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An imposing Grade II* Listed mansion house. Currently in private occupation but with a variety of potential alternative uses. Incorporating Great Hall with Gallery, two further major reception rooms. Domestic offices. 33 bedrooms. 15 bathrooms. Dungeons. About 18,000 sq ft gross in all (13,500 sq ft nett).
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THE HOUSE: This important and attractive Grade II * Listed Manor House is of considerable historical and architectural interest. The house is built of brick, random rubble stonework and granite quarried from the Rookery. The North facing wing was probably constructed in the 12th / 13th century with later additions in the Tudor period when the South facing wing, including the magnificent Great Hall was created. The ornate plasterwork and the impressive Minstrels galleries probably date from the late 18th century. The main South elevation has been stripped and re-rendered with fine pebbledash with square ashlar pointing. The moulded architraves above the windows and fine embossed lead guttering and rain water down pipes are notable features of the building. The roof has a renewed covering of Delabole slates over bituminous felt, leaded flats and gutters and cement rendered chimney stacks. The work carried out in the early 1970's included general refurbishment of the whole house, including re-roofing, new wiring, plumbing and central heating. The property now has the benefit of tanked gas fired central heating system, provided by boilers situated in a separate boiler house to the North of the Mansion. In addition the property has a warden call system, smoke detection system and a lift to all floors (all systems not tested). The 1980's conversion to flats of varying sizes on all floors, retained much of the original architectural features throughout the property, including some magnificent fireplaces, stone mullion windows, panelling, fenestration and shuttering. Largely arranged over three floors including a mezzanine level between ground and first, the property also has a three chambered dungeon and a hidden unconverted floor above the first floor tower wing. As mentioned the property is now in private residential use although it lends itself to a variety of uses (subject to Planning Approval) including division into separate "houses", corporate offices, institution or hotel use. Return to top of page HISTORICAL NOTES: The original house was built during the reign of King Stephen (1135-54) by Sampson Foliot, who gave his name to the village and had his principal residence at Warleigh. The family continued to own it until 1253. Between then and 1970 only five other families have owned the Estate, all being lineally descended from Sampson Foliot. The families being; the Gorges (1253-1435), the Bonvilles (1435-c.1472), the Coplestons (c.1472-1631), the Bampfyldes (1631-1741) and the Radcliffes (1741-1970). Of the present house, the North side is believed to date from the 12th - 13th centuries and to contain parts of the original house including the Chapel, now disused as such. The South side was built by the Coplestons in the reign of Henry VII, following which the house remained for over 300 years as a fortified Manor House. Between 1825-32 the Reverend Walter Radcliffe enlarged and remodelled certain parts of the House especially the South side, in the Strawberry Hill Gothic style to the designs of John Foulston (the distinguished Plymouth architect and pupil to John Nash), whilst retaining the important architectural features of the earlier parts. At this time a lodge and a further boat house were added to the Estate. By 1969 the Mansion House had become in need of substantial repair and was bought by Dr. Holliday when it was re-roofed and partially restored. Much of the house was established as a Nursing Home. Having been sold again in the late 1970's, when further refurbishment was carried out, the Mansion House was then converted between 1983 and 1985 into suites of accommodation for retired persons. In more recent years, the property has reverted to private residential use but much of the alteration and sub-divisions of the original principal rooms still remain. Return to top of page
WARLEIGH STABLES AND CIDER POUND: Situated to the East of Warleigh House beyond the Dovecote and entrance drive is a range of attractive stone and slate attached buildings comprising a former cider pound and stables centred around a cobbled yard and approached across a wide tarmac courtyard. BUILDING ONE. 18'6" x 17'6" (internal dimensions) with side opening onto the tarmac courtyard. Vaulted roof space and opening to Building Three. BUILDING TWO. 20'3" x 19'5" (internal dimensions) entered across the cobbled yard fronting the stable block through folding timber doors. BUILDING THREE. 44'8" x 17'6" (internal dimensions) with windows to front and rear. Vaulted roof space and small passage room giving access to … BUILDING FOUR. 20' x 9'8" (internal dimensions) accessed internally with further windows onto the far courtyard with adjoining … GARAGE. 23' x 10'10' (external dimensions) with double doors and rear windows onto far courtyard. Beyond the garage overlooking its own walled courtyard is a further attractive … BUILDING FIVE. 53' x 19' (internal dimensions) with windows (but without floor) at first floor level. This building has been sub-divided internally with block-work walls at ground floor level only. Subject to Planning Approval - An imaginative design has been made of this attractive range of buildings for conversion into either five or seven residential dwellings. STABLE COTTAGE. Approx. 29'4" x 27'6" narrowing to 21' x 19' (external dimensions). Comprising sitting room with open fireplace, two bedrooms, galley kitchen and bathroom. Situated immediately to the front (North) of the Stables and Cider Pound is a single storey residential dwelling. Enjoying a fine open outlook to the rear over its own rear garden with fine views across the river. Situated beyond the immediate gardens to the West side of the main house hidden from view, set on its own grassed peninsula headland is the charming but neglected … WARLEIGH BOATHOUSE. 28' x 14' (approximate external dimensions). Attractively constructed of stone and slate with a single room at garden level and boat room below. This building enjoys a residential planning consent and an outstanding position on the Estate with stunning views across the river and benefiting from use of the adjoining SLIPWAY AND PRIVATE QUAY. To the South East of the main house is a most secluded … WALLED KITCHEN GARDEN. Around ONE ACRE incorporating a former green house and original cottage ruin. This Southern facing site was productive in its day and still includes many mature fruit trees. When the House was in use as a Nursing Home, consent was obtained for a 10,000 sq. ft private hospital on this site. That consent has now lapsed. The tall brick and stone walls are Listed, but there is appropriate historic access to this area from the driveways. GAMEKEEPERS COTTAGE. To the South West of the House is a derelict former gatekeeper's cottage including an old saw mill and estate kennels. Adjoining this is Cooks Meadow and a well stocked lake. WARLEIGH DOVECOTE. Situated to the South East of the House and dominating the entrance to the property is a most impressive former Dovecote with an external circumference of some 46 feet. This attractive red brick-built Listed building has lapsed Planning Consent for a single dwelling, and incorporates some 400 nesting boxes within its walls. 16th CENTURY BOATHOUSE. On the West side of the small bay opposite the Quay lay the ruins of a former 16th Century Boathouse. Only the substantial walls remain. Return to top of page
THE GARDENS, GROUNDS AND RIVER. The gardens and grounds extend from the East through the property's own private pillared entrance via a tarmac driveway bordered by historic Devon banks. After about 120 yards further one enters upon parkland on the South side of the drive by a recently reopened former driveway separating an area of agricultural land forming the Southern perimeter of the Estate. Formal lawned gardens surround and protect the house. The tennis and croquet lawn immediately to the East side of the house is large enough for helicopters to land upon, and is separate from a further garden area to the North East of the House by two driveways and parking area immediately to the rear of the House. Tarmaced parking to the North of the House is provided for several vehicles and also gives access to the Boiler House and links to the woodland. The Rookery Wood (0.8 hectares) has recently been replanted. The immediate South front of the House overlooks a delightful brick walled garden with original wrought iron gates to its East and West sides. This mature original garden incorporates terraced lawns and gravelled paths gently sloping to a sunken wall garden with fruit trees, box hedging and central gravelled paths. This can also be entered on the lower South side via high wrought iron gates from a pathway connecting to the walled Kitchen Garden, and the southern gamekeeper's driveway. The West of the House is again fronted by lawned gardens which are separated from the grassed Boathouse peninsula by the Woodland Drive. This is bordered on its North side by the shore line and incorporates the 16th Century Boathouse ruin and on its South side by the former gamekeeper's cottage and the Wooded Rookery. This driveway follows the shoreline leading through to The Warleigh woods.The woods are the subject of a Woodland Grant Scheme for the next five years. The whole gardens and grounds have been planted with an array of exotic, indigenous shrubs and trees with a view to easy management. These include Ash, Azaleas, Beech, Cherry, Lime, Palms, Oak, Pine, Rhododendrons, Sycamore, Yew trees and Yuccas. The entire Northern boundary of the Warleigh Estate is formed by an inspiring shoreline including headland, quay, cove and fundus to the River Tavy with fishing and mooring rights. The Estate includes 51 acres of foreshore and fundus approximately (20.65 hectares) with the remaining formal grounds and woodland being approximately 60.69 acres (24.56 hectares). Return to top of page |
