Dream Home: Oakley Residential
Three in one
Latest Homes takes a look at a fabulous family home in Lewes that comes with many added extras
When the owners of this amazing property took it on 10 years ago it was a rather neglected gem. Originally built as a school house it had over the years undergone many changes, some structural, some superficial. In its last incarnation it was home to a group of disparate offices, small businesses that had carved up the larger spaces so little of the true beauty of this quite magnificent house could be seen..
But St Wilfrids is much, much more than a simple home. It also comes with two thriving businesses. In one part of the ground floor is a very successful hair salon, this is currently leased and the business remains unaffected.
The hair salon is an independently run business but one that works well with the other: a bed and breakfast that the owners run themselves. I say bed and breakfast because officially that is what they have to call it, but to me it looks more like a top end boutique hotel with its three stylish en-suite rooms all with king sized beds and full facilities. It is rated as four-star Silver, almost the highest award a bed and breakfast can get, and it’s very easy to see why. It’s very successful, bringing in a good income and operating at an excellent occupancy rate. It also occupies a separate wing of the building so guests are never in the private home.
“To say this home is spacious is to under-egg the pudding. It is truly a property of expansive proportions”
And what a private home: the rooms are certainly on the grand scale, from a huge vestibule opening onto a large woodblock floored hall with a lavishly carved newel post topped by an eagle clutching a snake and sweeping staircase. The doors are heavy, wooden framed and much wider than usual with inlaid banding and decorations.
To the left the very large kitchen is divided into three areas, cooking, eating and relaxing, and it is clearly the heart of the home with a massive original dark red marble fireplace of top quality. It’s here you first spot the massive windows that are a feature of the whole property and fill the rooms with light.
There is an equally impressive white marble fireplace in the main drawing room, this time carved with cherubs. It had been boxed and hidden so it is in immaculate condition. This room is doubly grand: a vast space filled with light from the huge windows that overlook the immaculate garden.
Outside in the garden are terraces, decks and a hot tub. A huge upper room above the large garage, which is reached from the large gated driveway, has been turned into a fun room for relaxing, with gym equipment and a home cinema as well as a wall of doors that opens fully onto the garden. It is also very private, and not overlooked, even by the rooms in the bed and breakfast wing of the property.
Upstairs is equally well appointed; there is no such thing as a small room in this home, and all of them have been carefully renovated and decorated by the owners. This is no slavish restoration however, and there are striking modern touches, especially in the bathrooms, one with a fabulous silver mosaic tiled bath alcove and contrasting pillar box red glass shower enclosure.
Another en-suite has soft cream marble throughout and leads off the master bedroom which also boasts a huge dressing room and a sitting area with two huge chairs overlooking the garden.
To say this home is spacious is to under-egg the pudding. It is truly a property of expansive proportions. Including the bed and breakfast wing there are eight bedrooms, five bathrooms and four reception rooms.
It offers any buyer both luxurious accommodation and regular income from day one. Ideally located in the heart of Historic Lewes there are many attractions for buyers. With Glyndebourne and Brighton close by, the holiday potential is enormous and the bed and breakfast already does excellent business for wedding parties. As a family home it benefits from great local services, shops and restaurants and a wide range of excellent schools.
Property A large freehold property including two businesses but with potential to return to single occupancy.
Location: Lewes
Guide Price: £1,975,000
Contact Oakley: 01273 487444
