Overview cont'd
During 1771 and 1772 Capability Brown was employed to improve the grounds. Brown worked at many country houses including Blenheim Palace, Chatsworth and Stowe and his style replaced formal parterre style gardens with a more natural landscape of rolling lawns with vistas to groups of trees, and tree lined drives.
The property was once used as the Head Office of Bovril, and in July 1951, when it was given Grade II* listed status, it was owned by Group Captain Leonard Cheshire and used as a Cheshire Home.
In the 1990s the mansion was converted into four separate private dwellings. Each property is freehold with a private garden at the rear but the drive and front garden is communally owned with all four properties contributing an annual sum (currently about £600) for the upkeep of the drive and front garden, and the maintenance of a shared septic tank.
About the House
Ashburnham Park House comprises the left hand section of the original mansion as you look at it from the front, and has allocated parking in the gravel area on the left of the mansion steps which has space to park at least five cars. The property has just under 7,300 sq. ft. of versatile accommodation over four floors. The lower ground floor houses a gym/workshop with the rest of the space currently used for storage. There are two formal reception rooms, a study and a kitchen/breakfast room on the ground floor, and seven bedrooms and four bath or shower rooms across the top two floors.
The private rear garden is south easterly facing. It has a gate to adjoining private woodland, and views over the surrounding open countryside. The garden is mainly laid to lawn with established herbaceous borders, several seating areas for relaxing and entertaining, and is screened by mature hedges and mature trees for privacy.
Ground Floor
The property is accessed from the drive via an arched opening leading to a covered area which has a side door to the lower ground floor of the property, or a secure gate with keypad entry which opens to steps and a path to the rear of the house where glazed double doors lead into a porch/boot room which has storage for coats and shoes, and doors to the kitchen/breakfast room and the formal dining room.
A door from the kitchen/breakfast room leads to an inner hall which has stairs to the lower ground and first floors and an opening to the study.
Reception Rooms
Both the formal reception rooms have high ceilings with ornate coving and ceiling roses supporting chandeliers. The drawing room has additional ornate plasterwork in the centre of the ceiling.
The dining room has two tall sash windows with shutters, and windows seats overlooking the rear garden. The internal doors have ornate architraves and decorated pediments, and include a false door which formerly led to the other parts of the mansion. There is wall panelling to dado height and an original fireplace with a marble surround and a decorative cast iron grate. The fireplaces in both reception rooms are in working order and the chimneys are swept annually.
The adjoining drawing room has exposed wood flooring and an original decorative fireplace with inset marble. The candlesticks and clock on the mantelpiece are original and will remain with the property. The drawing room has three tall sash windows with shutters and window seats with views to the front, and two built-in cupboards, one of which has been used to create a bar area with space for a fridge and shelves for bottles and glasses.
Study
The study has exposed wood flooring, and a sash window with a decorative architrave, shutters and a window seat from which to enjoy the far reaching views. There are decorative wall panels and a feature arch. A door leads to an L-shaped cloakroom which has a WC and a vanity washbasin.
Kitchen/Breakfast Room
The kitchen/breakfast room has ornate coving, a dado rail, Amtico wood effect flooring throughout, and a tall sash window with an ornate architrave, shutters and a window seat overlooking the rear garden. Additional natural light is provided by borrowed light windows to the adjoining porch. The door from the kitchen to the inner hall has a particularly fine example of a decoratively carved architrave.
The kitchen is fitted with a comprehensive range of base and wall units with complementary work surfaces incorporating a one and a half bowl ceramic sink and drainer. Appliances include a Rangemaster dual fuel range cooker with a metro tiled splashback and an extractor fan over, an integrated Miele dishwasher, and an integrated larder fridge. The breakfast area has space for a table to seat at least six as well as space for soft seating by the wide fireplace which houses a log burning stove.
Lower Ground Floor
Stairs from the inner hall lead down to a hall on the lower ground floor which has a checkerboard tiled floor, a window to the front and the entrance door from the covered area.
The gym/workshop is under the drawing room and also has three windows to the front. It is divided into two sections by a partial wall. One section is currently used as a gym and the other is used as a workshop. It is a versatile space and could be used as a cinema room or games room if preferred.
An opening from the gym/workshop leads to the rest of the lower ground floor which is currently used as storage.
First Floor
A paired staircase from the inner hall links in the centre and the stairs continue past a mezzanine bathroom to the first floor landing which has two windows to the side, access to bedroom two and stairs up to an inner landing with access to the principal bedroom suite and bedroom three. The inner landing has a shelved airing cupboard, and another walk-in shelved store room. A trapdoor in the floor of this store gives access to a winch for raising and lowering the drawing room chandelier for cleaning.
Principal Bedrooms
The principal bedroom and bedroom two have connecting doors and both have high ceilings, wall panelling to dado height, and two sash windows with shutters and window seats overlooking the rear garden. Bedroom two has two built-in cupboards and both the bedrooms have a bespoke range of wardrobes which are freestanding but will remain in the property.
The principal bedroom has steps up to a vestibule which has a door to the inner landing, and a built-in double cupboard. This vestibule leads to the principal bathroom which has a claw footed bath with a shower attachment set under a sash window with views to the front. There is also a twin washbasin, a heritage WC, a separate shower cubicle with rainwater and standard showerheads, and two double towel radiators.
Bedroom three is L-shaped with two sections. linked by a feature arch, offering flexibility in how the space is used with potential for a seating or study area or a dressing room in addition to the bedroom area. There are two tall sash windows with shutters and window seats with panoramic views to the front. One wall has a mural of Winnie the Pooh and his friends enjoying the 100 acre wood, and a concealed door in the mural leads to a three piece en suite shower room.
Mezzanine Bathroom and Utility Cupboard
The bathroom has two windows for natural light, half height wall panelling, a P-shaped bath with a shower over, a WC, a bidet, and twin washbasins set into an array of vanity storage.
A built-in cupboard in the bathroom has been converted into a laundry area with space for a stacked washing machine and tumble dryer.
Second Floor
There are four further double bedrooms on the second floor which was originally used as servants’ quarters. The landing has an airing cupboard with a second hot water tank, and there is also a built-in storage cupboard on the inner landing which gives access to the four bedrooms, one of which has a built-in cupboard.
Two of the bedrooms have dormer windows to the front and both measure over 23 ft. long giving plenty of space for study or seating areas in addition to the bed area. The other two bedrooms are also generous sized double bedrooms with windows overlooking the rear garden. The vendors currently use this floor for guest accommodation but it would also work well to create a separate suite for older children, or could be used for playrooms or additional study areas as required.
The second floor bathroom has a bath with a shower over, a pedestal washbasin, a WC, and a window to the front. The second floor is on a separate heating circuit and doesn’t have to be heated if not in use.
Gardens and Grounds
The mansion is on an elevated plot and is accessed via a gravel driveway which gives across to the house and the garage blocks. The property has a double garage with parking in front for three cars in addition to the five which can park in front of the house. The land in front is grassed with several mature trees, and slopes gently down from the mansion to open fields beyond
The private rear garden is enclosed by a combination of mature hedges and close boarded fencing. There is a paved terrace which spans the rear of the property and has space for tables and chairs for al fresco dining, and there is also a further gravelled seating area on one side of the garden. The rest of the garden is laid to lawn with established herbaceous beds and borders which have been planted with a variety of shrubs and flowers to provide year round interest. One bed houses a Magnolia tree and there are also many mature trees interspersed throughout the garden. These trees are subject to Tree Preservation Orders because of the Capability Brown link.
At the bottom of the garden, a hedge screens a compost area, and in one corner there is a gate leading to the adjoining woodland with footpaths connecting to the surrounding Ampthill Park. It is possible to walk into Ampthill via these pathways in about 15 to 20 minutes.
Situation and Schooling
Ampthill is a historic market town with a number of notable properties. Local amenities include supermarkets, boutique style shops, public houses and restaurants, as well as the historic church and local authority schooling that includes Redbourne Upper School. Independent private schooling can be found in the nearby county town of Bedford, including the highly regarded Harpur Trust schools. There are also good links to major road networks including junctions 12 and 13 of the M1 motorway, as well as easy access to Bedford and Cambridge via the A1.
Ground Floor
Overview
Ashburnham Park House comprises the left hand section of the original mansion as you look at it from the front, and has allocated parking in the gravel area on the left of the mansion steps which has space to park at least five cars. The property has just under 7,300 sq. ft. of versatile accommodation over four floors. The lower ground floor houses a gym/workshop with the rest of the space currently used for storage. There are two formal reception rooms, a study and a kitchen/breakfast room on the ground floor, and seven bedrooms and four bath or shower rooms across the top two floors.
The private rear garden is south easterly facing. It has a gate to adjoining private woodland, and views over the surrounding open countryside. The garden is mainly laid to lawn with established herbaceous borders, several seating areas for relaxing and entertaining, and is screened by mature hedges and mature trees for privacy.
