Glansevern grandeur and gardens - sustainable heritage
Glansevern Hall, a fine late Georgian neo classical house has been launched to the market by Balfours Property Professionals.
Much more than a period house, Glansevern Hall, sits within 100 acres of historic parkland, incorporating 20 acres of gardens which in the last thirty years have been renovated to celebrate the original aspirations and is today revered by those who amble within. Glansevern also provides a broad portfolio of income streams.
The Hall was the inspiration of Sir Arthur Davies Owen, a scion of Welsh nobility; – it is south facing, positioned on high ground, running down to the River Severn near Berriew and four miles from Welshpool with its private airport.
Glansevern Hall was designed by the renowned architect Joseph Bromfield, whose work, was largely confined to plasterwork which can also been seen, among others, at Attingham Park and Walcot Park. As a private residence wholly designed and erected by Bromfield, Glansevern stands alone. This Hall enjoys a wonderfully homely feel and is a truly manageable “stately home.”
Leave the A483 and travel down the avenue of Sweet Chestnuts past native Kerry Hill ewes and lambs grazing and close your eyes to hear the horses’ hooves and clatter of carriage wheels. The property was designed and built between 1801 and 1806, with no further additions. It is of Greek Revival Style in Cefn stone. The south, east and west facades match, each having five bays while the rear wing is in brick, linking the courtyard of cottages, coach house and stables.
The south facing frontage has features four giant ionic pilasters and a central porch. A princely pair of large partially glazed and leaded doors lead into the main hall off which three formal reception rooms and the day room can be accessed.
The Chinese room, the drawing room and dining room/library have all been successful in retaining exquisite original features, from panelling to fireplaces, screens and over-mantels. Within the Chinese room, vivid delicate butterflies are replicated from panel to pelmet. A clever panelled section of the dining room conceals the library – with Elizabethan oak panelling dating from the 15th century. Even in the 1800s there was an appreciation for craftsmanship, with a number of features reused from other properties owned by the Owen family.
Four well proportioned bedrooms are found on the first floor, the main suite incorporating a dressing room and bathroom. Outlooks are as pleasing from the first floor as from the ground floor, taking in the formal gardens, lakes and parkland grounds; the silver sliver of the River Severn is echoed in the four acre lake. The latter is framed by all manner of unusual trees, as the Thomas’ have over the years, replenished and restored the understory of the mature trees. Distant views take in Corndon and its outlying hills.
A fifth bedroom is a teenager or child’s delight in the eaves this secret space is spacious and quite magical with outlooks to match. The bedrooms are serviced by two additional bathrooms and a laundry room.
For aspiring host and guests a unique feature of Glansevern Hall is the guest wing with two bedrooms, a kitchen, sitting room and bathroom. It is a design luxury which offers hospitality without compromising privacy. An additional one bedroom flat was probably conceived as staff quarters and remains appropriate two centuries on.
This brings us to the court yard with former stables and coach houses, with cottages. Externally little has changed internally of the 10,000feet of space, 7000 is let while the balance is currently used as tea rooms and ticket office for the highly popular and successful Glansevern gardens. The gardens were designed in 1805 and reputed to have been magnificent.
Present owners Neville and Jenny Thomas have, during the past 30 years, nurtured the hall and grounds back from the brink, the gardens having been surrendered to livestock are now returned to horticulture with some very special early specimens surviving the ravages of sheep and pigs.
A rock garden and grotto of formidable proportion and dating back to 1840 was unearthed by the Thomas’ from a self seeded forest, oaks seeded between the rocks were up to four feet in girth. Today it is restored to its former glory, as is a pattern of small streams converging on the lake; perfect structure for a water-garden which today glows with an array of flora and fauna. It is from this vantage point that the lake leads the eye through an enchanting vista to the hall.
Agent and head of sales at Balfours Property Professionals, Tim Main, acknowledges: “Glansevern is a very rare opportunity to purchase a truly superb country residence. It comes with working income streams including two, two bedroom properties currently let on an assured short-hold tenancies; some 7,000 square feet of traditional courtyard buildings converted for office use and let on four commercial leases and some 80 acres of farmland, plus purpose built buildings for sheep.”
In addition the gardens and tea room which are open just four days a week from April until the end of September attract 6,000 people a year, providing an additional income stream. For most this is an idyllic escape to sit beneath the same bows that witnessed Sir Arthur’s big plan, where primroses, bluebells and water lilies fascinate while others are captivated by borders of roses and hollyhocks, cordons of peaches and apples; but for someone Glansevern Hall will tempt them into a new chapter of its history. Price on application and more information call Tim Main 01743 353511