An English Country House on the Isle of Wight
The Grade II*-listed Gatcombe House sits within a 48 acre estate with private parkland and ancient woodland, overlooking the Medina Valley in the historic county of Hampshire.
The country estate is located in the very heart of the Isle of Wight, a small island off the south coast of England located in the English channel, and one of the sunniest areas in the British Isles. Gatcombe House is 20 minutes to the region's heritage coastline, marinas, and beaches, and just 3 miles from the main island town of Newport.
Approached via a lime tree-lined drive, the classic Georgian house features a striking ivy-covered ashlar façade with a grand central stone pediment, with an elevated positioning that commands attention.
The property was built in 1751 for local politician Sir Edward Worsley and incorporated parts of an earlier Elizabethan building, although Gatcombe Park estate has historic records preceding the Norman Conquest.
Gatcombe House is surrounded by landscaped parkland, planted first in the mid-18th century and remodelled in the 19th century. Its gardens have been featured in national publications, with terraced lawns, orchards, and a David Austin rose garden to the front of the house.
Amenities include a swimming pool with flagged stone terrace and a dwarf wall, and an all-weather tennis court with pavilion. Just beyond is the children’s play area, complete with a built-in slide and Flying Fox apparatus.
A secret garden completes the island country estate, with magnolias and tulip trees, bordered with azaleas, rhododendrons, and hydrangeas.
Gatcombe House is a showcase of fine, Georgian architecture, and has been beautifully preserved by its current owner, featuring sash windows and intricate cornicing, pediments in the reception rooms, and elegant Regency-style chimneypieces.
The grand Billiard Room doubles as a ballroom, with wooden floors sprung for dancing.
Other notable details include French doors which lead out to the gardens and a Venetian window illuminating the galleried staircase.
A large kitchen and breakfast room serve as the hub of the family home, with a skylight and French doors that open to a walled courtyard with a herb garden and greenhouse—a lovely setting for al fresco dining.
In addition to the 11 bedroom country house, the estate includes a Grade II listed Old Stable Block, along with a Coach House, and Stable Cottage which the owner has tastefully converted for ancillary accommodation.
Additional farm buildings on the estate are waiting for their next incarnation and can be converted for commercial use. An incredible opportunity for the right buyer.
All photos belong to the listing agency.
