Stunning Kidderminster Cottage S59644

About this property

Houle Estate is a magnificent, Grade II listed Georgian country manor, making an idyllic setting for special celebrations and weddings, with a quintessential English charm.

First built in 1778, Houle Estate maintains its traditional aesthetic from the marble pillared fireplace to the stained glass windows, the flagstone flooring to the mahogany bannisters. Outside the quaint beauty continues, with wisteria climbing the redbrick exterior, leafy gardens and big lawns stretching out from the house across the private parkland, all completely secluded by the mature woodland.

Several of the bedrooms have been furnished with as many beds as possible to allow for large groups to all stay in the same home. The master bedroom remains for just two, with a large four poster bed, sofas, and a beautiful wardrobe with full length mirror. 

Houle Estate is an authentic English mansion, offering an unusual chance to allow an entire party to stay together and make an unforgettable holiday of that special event. 

Houle Estate is situated at the end of its long private drive, in a secluded position at the centre of its land and hidden behind its woodland. Houle Estate is conveniently placed in North Worcestershire to the west of Blakedown, Belbroughton and Chaddesley Corbett.The nearby villages of Blakedown and Hagley have good facilities including a wide variety of shops, pubs and a railway station. From here regular trains into Birmingham can be taken to London Euston or Marylebone.The Clent Hills and Kinver Edge are close by and offer great scope for walking and riding, with much of the area under the control of The National Trust.

In addition to the picturesque surroundings, the popularity of the area owes much to the convenient location with easy access to regional centres including central Birmingham, 15 miles distant, Stourbridge, just over three miles away and the Cathedral City of Worcester within 18 miles. The property is very well placed for the motorway network with Junctions three and four of the M5 being 10 miles distant. Junction one of the M42 lies approximately nine miles away with Birmingham International Airport and the NEC situated off Junction six. The M42 also leads onto the M40 providing fast road access to London and the south east.

There is a wealth of attractions to explore within a 30-minute drive from Houle Estate:
- Ride on the Severn Valley Railway from Kidderminster to Bridgnorth
- Visit West Midlands Safari Park at Bewdley, Cadbury World at Bourneville or The Black Country Museum at Dudley
- Walk the Shropshire, Malvern or Clent Hills
- Visit Ludlow, Stratford-upon-Avon or Warwick Castle
- Visit Worcester Cathedral and The Royal Worcester Porcelain factory, shop and museum
- Visit Symphony Hall in Birmingham, The International Convention Centre or The NEC
- Enjoy horse racing at Worcester, Cheltenham, Ludlow, Warwick, Stratford or Wolverhampton
- Visit one of the many local health spas
- Enjoy County Cricket at Worcester or rugby at Worcester Warriors. The owner of Houle Estate is a member of both Clubs and can secure executive tickets with hospitality, or perhaps a test match at Edgbaston
- Enjoy a morning Clay Pigeon Shooting on the estate or Pheasant, Partridge or Duck shooting on nearby estates
- Enjoy a Game of Paintballing at the Paintball Park which is only 1 mile away from Houle Estate.
- Coarse fishing for up to 30 on a private lake one mile away

Accommodation

Houle Estate consists of a classic Georgian House with a courtyard of traditional barns set within the middle of its own private parkland.
The house is Grade II Listed and quite simply remains unspoilt by time.The impressive entrance portico has a fine wisteria climbing to its side. Stone steps lead through to the reception hall. Here there are original flagstone floors, pillared archways, and a sweeping cantilevered staircase with a mahogany handrail. Original panelled internal doors, deep skirting and wide architraving lead through to the reception rooms.
An impressive drawing room with a fireplace that has a tiled inset and Adams style surround. Cornicing, pillars and double sash windows to the gardens with a view down the valley. A second fireplace has a marble mantel and raised grate with marble surround. A large sash window overlooks the drive and has a window seat. The windows here have working shutters and an exposed wooden floor.
The dining room has a pillared marble fireplace with a Clearview log burner. Sash windows with working shutters enjoy an outlook over the drive and front lawn framed by the rhododendrons behind. A decorative display alcove is to the side with cornicing and a picture rail. To dine larger numbers the drawing room is turned into a dining room and the dining room used as a drawing room.
The rear hall has a flagstone floor, a glazed door set within a pillared arch that leads out to the rear garden. Large cloakroom with hand basin and WC. There is a kitchen with breakfast area and original servants’ bells above. A butler’s dresser to the one side and wall mounted units to the other. There is an Aga and from the kitchen views are enjoyed across the garden. 
A door leads out to a passageway with quarry tiled floor, cupboards and a serving hatch to the dining room. This leads on to a rear lobby and a large utility room, with Belfast sink, generous larder and a cloakroom. The Utility rooms if now laid out as a games room with pool table, table football, air hockey and darts board. Doors lead down to the spacious cellar which has a boiler room and two wine cellars. The light landing has sash windows to the front above the staircase.
On the first floor the master bedroom was once a drawing room and has three tall sash windows looking out over the gardens and valley. There is an impressive fireplace with an Adams style surround and a hand basin. There are three further bedrooms on the first floor, all with fireplaces and sash windows and one has a wardrobe. There are two further family bathrooms. At the far end of the first floor is a library with stained leaded glass windows, a fireplace with oak mantel and oak surround. It is in a quiet and peaceful part of the house and the sofa beds in this room mean that it can also be used as a bedroom. 
To the second floor there are four bedrooms and a playroom which is a through room with full wall length cupboards and which is now used as a further bedroom. There is also a kitchenette and shower room and this floor could be used as self-contained accommodation.
Ground Floor
- Reception hall
- Drawing room
- Dining room
- Conservatory
- Kitchen/breakfast room
- Utility/games room
- Larder Cloakroom 
First Floor
Bedroom 1 (sleeps 8):

·         Double zip’n link Bed. (Please indicate your preference as to double or twin bed set-up.)

·         2 x Double Sofa Bed

·         2 x Z Bed

·         Wash Hand Basin in the bedroom and Shared use of the House bathroom

 --------------------
Bedrooms 2, 3 and 4 (sleep 6 in each bedroom):

·         Double zip’n link Bed. (Please indicate your preference as to double or twin bed set-up.)

·         Double Sofa Bed

·         2 x Z Bed

·         Wash Hand Basin in the bedroom and Shared use of the House bathroom

 --------------------
Bedroom 5/Library (sleeps 6):

·         2 x Double Sofa Bed

·         2 x Z Bed

·         Library en-suite

 
Second Floor
Bedroom 6 (sleeps 5):

·         Double zip’n link Bed. (Please indicate your preference as to double or twin bed set-up.)

·         Double Sofa Bed

·         Z Bed

·         Shared use of the House shower room

 --------------------
Bedroom 7, 8, 9 and 10 (sleep 6 in each bedroom):

·         Double zip’n link Bed. (Please indicate your preference as to double or twin bed set-up.)

·         Double Sofa Bed

·         2 x Z Bed

·         Shared use of the House shower room

- Four bathrooms
- kitchenette
- Two wine cellars
- Boiler/airing room
Grounds
- Courtyard of four traditional barns offering excellent function space.
- Extensive gardens, woodland and permanent pasture land.
- All weather tennis court.