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A substantial forest fronting historical home with attached
twothree bedroom annexe extending to just under 6000 sqft. The
house and annexe are situated within approximately two glorious
acres of mature arboretum and nestled in the heart of the secluded
hamlet of Bank on the edge of the village of Lyndhurst.
The principal house has seven bedrooms spanning across the first
and second floors and offers an abundance of character and charm.
With a sizeable annexe attached, the property offers a multi
generational living opportunity or lucrative holiday let.
This stunning country house is set in the idyllic and highly
sought after hamlet of Bank which has a popular local pub and a
friendly community. Bank is 1.5 miles south west of the village of
Lyndhurst, renowned as the capital of the New Forest.
Situated on the open forest, the hamlet boasts a number of
attractive dwellings, both large and small, many affording fine
open views over the surrounding farmland and forest. The highly
regarded Oak Inn pub is a short walk away and the nearby village of
Brockenhurst (approximately 5 miles south) has a mainline rail
connection to London Waterloo (journey time approximately 90
minutes).
The Georgian market town of Lymington, renowned for its Saturday
"e;Charter Market"e;, river, marinas and yacht
clubs is situated approximately 9 miles to the south. The M27 (4
miles) to the north of the hamlet provides easy access across the
forest to serve Bournemouth, Southampton and the M3 motorway
network to London.
This superb family home offers exquisite and wonderfully
appointed living accommodation throughout benefiting from many
period features. The well configured layout features excellent
reception space expected from a home of such stature.
Upon entering the property via a well proportioned entrance
hall, a period staircase sits in the centre of the inner hall with
all principal rooms leading off. The library includes a decorative
fire surround with electric fire, bay window looking out onto the
open forest where pigs in Autumn are seen foraging, fitted
cupboards and shelving galore. The side door leads into a
conservatory which provides further seating and access to the side
of the garden and a further door leads into the principal sitting
room through a beautiful stained glass panel door.
To the rear of the entrance hall sits the formal sitting room
with stunning bay windows overlooking the garden and further
windows to the rear increasing the intake of natural light into the
room. A beautiful stone fireplace surround with open fire creates a
natural focal point to this elegant and spacious room.
The dual aspect kitchen dining room with wooden floors, recessed
base cupboards with electric freestanding cooker and additional gas
hob set into worktop, inset butler sink with views across the
forest and a kitchen island with a comprehensive range of bespoke
wooden units with varnished wooden work surfaces and multiple full
height wall cupboards. The dining area is split level with a step
down and a log burner forms an open partition. There is space for a
dining table to make this a perfect room for entertaining and
dining with direct access out onto the patio through timber French
doors. A door from the dining room leads to The Annexe.
To complete the ground floor is a cloakroom and a boiler
room.
The bedroom accommodation on the first floor is arranged either
side of the staircase and includes an impressive principle bedroom
suite, with elevated garden views to the side, accessed from the
hallway via a large en suite bathroom with Jacuzzi bath, shower and
basin. Along the hallway and also accessed from the principle
bedroom is an equally large bedroom currently used as an office
with a decorative fire surround and with picture window views to
the front across the forest.
A door to a balcony is situated to the front of the hallway plus
two further good sized guest rooms, both with picture windows and
supporting family bathroom with separate built-in shower which
completes the first floor.
Stairs to the second floor lead to a well proportioned landing
with two good sized eaves style bedrooms off to one side, currently
used as creative hobby rooms. Across the hall is a private suite
which includes a small lounge area, en suite bathshower room and
bedroom. All the bedrooms are orientated to benefit from wonderful
views across the gardens to the rear and open forest at the
front.
The Annexe:
Accessed either via the principal house or the independent
entrance at the front which leads into a porch area with tiled
floor and doorway that leads into the fantastic open plan
sittingdining room with the focal point of a log burner and access
to a well fitted kitchen linking to the dining area via a half
height wall with shelf above. The kitchen has space for an under
counter fridgefreezer and integral electric hob and oven. A doorway
leads into a large boiler roomutility which doubles as a dogboot
room with sink and access out to the side of the property. To the
other side of the kitchen a small hallway links to a utility area
and to a downstairs WCshower room and doors leading to the
principal house and to the garden.
A step leads up from the dining area into a fabulous light and
bright split level family room. In the corner is a feature wood
burner sat on a tiled plinth. This room is double aspect with a
side window and large patio door to the front of the property
overlooking the forest.
The feature open staircase leads to a landing with further steps
to a second sitting room or equally this area could be utilised as
another bedroom, with Juliette balcony enabling elevated views to
the front. A beautiful vaulted garden room is set off this area,
bursting with natural light from windows on all angles and double
doors lead onto a further balcony providing a stunning setting over
the tree tops.
The first floor accommodation in the annexe offers a large
bedroom with fitted wardrobes and open views to the front and a
further double bedroom, both serviced by a family bathroom with
modern bath and shower over, wc and sink with fitted vanity
unit.
The History:
The property was owned in the late 19th early 20th century by
the Lord Moulton of Bank (born John Fletcher Moulton 18th November
1884) being the third son of a Weslyan Minister. Educated at Bath
and London, he was awarded a scholarship to St Johns College
Cambridge, being made President of the Union in 1868. Called to the
Bar in 1874, he became a QC in 1885 and for the next twenty years
was engaged to a leader in an ever important patent case. He
acquired Forest Green as a holiday home at the turn of the century,
whilst serving as a Liberal MP for Launceston. In 1906 he was made
Lord Justice of Appeal and was created a life peer, taking the
Title Baron Moulton of Bank 1912 as Lord of Appeal. At the outbreak
of the first world war in 1914 he was appointed to chair of
committee to provide high explosives for the British Forces and his
success therein earned him the KCB and CBE in 1915 and 1917
respectively. He died suddenly on 9th March 1921 and is buried in
nearby Emery Down churchyard. The then Lord Chancellor spoke of his
intellectual force and dynamic personality which had enabled Lord
Moulton to play such a supreme part in the European War.
The gardens are of particular note, visible from the principal
sitting room to the side of the property is laid to lawn and
interspersed with a variety of ornamental trees and shrubs beyond
which there is a large 37’ garageworkshop with access off Pinkney
Lane.
To the rear of the property is an area of extensive garden which
overlooks a well stocked, mature arboretum, formerly associated
with nearby Annesley House, providing a spectacular backdrop. The
property is set within approximately 2 acres of landscaped gardens
and stunning ornamental pond with a small stream running through,
including a water garden, specimen trees and informal wild flower
areas, making a real feature to the south and west it sides on to
miles of open forest.
The property is approached by a forestry commission access track
with casual parking on a tarmacked surface at the end.
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