The Old Wood, Betley, Crewe, Cheshire, CW3 9BB Guide price £3,950,000

Situation

The village of Betley is a little gem, situated on the southern border of Cheshire. This quintessential English village boasts a number of fine 17th, 18th and 19th Century buildings, and history going back prior to the Doomsday Book. The village has a shop/post office, primary school, church, public houses and a cricket ground. Wychwood Park Golf Club, designed to European PGA tour standards, is approximately 2 miles distant.
Communications are excellent, with the M6 (J16) motorway only 4.5 miles and Crewe Railway Station 5.5 miles, giving access to London in about 1 hour 35 minutes and Manchester Piccadilly in about 38 minutes. The house is also within easy driving distance from the international airports of Manchester (29.5 miles), Liverpool John Lennon (39 miles), East Midlands (51.5 miles) and Birmingham (56 miles).

Description

The acclaimed designer Janine Stone was chosen by the current owners of The Old Wood to create a timeless country house that befitted its magnificent waterside location. The result is quite evidently a resounding success. The Old Wood is a wonderful example of how the fusion of traditional and contemporary style and design works to create sophisticated living space that stimulates the senses but at the same time provides a comfortable and practical home.
Nestled within mature woodland, The Old Wood sits elegantly at the end of a sweeping driveway running through parkland and is approached across a Grade II Listed bridge over the private 13 acre lake. The drive then winds its way around the parkland, leading to specimen tree-planted mature woodland that envelopes the house. The house enjoys south-westerly views over the lake with professionally landscaped grounds adding another dynamic element to this outstanding property.

Accommodation

‘Take full advantage of the view over the water and garden’ has been the designer’s mantra. The main house is subtly converted to give the maximum view over the lake, with the principal reception rooms and bedrooms having French doors opening onto terraces and balconies, enjoying stunning views.
The newly constructed leisure wing follows suit and has been designed specially to create the illusion that the swimming pool connects with the lake when you are swimming.
The leisure complex is a state of the art building set to one side of the main house and oozes contemporary style and design with a fusion of glass, stainless steel and limestone creating the ultimate in relaxation areas. From the main pool area breathtaking views across the grounds towards the lake can be enjoyed, with a seamless blend between the interior and exterior. The complex is complete with a fully functioning kitchen, gymnasium area, bespoke fitted his and her changing rooms &WC. There is a fully equipped home cinema room with projector and surround sound, together with a separate games room and large study.
Specification includes:
– Exterior & interior designed by Janine Stone
– Kitchen & other fittings designed by Janine Stone
– Magnificent contemporary designer bathrooms
– Galleried reception hall with marble flooring
– Bang & Olufsen surround sound
– Lutron lighting
– Zoned heating
– Moulded ceilings & Living Flame gas fires to principal rooms
– Sophisticated alarm system with CCTV video entry system & electrically operated gates
– Newly constructed leisure complex with air conditioning
– Separate kitchen/gymnasium area within the leisure complex
– 10.8m swimming pool
– Emergency power & lighting backup System
The beautifully maintained and varied grounds include:
– Private 13 acre lake with jetty & decked area
– Hard tennis court
– Professionally landscaped & drained 6 hole golf course with bunkers & 12 tees
– Japanese garden
– Fruit garden
– Reed garden
– Substantial vegetable garden
– Bluebell wood
– In all approximately 24 acres

Directions

From junction 16 of the M6, take the A500 west towards Nantwich. At the second roundabout turn left, sign-posted ‘Balterley & Betley’. After about 2 miles, entering the village of Betley, take the first left hand turn, sign-posted ‘Betley Hall Gardens’. At the end of this road are the electronically operated entrance gates marked ‘private’. The Old Wood will be found at the end of the drive.