Ormonde House – Prominent period residence in Shrewsbury

If walls could talk! Ormonde House is one of Shrewsbury’s most historically interesting town centre residences, built by Thomas Berrington in 1758 in a commanding position on Wall Lane, which was the inner thoroughfare of the Ancient Town Walls. This was before Quarry Place and the new St Chad’s even existed.

At a time when the Shrewsbury Social Season rivalled that of London and when the Industrial Revolution was advancing rapidly, the Berrington family counted amongst their contacts Benjamin Franklin (Founding Father of the United States), the Pope and more locally Erasmus Darwin, philosopher and slave-trade abolitionist and grandfather to Charles Darwin.

Today, 18 St John’s Hill provides one of the most desirable locations, proffering a wealth of period features recognised by virtue of Grade II status. In 1889 Ormonde House underwent a make-over, instigated by the then occupant, Miss Hughes. Legend has it that she backed and won a significant bounty on a famous racehorse called ‘Ormonde’ belonging to the Duke of Westminster – which is when the house name was adopted. Miss Hughes’ improvements are still a major feature of the house today, offering extended living space, double height bay window, and a front garden wall.

Launched to the market by Balfours, Ormonde House is now turning the page to a new chapter. The living space is over three floors, plus a good-sized cellar. The entrance hall provides access on the ground floor to the formal dining/reception room with bay window and period fireplace, the kitchen diner with French doors to a covered patio and private walled garden. A cloakroom completes the ground floor.

On the first floor is the drawing room with glazing to two aspects including the wonderful bay window. Also on the first floor is the master suite with dressing room and bathroom. There are two further double bedrooms on the second floor together with a family bathroom.

Head of sales at Balfours, Alistair Hilton, comments: “This is an exceptional period town house with wonderful mature private gardens and views of The Quarry Park and Shrewsbury School. Properties with such an interesting history rarely come onto the market. Ormonde House features panelled walls, sash windows, high ceilings and period fireplaces, adding to which Shrewsbury’s rich variety of restaurants, independent shops and theatre are on the doorstep. There is much to talk about.”

18 St John’s Hill is marketed by Balfours with a guide price of £875,000. For more information call 01743 353511.