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An elegant and beautifully proportioned period home with lawned tennis court and beautiful grounds.
The Shen is certainly a noteworthy and important house conveniently located just 300 meters from Thornbury's bustling high street and yet tucked away at the head of a long and beautifully planted driveway in this oasis of calm. The property was built in 1891 and the owners have lived here for nearly 20 years being just the fifth owners of this most attractive and highly desirable Victorian family home. There is an impressive sense of arrival culminating in a circular turning head to the front of the home with parking for numerous cars. The façade of the property has a pleasing symmetry with matching bays to either side of the front door with a delightful outlook across the central lawn with a colourful mixed rose bed to the lawned tennis court beyond. This is well screened by tall hedging and a series of mature trees including a fine specimen False Acacia.
On entering the house, a welcoming hallway leads to two generously proportioned reception rooms. The property is perfectly orientated to benefit from a good deal of sunlight throughout the day and the whole house exudes a calm ambiance with plenty of space to accommodate family life coupled with large scale entertaining. The kitchen is set to the rear of the home and is neatly laid out with solid oak cabinets, a twin Belfast sink and granite worksurfaces. Integrated appliances include a large Liebherr fridge, dishwasher and a five burner Rangemaster stove. The walk in pantry offers yet further storage and set off the kitchen is a restful snug with feature Terrazzo flooring. The garden room offers a myriad of uses whether as a shelter from the elements when outdoor entertaining, a workshop or offering scope for upgrading to an additional home office if so desired.
On the first floor there are four double bedrooms, the principal with a dedicated en suite, a period style family bathroom and a separate cloakroom. The inner landing has a secondary staircase rising to the second floor with a superb music room. In conjunction with the fifth bedroom, the whole of the top floor could be used as a self contained attic flat for an independent teenager.
The gardens to the rear of the property are truly outstanding. A Sandstone terrace is bordered by colourful and well stocked borders, leading to a gravel pathway with pretty Lavender beds to either side, bisecting the large swathes of level lawn. This is a garden that has clearly been well loved by the current owners and it will be an absolute delight for keen gardeners with a beautiful array of perennials and shrubs planted for both their shape and year round colour. A further seating area sits beneath the dappled shade of a lovely Liquidamber tree, beside an ornamental pond. At the far end of the garden is a timber summer house, adjacent to an area of neatly clipped box balls and the productive kitchen garden. There is a delightful lighting scheme with garden electrics throughout.
View payable Stamp Duty for this property
Without doubt, late Victorian homes such as The Shen represent my favourite architectural era they offer such wonderful, beautifully proportioned accommodation and this is certainly an outstanding and elegant example.
David WildProperty agent