A jubilant James Mackenzie of Strutt & Parker (020–3642 4591) exclaimed ‘Forget Brexit—it doesn’t get any better than this’, as potential purchasers queued to view the exquisite Georgian Freshford Hall, near Bath, following its launch, at a guide price of £4.5m, in Country Life’s ‘Best of Britain’ number on July 6.
Built of traditional bath stone in about 1790, with additional wings added in 1885 or thereabouts, the classically symmetrical, Grade II-listed Georgian house stands on the edge of the pretty Somerset village of Freshford, less than six miles south of Bath.
Although surprisingly little is known of the hall’s history, the present building apparently owes much to the influence of the Bythesea family, wealthy clothiers from Trowbridge, Wiltshire, various members of which lived at the hall throughout the 1800s.
The most famous of these was Rear Admiral John Bythesea, whose father, George, was the vicar of the village’s St Peter’s church for 20 years from 1818. John was awarded a Victoria Cross during the Crimean War, but later lost his command when his ship, HMS Lord Clyde, ran aground on a sandbank and had to be scrapped.
Beautifully sited on rising ground overlooking its 12 acres of wooded gardens and pasture and the surrounding countryside, Freshford Hall boasts some 7,000sq ft of elegant accommodation on four floors. The drawing room and dining room are of particular note, both having floor-to-ceiling windows, providing a wealth of natural light and wonderful views. The bespoke kitchen and the adjoining family room-cum-dining room are the real heart of the house and the garden floor offers a unique perspective over the gardens and grounds.
In all, Freshford Hall offers five reception rooms, a kitchen/breakfast room, a splendid master-bedroom suite, six further bedrooms, five further bathrooms, and a separate three-bedroom cottage. Amenities include a swimming pool, a tennis court and two paddocks.
£4.5m, Strutt & Parker (020–3642 4591; https://countrylife.onthemarket.com)
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