Bulkeley Grange

A beautifully restored Grade II listed country house enjoying an idyllic setting in the Cheshire countryside.


Description

History
Bulkeley Grange is a handsome Grade II listed country house, beautifully positioned in rolling Cheshire countryside with far reaching views. Believed to date from 1865, the house was built by the renowned railway contractor Thomas Brassey as part of his model farm estate, constructed to an exceptional standard using bricks and stone from his own Wirral quarry and finished with distinctive Brassey ironwork.

The property was acquired by the Barlow family in 1967 and remained in their ownership for 47 years. By the time the wider Bulkeley Grange Estate was sold in 2014, the house required comprehensive restoration. The current owners have since undertaken an extensive programme of works, including full rewiring, roof repairs, selective window replacement, a new heating system, complete redecoration, new kitchen and bathrooms, and significant landscaping.


Description
Bulkeley Grange is a distinguished and characterful Victorian residence, set within approximately nine acres of gardens and grounds including garaging and stabling. The house retains a wealth of original features including oak flooring, window shutters, elegant fireplaces, decorative plasterwork and the original bell board.

The impressive front door opens into a porch and through to the welcoming entrance hall, centred around a feature wood burning stove. From here, the fine staircase rises to the first floor and the principal reception rooms flow effortlessly.

The drawing room enjoys a double aspect with views across the land and over the ha ha, together with an ornate plaster ceiling and an open fireplace with marble surround. Opposite, the sitting room features a bay window overlooking the sunken garden and a wood burning stove. This leads into the library, home to a striking fireplace believed to originate from the Tudor period Bulkeley Old Hall, as well as the original bell board. The dining room is a superb entertaining space with panelled walls, an open fireplace and a wonderful outlook over the grounds.

At the heart of the home lies the bespoke handcrafted kitchen by Sheerin Bespoke of Knutsford, fitted with an extensive range of units including a pantry cupboard, central island and an oil fired AGA with companion. The kitchen opens into a breakfast area with French windows leading to the garden. To one end is a practical utility room with drying room, and to the other a generous walk in larder.

A particularly attractive cloakroom features a spacious cloak area, double sinks beneath a large skylight and an enclosed WC.

The staircase rises to a generous landing. The principal bedroom suite is a beautifully proportioned double room with dual aspect, an en suite bathroom with shower and freestanding roll top bath, and a fully fitted dressing room. The guest suite is another double bedroom with far reaching views and an en suite shower room.

There are five further bedrooms on this floor, a family shower room with separate WC, and a family bathroom which also links to one of the bedrooms, creating an additional en suite option. One of the bedrooms connects through to the office, which also has independent access via an external staircase.

The upper floor provides a further double bedroom with en suite bathroom, a spacious games room and useful attic store rooms.

The property also benefits from extensive cellarage, including several store rooms and a wine store.

Gardens, grounds & outbuildings
Approached via a private tree lined driveway, Bulkeley Grange sits centrally within its grounds, surrounded by attractive gardens and open countryside. The driveway continues around the house to a gravelled parking area and a double garage, together with a gardener’s WC.

The principal gardens lie to the side of the house and are mainly laid to lawn, wrapping around the property and bordered by a ha ha which provides an uninterrupted outlook across the paddock beyond.

To the rear is a raised terrace with stone steps leading down to a charming sunken garden, arranged around a central seating area and framed by well stocked, colourful borders, an idyllic setting for entertaining and alfresco dining.

Beyond the formal gardens lies a paddock, with a further paddock positioned to the south-east, featuring an attractive wildlife pond that draws a variety of birds and native species.

A particularly appealing feature is the walled garden, part lawned and opening into a wildflower meadow. Adjacent to this is the enclosed kitchen garden, complete with raised beds.

Location

Bulkeley Grange is situated within beautiful rolling South Cheshire countryside with lovely views across the surrounding landscape. It is approximately nine miles from the popular village of Tarporley and six miles from Malpas, which offer an excellent range of day to day services and from which people commute to Chester, Liverpool and Manchester on a daily basis.

Nearby Tarporley is a highly sought-after village with an attractive High Street offering a diverse selection of amenities including cafes, restaurants, public houses, independent shops, fashion boutiques and three churches, as well as primary and secondary schooling and a range of community services.

Malpas is a picturesque English country village, recorded in the Doomsday Book, with a fine gothic church (St Oswalds) and buildings in a mixture of architectural styles. It has a good range of shops, pubs and restaurants. Bishop Heber High is an outstanding (Ofsted 2011) secondary school situated on the outskirts of the village.

There are excellent private schools in the region including King's and Queen's schools in Chester, Shrewsbury School & Packwood Haugh Preparatory School near Shrewsbury, Ellesmere College, Ellesmere and Moreton Hall in Oswestry.

The City of Chester is one of the north west’s leading retail and commercial centres serving a catchment area extending from Manchester to Shrewsbury and covering the whole of North Wales. Chester also gives access to the motorway network providing a link to other north west and midlands conurbations and to Liverpool and Manchester airports. Crewe railways station offers a fast and regular rail service to London Euston (approximately 1.5 hours).

The area offers a wide range of leisure opportunities. Carden Park (6 miles) has two championship golf courses, an excellent fitness club and spa. There are many scenic walks on the Bickerton Hills, fishing on the River Dee and horse racing at Bangor on Dee (14 miles) and Chester.

Distances
Tarporley: 9 miles, Malpas: 6.5 miles, Chester: 19 miles, Crewe: 15 miles, Ellesmere: 22 miles, Oswestry: 29 miles, Liverpool airport: 33 miles, Shrewsbury: 33 miles, Manchester airport: 35 miles Liverpool: 39 miles, Manchester: 42 miles.
(All mileages are approximate)

Square Footage: 9,730 sq ft


Acreage: 9.86 Acres

Directions

Postcode: SY14 8BT
What3words : ///included.heaven.coast