Francis York

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Upton House is a Wonderfully Modernized Country Home Near Bath

This property is listed for £4,000,000 by James McKillop and Charlie Taylor of Knight Frank. 

 Upton House is a Grade II-listed country house set in the countryside of Avon, which borders the Cotswolds. The land was once held by the Earl Alwin, one of the lords of the Kingswood Forest, a royal forest used by the king for hunting grounds. It was mentioned in the Domesday Book, a survey of King William the Conqueror’s lands, completed in 1086. 

In 1453, Henry VI bequeathed the lands to Sir John Barr, with the lands reverting to his wife’s heirs after his death. After his wife’s death in 1488, the property passed to her heir, Robert Bassett, the Earl of Stafford. His descendant, William Bassett of Claverton, built the mansion in 1609. The property remained in the Bassett family until 1650, when it was passed to the daughter of Seed family, and then the Lacys. 

The Lacy family sold Upton in 1701 to Edward Parker, the son of a vicar. During their 245 year stewardship, the Parkers made many changes: Edward reconfigured the home into a three-bay house with a rear wing addition, then in 1857, Joseph Parker partly rebuilt Upton House in the Tudor style, and in 1910, a west wing was added for John Parker. In 1946 the Parker family sold the home and in 1952, the home was sold again, separate from the estate.

Today, Upton is fresh of a detailed renovation/restoration aimed at modernizing the home for the 21st century while enhancing, retaining, and repairing many features such as reclaimed floor boards, polished limestone flagstone, a green oak staircase, a beautiful cast iron radiator, and carved marble and stone fireplaces.

All of the home’s internal systems have been modernized as well, including all new wiring with data cabling, new gas heating and plumbing,  new fire and alarm systems, and under floor heating in the kitchen, utility room, and master suite. The exterior was also given careful attention with the restoration of: “raised quoins, modillion cornice, crenelated parapet and [a] first floor oriel bay.” 

The home has too many incredible features to list, but some worth mentioning are, the 27-foot long (!) dining room for lavish entertaining, a heated outdoor pool, and a Cider Barn that is used as a party space (and has some original cider production equipment). The 2.4 acre garden includes orchards, a vegetable patch, and a grass tennis court. 

Upton House is located in the village of Cheyney, about 90 minutes from London, 6 miles from Bath, and 8 miles from Bristol.

All photos belong to the listing agency.