Fermyn Woods Hall, Brigstock, Northamptonshire Guide price £3,950,000

Situation

The Fermyn Woods Estate is set in delightfully protected countryside in north Northamptonshire. The Hall looks south over the traditional parkland planted with many fine, specimen trees, and framed by mature woodland. Fermyn Woods Hall is Grade II* Listed and has been extensively restored in recent years to provide first-class accommodation with a flexible lay-out, ideal both for comfortable family living and large house parties.
The magnificent inner courtyard has been renovated to enhance the range of superb equestrian facilities, and the grounds have been carefully maintained to create a stunning setting with a formal front drive through an avenue of young walnut trees. The paddocks surrounding the property offer high quality, well fenced grazing and have formed part of the course for the renowned Brigstock International Horse Trials.

Description

Fermyn Woods Hall is a delightful country house dating from the early/mid 17th century and originally designed on the Elizabethan “E” plan. It was extended in the 18th and 19th Centuries, but the Victorian west wing was demolished in the 20th Century. The house is Grade II* Listed and is constructed of squared coursed limestone and limestone ashlar with a Welsh, Collyweston and plain-tile roof.
Approached from the south over a drive flanked by young walnut trees, iron gates lead into a large parking area in front of the Hall. There is a separate back drive to the stunning traditional Stable Courtyard and rear of the Hall, with a linking spur passing the elaborate and well known Lyvedon gate, a stone arch moved from nearby Lyvedon New Bield. A further substantial stable yard, with extensive facilities, is situated to the east of the Hall.
The property retains many period features throughout, and the sympathetic restoration project has enhanced many of those which had fallen into disrepair. The majority of the windows in the main part of the Hall are stone mullion.

Accommodation

FERMYN WOODS HALL
The Hall has excellent family accommodation over three floors. The well-proportioned, light and comfortable reception rooms are arranged conveniently off the impressive Reception Hall with its 19th Century tiled floor indicating the Lyveden coat of arms. The dual aspect south facing Sitting Room has an attractive open fireplace, French doors to the west terrace and inter-linking drinks cupboard. The Drawing Room retains a number of period features including the ceiling with ornate plasterwork, parquet floor and open fireplace. An inter-linking drinks cupboard provides access to the Sitting Room. The south facing Dining Room leads through to an Inner Hall with access to the large Snooker / Family Room and the two well-equipped Kitchens, ideal for everyday family use or entertaining larger parties.
The fine polished oak staircase with elaborately carved newel posts and wooden banisters leads up to the wide landing from which the 5 main Bedrooms are all accessed. These bedrooms offer far reaching views over the gardens and parkland, whilst the main Suite includes an ‘over-sized’ bathroom / dressing room with fitted cupboards. The first floor also includes 5 Bathrooms (3 En-suite) a further 2 Bedrooms and secondary Sitting Room. The accommodation is very flexible with two further staircases leading up from the ground floor and then rising on to the second. The second floor has been extensively refurbished and includes a further 5 Bedrooms, 2 Bathrooms, Games Room and Sitting Room. Part of the floor can be shut off to create a separate staff flat over the Billiard Room wing.
THE COURTYARD
This substantial and attractive quadrangle of stone buildings, adjoining the Hall to the east, is set around a gravelled yard and approached through an impressive archway. These exceptional and beautifully restored buildings comprise:
The Estate Office wing, amounting to 2,625 ft2 and including 2 offices, a kitchenette, WC, lobby with door from the front gravelled parking area, and separate Workshop fitted with twin AVC-HM oil fired boilers. A spiral staircase and second stairs from the office lead to three unconverted store rooms with potential for further residential or commercial accommodation linked to the main house or office.
The adjacent Stable building retains many superb traditional fittings, incorporating two staff WC’s, a Feed Room, a pine-lined Tack Room with saddle racks and bridle hooks, 3 Boxes including foaling box, and stairs to store rooms above.
The adjoining traditional stable block includes a further 3 Boxes and Feed Store, with stairs to two stores above (with planning consent to create a groom’s flat).
The refurbished Coach House, with three double doors, provides garaging for 4 cars, an inspection pit, and large loft above (also with planning to convert to a bedsit flat).
LAUNDRY HOUSE
Constructed of limestone under a slate roof and forming the northern side of the Courtyard, the property has been extensively modernised throughout and offers excellent secondary accommodation including large Sitting Room, fully fitted Kitchen with utility off, 3 Bedrooms, 2 Bathrooms (one en-suite) and a Dressing Area/Study.
EQUESTRIAN FACILITIES
Standing to the east of the Hall, the current owners have created a second yard with 9 Stables and excellent facilities. These include a converted range of brick outbuildings to create a Grooms Room with loft over, and 2 Boxes either side. Opposite a range of Scotts stables include 5 Boxes (one currently fitted with a solarium) and wash down area, whilst nearby is a 3-bay Open Fronted Store and timber Garage. The Olympic sized All-weather Arena has a rubber and sand surface, adjacent is a Horse-Walker for up to 5 horses, and ample parking for large horseboxes and visitors.
At the entrance to the back drive stands a traditional open fronted stone barn currently used for general storage purposes.
GARDENS
Flanking the house to the west and north are stone terraces, with steps up to sweeping lawns abutting the park and enclosed by railings. Around the lawn, there are mature broadleaf and specimen trees with a delightful yew topiary hedge extending to the west, sheltering the raised terrace overlooking the unusual row of 5 croquet lawns, and a grass tennis court. Running adjacent to these lawns are a chain of three lakes, fringed by mature trees and intersected by paths and woodland walks. Closest to the house, the upper lake is flanked by lawns, with a long herbaceous border against a high brick wall.
To the rear of the Hall is a large gravel parking area and a row of 3 Car Ports with further storage, oil tanks and a WC. There is a greenhouse and area of vegetable garden behind which is a walled garden where the heated Swimming Pool (with changing room and garden room) and hard Tennis Court are discreetly located.
Laid out by Lord Lyvedon, the eponymous and delightful “Lord’s Walk” with a fine array of Spring aconites, daffodils and bluebells runs along the northern boundary of the Estate behind the garden walls to the Gardeners Cottages (no longer owned) away to the west.
THE PARK
Lying to the south and west of the Hall, the inner park amounts to approximately 37.70 acres of mature parkland including some fine oak, chestnut, cedar, ash and other tree specimens. Formerly a part of the ancient Royal Forest of Rockingham, it is gently undulating in character and provides a magnificent setting for the Hall. Some of the oak trees are thought to have formed part of the original forest and as such may date back to the 14th Century. The park includes an interesting Grade II listed Well House (possibly designed by Pugin) and adjacent 19th Century stone cattle trough. Further land is available by seperate negotiation.
Divided into grazing fields and currently entered into an Entry Level Scheme with certified Organic Status. It certainly provides a most fitting setting for the Brigstock International Horse Trials each May over the larger extent of the park, and there are many permanent cross country jumps set around the parkland, with several features in the gardens and grounds of the Hall.

Directions

From the A1 near Huntingdon, take the A14 west towards Kettering and the Midlands. Continue for about 14 miles, and take the exit signed A6116 towards Corby. After about 5½ miles, turn left into Brigstock, pass through the village square, and shortly after a sharp left corner, turn right signed to Benefield (just before the Olde Three Cocks inn). Follow this country lane for a mile and the main drive to Fermyn Woods Hall will be found on the left.