Gracing the border of Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire, The Dower House and its surrounding 39 acres of beautifully landscaped gardens and woodland are on sale through Jackson–Stops at a guide price of £3.5 million.
The Dower House is set within the former grounds of Stockgrove Park at the end of an extremely private beech-lined driveway, which begins with a delightful red brick clock tower and ends with the charming country house itself.
Although one could not be faulted for believing that The Dower House has stood the test of time since its surrounding lands were first developed into an estate, when Sir Ferdinand Michael Kroyer-Kielberg – a well known Danish philanthropist and entrepreneur – purchased the land in the 1920s, he commissioned architect William Curtis Green to build a new house and redesign the grounds surrounding it.
The head of the estate thus moved from Stockgrove Park House, built in 1835, to the newly commissioned The Dower House.
William Curtis Green, recipient of the Royal Gold Medal of the Royal Institute of British Architects, designed The Dower House to be the ideal home for a life of polite society, perfectly suited for both large and small-scale entertainment.
The house was situated to best enjoy the stunning views of the surrounding park, with additional paved terraces tactically placed around the property for the same purpose.
Green added a stable block with ten separate stables, including a tack room and a workshop. These additions, combined with the barn and 36 acres of grass paddocks made Strockgrove a haven for horse lovers, a reputation which continues to this day.
Becoming a British citizen in 1926, that same year Kielburg donated his Liverpool home to become a home for sick children, making Stockgrove Park his primary residence. Kielburg gave much of his time towards helping the Danish during the Second World War, efforts which secured him his knighthood in 1947.
Despite it’s original purpose, The Dower House soon joined its Liverpudlian counterpart in the 1950s as a school for children with special educational needs, run by various London authorities before closing in 1994.
It has since been returned to a stunning country house, fit for use as a large family home.
The new owners of the estate will be delighted with the secluded location of the main house, as well as the current owner's efforts to sympathetically update the interior of the property.
The kitchen – designed specifically for The Dower House by Frazer James – and all the bathrooms have been recently renovated. The orangery has been perfectly preserved to retain all of its period charm.
The property boasts a home gym with leads out directly to the pool terrace and swimming pool. Other features include a handsome billard room, wine cellar and an under floor heated boot room, perfect for cold winter walks in the stunning grounds.
Dower House and its surrounding acres are for sale through Jackson-Stops at a guide price of £3.5 million. See more details and pictures here.
Credit: Strutt & Parker
The country retreat where JM Barrie dreamed up Peter Pan to entertain three young houseguests
Set on 1.5 acres of land on the edge of Bourne Wood, Lobswood House has been sympathetically renovated to retain
Credit: Savills
The Story of the Hamilton Grand, the finest flat in St Andrews
Once a Grand Hotel, an airforce base and student hall of residence, the Hamilton Grand has now entered the newest
Credit: Savills
Poets' corner: The aristocratic family home which provided a haven for the literary geniuses of the 19th century
-
Brockfield Hall, the great Yorkshire house that's gone from Regency mansion to modern family homeBrockfield Hall in North Yorkshire is the family home of Charlie Wood and Hatta Byng, editor of House & Garden, who have transformed it since they came here in 2020, winning multiple awards in the process. John Martin Robinson reports on the restoration project that revived this compact Regency house as a modern family home. Photographs by Paul Highnam for Country Life.
-
Barbour’s heritage jackets get a floral makeover courtesy of ErdemUtilitarian outwear has taken the fashion world by storm and now Britain's world-famous wax jackets are getting in on the act, inspired by some of our greatest countryside icons.
-
A Georgian vicarage that blends idyllic seclusion, village life and a simple commute to the CityThe Old Rectory in Hawkhurst, Kent, is a delightful home inside and out. Penny Churchill takes a look.
-
The green Gable House: A family home in Hampshire that even we can't believe is only 15 years oldIf the house isn't quite right, don't be afraid to build something new. The Gable House in Ashford Hill is a glorious example of a new home that looks like it's always been there.
-
Best country houses for sale this weekFrom a vast Shropshire masterpiece to an idyllic West Country farmhouse, here's our pick of the best property for sale this week.
-
Ten stunning character properties for sale at under £400,000From thatched cottages near the beaches of Devon and Cornwall to a barn conversion in Kent and a wonderful getaway in Snowdonia, here's our pick of the best character cottages and character homes for sale.
-
The Brontës original family home has come up for sale with a £380,000 price tagThe Revd Patrick Brontë's former home has come on to the market, where he and his wife lived in their early years before having their children Charlotte, Emily, Anne and Branwell.
-
Six superb homes, from the picturesque to the palatial, as seen in Country LifeOur pick of some of the best homes to come to the market via Country Life includes a true gem in Buckinghamshire.
-
A £21 million castle that's come up for sale for the first time in 700 yearsRipley Castle in North Yorkshire has been the family home of the Ingilbys since the early 1300s. It's steeped in history, has a list of famous visitors over the centuries that include James I and Oliver Cromwell, and is now on the open market. Annabel Dixon takes a look.
-
A wisteria-clad former rectory in Stevenage that used to host Sir Winston ChurchillWrapped within all that greenery are some of the finest Georgian interiors we've seen.
