fowberry Tower combines the best of both worlds by providing a warm and manageable modern family home within an historic building whilst retaining many unspoilt architectural features. The impressive proportions of the dining room and drawing room are offset by comfortable family living rooms. The Georgian sash windows on the south elevation contrast with the triple-pointed gothic windows on the north elevation. This adds to the character and provides opportunities for varying the decorative style. The house is in good condition having been reroofed 40 years ago and has been subject to ongoing careful and imaginative refurbishment. The principal accommodation is on the ground, first and first floor mezzanine levels served by two staircases, which at present includes 6 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms. There are a further 4 south facing bedrooms and 1 bathroom on the second floor. Please refer to the floor plans for the layout and dimensions of the rooms.

GROUND FLOOR

Four stone steps rise over a dry moat to the entrance door with stained glass fanlight window above. The door leads into the Front Hall which is used as a comfortable family sitting room with attractive centrally placed fireplace.

The Library faces south and west and is a well proportioned family room with fitted bookcases and an open fire. The central hallway leads to the Dining Room which is arguably the finest room in the house being a superb example of Strawberry Hill Gothic. The room which seats up to 22, is lit by a triple-pointed gothic window on the north side and has an arched alcove on the southern wall. The fine Adam fireplace is decorated with relief gold-leaf beehives atop columns. The room is enhanced by the cornice which is a martlet surmounting a cap of maintenance, alternating with acanthus leaf motifs in 22 carat gold-leaf which, together with the ceiling height of 16 foot 5 inches, makes this a very impressive room.

The Kitchen has views to the south and west and is a spacious modern family kitchen. Fittings include a 4 door Aga, fitted range of oak wall and base units with granite work top and a large central island designed and fitted by the Newcastle Furniture Company. From the kitchen there are fantastic opportunities to watch the red squirrels playing and feeding. To the north of the kitchen is the back door off which lies a large Cloakroom, Larder , WC and stairs leading down to the basement.

The Drawing Room lies on the north front and is again a fine example of Strawberry Hill Gothic with an impressive ceiling height of 16 feet 4 inches. There is a finely worked Adam fireplace which is a rare example of its kind. The original hand painted wallpaper panels have been retained and there is attractive cornice using the triple feathers of Wales and quatrefoils as motifs.

Morning Room, another well proportioned south and east facing room currently used as a private study.

The Inner Hall provides access to a useful Boot and Gun Room at the east end of the house with side door off. There is a separate Cloakroom with vaulted ceiling. The main staircase leads off the inner hall to the first floor landing. The fan vaulting above the staircase is noteworthy for its elegance.

FIRST FLOOR

Due to the high ceilings in the Dining room and Drawing room the house has two floors to the north and three to the south. The first floor and first floor mezzanine levels effectively provide first floor accommodation which includes: Master Bedroom, a lovely south and east facing double bedroom with separate Dressing Room. Bedroom 2 and Bedroom 3 are also well proportioned south facing double bedrooms off the main landing. Bathroom 1, Bathroom 2 and the Laundry Room are also accessed from the main landing. On the west elevation of the House there is Bedroom 4 adjacent to which there is a third Bathroom. A short staircase leads up to the first floor mezzanine landing off which are two north facing rooms which would make very good bedrooms. These include the King's Room (Bedroom 5) a potential double bedroom with a very fine Adam fireplace circa 1776 with the original grate and the Barrack Room (Bedroom 6) which is a large room with potential for a variety of uses, or for sub-division, and has an adjoining store room.

SECOND FLOOR

The staircase leads to the second floor landing off which there are two Storerooms. There are three Bedrooms all of which are south facing double bedrooms together with a further south facing Bedroom with adjoining Dressing Room and a second floor Bathroom.


LOWER GROUND FLOOR

There are extensive cellars which mirror most of the ground floor. Part of the basement was used for servants living accommodation and has full size windows and good ceiling heights with potential for a variety of uses


STABLE BLOCK

The Grade II Listed stableyard lies to the west of the main house. The attractive 19th Century stone and slate buildings lie around an open courtyard and are approached through an archway. The layout is shown on the floor plan and provides 4607sq feet of buildings which could be used as a traditional stable yard or may have development potential subject to obtaining the necessary consents. The buildings include a former grooms flat on the first floor (ground and first floor living accommodation) which has not been used for many years.


COTTAGE

A single storey semi - detached stone and slate built cottage lies on the edge of the estate adjacent to the back entrance drive. The accommodation as shown on the floor plan includes the kitchen, sitting room, three bedrooms and a bathroom together with a good size garden to the front and rear and a store shed. The cottage is ideally suited to staff accommodation. Alternatively it could be let.


GARDENS AND GROUNDS

The house is positioned centrally within the land which extends to approximately 33 acres. This includes approximately 20 acres of parkland and paddocks which is farmed by the vendors and stocked with their herd of Alpacas. The land is registered for Single Farm Payment and the Entitlements are available for purchase if required. The grassland is level and well sheltered and includes a 2.5 acre paddock within the former walled garden. The paddocks are well fenced with post and rail fencing. Shelter for livestock is provided in timber field shelters. The remainder of the land includes a large lawn and a productive well stocked orchard with apple, pear, cherry fig and plum trees. There is a partly walled garden with raised herbaceous border centred on a sundial dated 1666 set within a wall of the same date, as well as mixed woodland including many mature specimen trees believed to have been planted by the Culley family in the 19th century. Open glades are carpeted with snowdrops in the Spring.

Fowberry has become a wildlife haven due to careful management and in addition to a rich and diverse range of visiting and resident birds there are over two dozen red squirrels in two colonies which can be easily seen from the house. A wildlife paradise!









FISHING

The sale includes valuable fishing rights on the River Till which is a tributary of the River Tweed. The sale includes single bank fishing rights within the boundary of the property except for one rod which is reserved to a previous owner. In addition the owner of Fowberry Tower has the benefit of 2 rods on the adjoining stretch running south east to a position just short of Weetwood Bridge providing in total approximately 2.5 miles of single bank fishing. The River Till provides enjoyable sea trout in wonderful scenery.


GENERAL REMARKS AND STIPULATIONS

Viewings

Viewing is strictly by prior appointment through the joint agents. Prior to making an appointment to view we strongly recommend that you discuss any particular points that are likely to affect your interest in the property with a member of staff who has seen the property.


Tenure

Freehold with vacant possession upon completion

Method of Sale

The property is offered for sale by Private Treaty as a single lot, however the agents reserve the right to conclude negotiations by any other means at their discretion.

Services

Mains electricity, private drainage and a private water supply to the house and cottage. The water supply is automatically topped up from the mains if required and the water pipe was renewed last year. There is a generator driven back up electricity supply to the main house (generator excluded). The house has 4 telephone lines, one of which is broadband enabled. Oil fired central heating to house and cottage.

Local Authority

Berwick-Upon-Tweed Borough Council
Tel: +44 (0) 1289 330044

Council Tax

Fowberry Tower - Band H
Cottage - Band B

Planning

Fowberry Tower is Grade II* listed by English Heritage. The stable block and cottage are Grade II listed.

Covenants, Easements and Rights of Way

The property will be sold subject to all covenants, easements and rights of way whether specifically mentioned in these particulars or not. The back driveway is fully owned and is subject to rights of access over it in favour of 1 - 4 Fowberry Cottages who between them have an obligation to pay 50% of the costs of maintenance.




Fixtures and Fittings

All items normally designated as fixtures and fittings are specifically excluded from the sale unless they are mentioned in the particulars of sale. It should be noted that the chandelier in the dining room, the mirror above the fireplace in the drawing room and the urn on a pedestal on the lawn to the south of the house are specifically excluded from the sale but may be available by separate negotiation.

Directions

Travelling north or south on the A697:

When by-passing Wooler on the main A697 road, take the B6348 to the EAST, towards the coast, signposted to Chatton and Belford, across a hooped iron bridge, opposite the butcher's car park. Travel about two miles and after the top of a steep hill with a right-hand bend, look for a road (B6349) to the left, signposted Fowberry Tower. Take this road down the hill, past a single cottage and road turning on your right, then past a small hamlet of cottages and down a hill. The white front gate to Fowberry Tower is on your left before the road rises for Fowberry Bridge.

Travelling north on the A1

Around equi-distant between Alnwick and Berwick upon Tweed, just after ADDERSTONE/PURDY TRAVEL LODGE, look to turn WEST, away from the coast - the road is signposted B6348 to Wooler and Chatton. This road joins the A1 between two large stone pillars. Carry on along this road through Chatton. Approximately two miles after leaving Chatton, look for a tiny road to the right, signposted Fowberry. Take this road to a - T' junction; turn right then past a small hamlet of cottages and down a hill. The white gate to Fowberry Tower is on your left, before the road rises for Fowberry Bridge.

NB: Online maps, including Multimap and Google maps positioning of Fowberry Tower is some few hundred yards short of target. Look for the river on the map, the front driveway to Fowberry is just before the river crossing point. Postcode NE71 6ER


IMPORTANT NOTICE

1.Particulars: These particulars are not an offer or contract, nor part of one. You should not rely on statements by Savills or Knight Frank LLP in the particulars or by word of mouth or in writing ( - information - ) as being factually accurate about the property, its condition or its value. Neither Savills nor Knight Frank LLP has any authority to make any representations about the property, and accordingly any information given is entirely without responsibility on the part of the agents, seller (s) or lessor (s). 2. Photos etc: The photographs show only certain parts of the property as they appeared at the time they were taken. Areas, measurements and distances given are approximate only. 3. Regulations etc: Any reference to alterations to, or use of, any part of the property does not mean that any necessary planning, building regulations or other consent has been obtained. A buyer or lessee must find out by inspection or in other ways that these matters have been properly dealt with and that all information is correct. 4. VAT: The VAT position relating to the property may change without notice.


Photographs Dated: February 2008 plus some earlier private shots
Particulars Dated: March 2008


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property reference: SAYO210164