6 bed Detached House

Fine And Country Homes

Pro Seller · View My Profile · 01926 455950

You have no shared connections.

· Joined: Feb 18, 2011

£1,500,000

6 bed Detached House

Listing is Expired

We're sorry, the listing is no longer active.

6 bed Detached House in Leamington Spa WAR is a House

1 / 16

Price:

£1,500,000 Get Prequalified Today

Contact:

01926 455950

BR/BA:

6 BR, 3 BA

Location:

Leamington Spa, Warks

Description:

Florence House is Grade II listed and rare in its finish, with an abundance of original detail, high quality mouldings, cornices and ceiling roses, window glass and carpentry. It offers wide ranging and flexible accommodation, with three to five reception rooms, a garden room, kitchen/breakfast room with conservatory, up to six bedrooms, currently configured as bedrooms, a library and a study, two family bathrooms, an en-suite, and a w.c./cloakroom. Externally there are gardens front and back, off road parking to the front for several cars and a double garage accessed from the rear.

DRAWING ROOM PHOTO .

GARDEN ROOM PHOTO .

.
Steve Dunn's passion for Victorian architecture was the inspiration behind his decision to buy an early Victorian Villa in the centre of Royal Leamington Spa.
He also wanted to create an escape from the stresses and strains of modern-day living - a place where he and his wife, Vivienne, could enjoy their limited free time together.

Although he recognised the challenges in restoring Florence House, designed and built in the mid 1840's by Daniel Goodman Squirhill, a prominent local architect, Steve was confident that his eye for detail and knowledge of the period would allow him to transform the building. Squirhill, who designed the house for his uncle, was also the architect of the entrance lodges to Jephson Garden's - one of the town's most famous landmarks.
I did think about getting in a project manager, but decided against it as I wanted to work with the builder to make sure the restoration of the Grade II listed building was both sympathetic and in keeping with the house's history, said Steve.

.
Armed with a mass of books and archived material, the process took two years. The glory of the house was in the large amount of high quality detailing and innovative features - the main rooms have elaborate ceiling plasterwork and roses, while detailed carvings of oak leaves and acorns adorn the staircase. But scratch the surface and many elements had to be renovated. Paint finishes to ceilings were chosen to avoid damaging or obscuring the plasterwork and applied by industrial sprayers while the Farrow and Ball catalogue was used to select authentic Victorian colours for the walls.
He says he fell in love with the house when he first saw the garden room, which still had the original stained glass depicting the 'four seasons'. Unfortunately the room had been neglected and needed a new roof and restoration of the woodwork and internal walls. Two carpenters turned the work down as they felt it was simply too difficult, but eventually a real craftsmen was found.
Steve's other main passion is cooking, so the fact that Florence House already had a four-oven Aga was another major selling point. He developed the rest of the kitchen around this, making sure there was plenty of storage space and adding on a small conservatory for casual summer dining. Off the kitchen, he's transformed what he believes was the house's original kitchen into a family dining room.

. .
On the ground floor and mezzanine level, what would have been servants' offices, have been turned into a utility room, cloakroom, wine cellar and bathroom. In addition two bedrooms have been turned into large bathrooms - one is an en-suite to the master bedroom, the third is on the top floor alongside the two guest bedrooms. This gives guests or children privacy as they are pretty much self-contained - the top floor even has its own central heating system.
Other highpoints for Steve are his library, which has more than 1000 books, and the garden. The front has been remodelled to reproduce the 'in and out' driveway (shown on 19th century maps and photos in the County Records Office) while at the back the jungle was landscaped in a sympathetic style and the coach house - in ruinous condition - was taken down and rebuilt brick by brick, retaining the original stained glass.
He admits it turned out to be a more demanding project that he had imagined, but he has no doubts that his efforts were worthwhile. For the last four years Steve and Vivienne have loved their life in Florence House, which charms everyone who visits. Only retirement and the appeal of spending months in France have made the couple decide to sell - although they know that it will be impossible to find a home as special as Florence House.

. .
Florence House is Grade II listed and rare in its finish, with an abundance of original detail, high quality mouldings, cornices and ceiling roses, window glass and carpentry. There is an authentic Victorian Garden Room which contains the original stained glass and a Carrera marble fountain.
The present owner purchased the house in 2006 and effected a complete restoration. Central heating systems, plumbing, electrics, bathrooms, damp, rot and decoration were all renewed. Plasterwork was cleaned, restored and repainted, using industrial sprayers to avoid adding to the impasto coatings of earlier generations. Fireplaces were renewed or replaced with appropriate period pieces. The garden room required extensive renovation and repair, including re-asphalting the roof, tanking the walls and rebuilding the rear elevation.
In 2007 the coach house was completely rebuilt using Leamington bricks and exactly as it had been. In 2010 the roof was completely re-leaded and slated using Welsh slate, and the exterior repainted. The rear garden was remade on a Japanese style model and the 'in out drive' was restored to its former glory and railings added. The front garden was remade as a parterre.
In July 2008, Florence House was awarded a 'Certificate of Commendation' by the Leamington Society in recognition of the work of restoration to the front of the house and garden. In the same year it also featured in 'Period House'.

HALLWAY .

SITTING ROOM 5.16m(16'11'') x 4.50m(14'9'')

DRAWING ROOM 8.64m(28'4'') max x 4.34m(14'3'') max

GARDEN ROOM 5.21m(17'1'') x 5.05m(16'7'')

. .

DINING ROOM 4.47m(14'8'') x 3.68m(12'1'')

. .

SHOWER ROOM .

KITCHEN/BREAKFAST ROOM 6.05m(19'10'') max x 3.05m(10'0'') max

UTILITY .

SUN ROOM 2.92m(9'7'') x 1.93m(6'4'')

LOWER GROUND FLOOR .

CELLAR 10.72m(35'2'') x 9.14m(30'0'')

FIRST FLOOR LANDING .

BEDROOM 5.00m(16'5'') min x 4.39m(14'5'')

EN-SUITE SHOWER ROOM .

BEDROOM/DRESSING ROOM 4.95m(16'3'') x 3.66m(12'0'')

BEDROOM/LIBRARY 5.11m(16'9'') x 4.42m(14'6'')

BATHROOM .

WC .

WINE STORAGE .

SECOND FLOOR LANDING .

BEDROOM/OFFICE 5.08m(16'8'') x 4.47m(14'8'')

BEDROOM 5.00m(16'5'') x 4.42m(14'6'')

BEDROOM 4.04m(13'3'') x 3.40m(11'2'')

BATHROOM .

COACH HOUSE 5.82m(19'1'') x 4.72m(15'6'')

GARDEN .

. .

LOCATION .
Royal Leamington Spa is a fashionable and elegant regency town in the heart of Warwickshire. Renowned for its Victorian painted stucco villas and beautiful regency houses, much of the charm of nineteenth-century planning can still be found in and around the town. Today there is a great choice of high street and boutique shops, restaurants, cafes and bars, offering a unique shopping, dining and cultural experience. The river leam runs through the town, and with its stunning architecture, tree-lined avenues and squares, stunning parks and gardens, it is a very popular place to live.
SERVICES
Mains gas, electricity, water, drainage and telephone.
LOCAL AUTHORITY
Warwick County Council.
VIEWING ARRANGEMENTS
Viewing is strictly via the sole agents Fine & Country on (01926 455950)
WEBSITE DETAILS
For more information visit www.leamingtonspa.fineandcountry.co.uk
OPENING HOURS
The normal opening hours for Fine & Country are:
Monday to Friday 9.00am - 5.30pm
Saturday 9.00am - 4.30pm
Sunday 11.00am - 3.00pm

AGENTS NOTE
All measurements are approximate and quoted in metric with imperial equivalents and are for general guidance only and whilst every attempt has been made to ensure accuracy, they must not be relied on. The fixtures, fittings and appliances referred to have not been tested and therefore no guarantee can be given that they are in working order. Internal photographs are reproduced for general information and it must not be inferred that any item shown is included with the property. Free valuations available - contact Fine and Country.

PLEASE NOTE: All measurements are approximate and quoted in metric with imperial equivalents and are for general guidance only and whilst every attempt has been made to ensure accuracy, they must not be relied on. The fixtures, fittings and appliances referred to have not been tested and therefore no guarantee can be given that they are in working order. Internal photographs are reproduced for general information and it must not be inferred that any item shown is included with the property. Free Valuations available - contact Fine & Country on 01926 455950.

Property Type:

Single-Family Houses

Amenities:

Fireplace, Parking, Storage

For sale by:

Agent/Broker

Phone:

01926 455950

Posted:

January 31 on Facebook

Contact:

01926 455950