Reference
Z449/1/22
Title
Sale catalogue for Aspley House
Date free text
May 1999
Production date
From: 1695 To: 1999
Scope and Content
Sale catalogue of Aspley House.
- agents: Blanchards of The Corner Gallery, Danehill, Haywards Heath [Sussex]; FPD Savills of 20 Grosvenor Hill, London;
- description: "Aspley House is a glorious period property which, although displaying elements of its original late-Tudor or Jacobean construction, owes its exquisite design and appearance to the period of William and Mary, following extensive remodelling of the house during the late 17th and 18th centuries. Pevsner in his "Buildings of England", begins his description of the property by saying "The front is a perfect example of its date: 1695". Aspley House is warm, friendly and inherently manageable. Under the stewardship of its current owners, its restoration is complete, even to the extent of the house having been entirely re-roofed during 1998. This is an ideal family home and an outstanding property in which to entertain. As befits an important historic property, Aspley House is listed Grade II*. Painstaking research has revealed much about its history and about those who have lived here over the centuries. Constructed from bricks which were almost certainly fired on site, Pevsner described the Eastern (front) elevation of the House as, "Seven bays, two storeys, chequer-brick, with a three bay pediment on corbels with cherubs' heads". The later, Western elevation, otherwise known as the "new back front", he notes as, "also seven bay but with two doorways with Doric pilasters and triglyph frieze. Blue headers and red dressings including the motif of lacing. The middle bay has Venetian windows and a steep broken pediment cut into by a chimney". The house has many interesting historic details, from the Jacobean frieze in the reception hall to the main staircase with two twisted balusters to the tread, similar to those found in historic buildings of York. Aspley House combines all the charm and interest of an important period property with the amenities of modern living. It is thus both a beautiful and an immensely practical home. A series of highly flexible reception rooms lend themselves both to the day-to-day needs of family life and to entertaining. Dining, for instance, is possible in the conservatory, the dining room or, for special occasions, the unique Long Room. A copious wine cellar is easily accessible from the lower ground floor. the house is also shuttered throughout. The grounds include three self-contained ancient walled gardens. One if these is home to the kitchen garden, which produces vegetables, herbs and soft fruit for the house. A second contains an orchard producing top fruit, and the third provides a discreet setting for the swimming pool";
- layout: ground floor: reception hall (20 feet 1 inches by 15 feet 9 inches); E and S library/snug (18 feet 8 inches by 14 feet 3 inches); N and E morning room (21 feet by 13 feet 2 inches); N and W drawing room (27 feet 5 inches by 18 feet 10 inches); W dining room (23 feet 3 inches by 19 feet 1 inches); W conservatory (19 feet by 12 feet); E and S kitchen (19 feet 2 inches by 18 feet 8 inches); passage/butler's pantry/staff rest room;
- layout: cellarage: domestic cellar; wine cellar; flower room;
- layout: garage wing: long room (50 feet 6 inches by 16 feet 2 inches) over south garage, laundry and boiler house;
- layout: office wing: reception/entrance lobby (14 feet 10 inches by 8 feet 2 inches); chairman's office (16 feet 6 inches by 13 feet 2 inches); secretary's office (13 feet 6 inches by 9 feet 6 inches);
- layout: first floor: three bedrooms; three bathrooms; Red Room or boudoir;
- layout: second floor: nursery landing; three bedrooms; two bathrooms;
- outside: heated swimming pool (45 feet 6 inches by 22 feet); west pool shed; east pool shed; children's playground; Barn Cottage with kitchen, lounge, two bedrooms and bathroom; Butler's Cottage with kitchen/breakfast room, lounge, two bedrooms and bathroom; May's Cottage with kitchen, sitting room, bedroom and bathroom; three implement stores; workshop; general store; chicken run; four tractor sheds; machinery shed; log store; 4.75 acres of grounds;
- photographs [colour]: exterior front and rear; flower room; drawing room; dining room; wine cellar; conservatory; bedrooms 1, 2 and 6; long room; turret with weather vane; reception hall; west garden; herb garden; cherub; garden ornamental statue made from flower pots;
- site layout plan;
- floor plans;
- no price
Level of description
item