This most appealing five-bedroom, four reception, period, stone-built former gentleman farmer’s residence is set in and surrounded by approximately five acres of gardens and undulating agricultural grazing land with breath-taking views. Original historic features sit perfectly alongside more contemporary additions of the meticulously considered refurbishment to this stunning family home.A separate stone-built barn has been granted planning consent to provide ancillary accommodation, the stone flagged courtyard driveway provides parking for numerous cars, however, the true zenith of this property must be its absolutely idyllic setting.
Holland's House is steeped in history and brimming with original features which include examples of exquisite raze-knife inscribed wall posts with Arabic numerals in the parlour wing,quarter-round oak ceiling beams and roof trusses and a large segmental-arched fire surround to mention just a few. Originally built in circa 1605 by the Holland family as one of the largest post and truss-framed yeoman’s dwellings, this heritage property was one of many in the Douglas Valley involved in the improvement and modernisation known as “The Great Rebuilding”. Despite Holland’s House being an already large property (it is mentioned in the Hearth Tax returns of 1664 as having four hearths) it is believed that the stone-built extension was added in circa 1710 encompassing and remodelling a wing of the older house, with further brick alterations made at around 1727. Amongst all these notable features exists a wonderful family home with more contemporary amenities which have been thoughtfully designed in harmony with their surroundings.
A more recently constructed stone-built,pitched-roof porch, with Velux skylight and front window and having a solid timber door gives way to the vestibule. The limestone tiled flooring continues into the welcoming T-shaped hallway having a spindle stair case rising and turning to the first floor and enjoying the natural light which filters through from the long Georgian window at the half-landing. The limestone flooring continues through to the dining room, garden room, kitchen and cloakroom – giving a smooth transition to each of the rooms. Oak panel doors open to each of the ground floor rooms, the residence is warmed by traditional style or vertical panel central heating radiators and is lit by recessed down-lights and/or pendant lighting throughout.
Immaculately presented, the generously spacious principal lounge has an air of elegance and features two leaded windows to the front and French windows to the sun terrace. The high ceilings feature exposed quarter-round beams and the remarkable wall posts whilst the main focal point of the room is the limestone-lintel ingle fireplace and hearth encompassing a log burning stove and having built-in shelving to the side and a television point.
The dining room overlooks the courtyard, has a corner full-height storage cupboard, a door to the snug and a further door to a cloakroom and a second door to the storage room housing the central heating boiler and cylinder water tank.
The chic, comfortable snug overlooks the front garden and has display shelves to either side of the stone lintel fireplace with a black leathered-granite hearth surrounding an Aga wood burning stove.
The splendid dining kitchen is fitted with a superb range of pale grey, Shaker-style cabinets and drawers, designed by Drew Forsyth of Hebden Bridge, set around the central table space and incorporating a larder cupboard. Black polished-granite work surfaces surround and have an etched drainer alongside the twin stainless steel sink units positioned beneath the window overlooking valley views and having a Quooker combined mixer and boiling water tap. Autumn and winter cooking facilities are provided by the black four-oven Aga with two hotplates and a companion warming plate whilst in warmer seasons you can turn to the Bosch four-ring induction hob with complementary oven and grill below. Integrated appliances include a dishwasher and a fridge freezer whilst other white goods can be found in the utility room.
A broad opening from the kitchen and a step descends into the fabulous garden room – an excellent, more recent addition – having under-floor heating, a feature stone wall, a skylight to the vaulted ceiling, Crittall windows to the side and corresponding French windows to the front. This most relaxing area is filled with natural light and has become the “go-to” day room.
The utility room has a black slate tiled floor and kitchen complementary cabinets with black granite work surfaces. An etched drainer sits alongside the inset Belfast sink with French style mixer tap and there is space and plumbing for white goods.
Day-to-day access tends to be via the solid timber door into the boot room, also with black slate floor tiling, and having a side window plus a walk-in cloak cupboard for muddy boots and coats.
Completing the ground floor accommodation, the wash-room is fitted with a white contemporary-style Duravit suite comprising a wall mounted wash hand basin with mono-bloc tap and opalescent splash tiling above, and a close coupled w.c. There is a white ladder style heated towel rail and also a deep, built-in storage cupboard.
Tongue and groove latch doors give way to each of the five double bedrooms and bathroom off the spacious, split-level, T-shaped landing with built-in double-door linen cupboard. The loft hatch with drop-down ladder reveals an excellent plaster-boarded storage space of good height and is believed to have once been used as servants’ quarters and dry storage.
The very spacious and dual aspect master bedroom has two leaded windows to the front and one to the side giving superb, far-reaching rural views. The en suite shower room has a Velux skylight, an opaque low-level rear window and pale grey stone effect Karndean flooring. The three-piece Duravit suite comprises an opaque glass shower cabinet with Hansgrohe unit, a counter-top wash basin resting on a black-melange granite-topped vanity unit with mono-block tap and opalescent wall tiling, and a close coupled w.c., and there is a built-in storage cupboard for additional toiletries.
Bedroom two is of similar size and outlook to the master bedroom, has a walk-in niche for a dressing table and fitted wardrobes to another wall.
Bedrooms three and four overlook the front and rear, respectively, and both have fitted wardrobes. Bedroom five has two Velux windows and a low-level window to the rear and has more recently been used as a home office.
These four latter bedrooms are served by the family bathroom with opalescent splash tiling, Karndean pale grey stone tile effect flooring and a chrome ladder style heated rail to warm the towels. The Duravit contemporary four-piece white suite comprises a wall panelled opaque glass shower cabinet with sliding doors, a panelled bath with a mixer-tap and hand shower, a granite topped cabinet-set wash hand basin with mixer-tap, and a close coupled w.c.
Slightly elevated from Lees Lane and overlooking an idyllic undulating landscape, compact woodlands in the valley and livestock grazing paddocks, Holland’s House has a time-honoured wisteria adorning the façade and is a truly remarkable residence. A stone flagged sun terrace stretches across the frontage,with parterre-style rose beds to the sides, and overlooks the broad sweep of lawn which is enclosed by dry-stone walling and mature hedging with a further narrow driveway leading to the side and rear.Established shrub and herbaceous borders edge the lawn and a camelia avenue leads to the rear courtyard.
The principal access to the property is via a side driveway leading to electronically controlled, timber double gates which open to the extensive stone flagged courtyard with island shrub border and providing parking for numerous vehicles.The house lies to the left and on the opposite side of the courtyard is a two-storey, stone-built barn with concrete flooring and exterior staircase and which was previously used for livestock stabling in the two loose boxes. The barn has been granted planning consent for conversion to ancillary accommodation. A further gated access gives way to a rear, enclosed lawn garden and, across the side driveway, there is a former tennis court area, an orchard and paddocks of agricultural grassland in two separate parcels making up the remainder of the approximately five-acre site. From the land, there are cross-country public footpath links to Parbold.
Viewing is strictly by appointment through Maria B Evans Estate Agents
We are reliably informed that the Tenure of the property is Freehold
The Local Authority is West Lancashire Borough Council
The EPC rating is E
The Council Tax Band is H
The property is served by septic tank
The accommodation is in excess of 3200 sq ft.
Please note:
Room measurements given in these property details are approximate and are supplied as a guide only.
All land measurements are supplied by the Vendor and should be verified by the buyer's solicitor. We
would advise that all services, appliances and heating facilities be confirmed in working order by an
appropriately registered service company or surveyor on behalf of the buyer as Maria B. Evans Estate
Agency cannot be held responsible for any faults found. No responsibility can be accepted for any
expenses incurred by prospective purchasers.
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Sales: 01704 892001
sales@mariabevans.co.uk
rentals@mariabevans.co.uk