An impressive and beautifully appointed period property self contained within the impressive Heytesbury House enjoying private gardens and a parkland setting.

Description

HISTORY
Almost 950 years ago, William the Conqueror built a hunting lodge at Heytesbury, on a site on or close to Heytesbury House. It was known as East Court and the name has been given to this major part of the House. Empress Matilda, William’s grand daughter lived at East Court before her attempt to gain the English throne from her cousin King Stephen. She endowed the church at the neighbouring village of Tytherington and also a local convent.

By the 1390s Thomas Hungerford of that powerful family held a large estate at Heytesbury of several thousand acres. His son Walter Hungerford known for his courage at the Battle of Agincourt and ennobled by King Henry V, built the original Heytesbury House in the 1440s on the exact site of the existing house. The estate eventually passed to another Walter, the 1st Baron Hungerford of Heytesbury, however he was beheaded by Henry Vlll and the estate was confiscated and passed to the Crown.

After the Reformation the manor changed hands twice, belonging to the Wheeler and Moore families. In 1641 the Moores sold it to Edward Ashe of London. The land was inherited by his granddaughter, who married Pierce A’ Court of Salisbury. The house was remodelled and landscaped in 1784 by the well-known Bath architect John Wood the Younger. Parts of the original 15 century brickwork still survive under the Bath stone cladding. The A’Courts continued to live at Heytesbury House until the 1920s when the estate was broken up.

In 1933 the house was bought by Siegfried Sassoon the First World War poet and biographer who lived there until his death in 1967. Sassoon hosted numerous parties at Heytesbury particularly for the fashionable Bloomsbury Set. T. E. Lawrence better known as Lawrence of Arabia was a close friend of Sassoon and a regular visitor to the house and the principal bedroom of this property was considered as his bedroom. Heytesbury House was finally sold by his son George Sassoon in 1996 for redevelopment into the current arrangement of apartments and houses.

The house is features in Pevsners Architectural Guide on important buildings of England. Wiltshire edition, published 2021.

DESCRIPTION
East Court is a handsome period property self-contained within Heytesbury House. Heytesbury House is an impressive Grade II* listed country house with an impressive history and pedigree and significantly remodeled in the 18th century by one of Bath’s prominent architects, John Wood.

The property offers in excess of 5,100 sq ft of beautiful appointed accommodation arranged over two floors, linked by a stone cantilever staircase in the reception hall. Access to the property can be gained via the communal entrance hall or privately from the property’s gardens.
There is a spacious drawing room with central fireplace and tall sash windows as well as direct access to the garden. There is also a library with tall, fitted bookshelves and a fireplace. The snooker/dining room offers a spacious setting with bowed elevations to one end and triple French doors leading direct to the private gardens. The kitchen comes complete with bespoke fitted cupboards, Aga, space for a breakfast table and easy access to an outdoor dining terrace.
To the first floor is a galleried landing complete with Doric columns and views back down to the reception hall. Leading off are four double bedrooms, two with their own bath/shower rooms. There is a further bathroom to serve the other bedrooms.

OUTSIDE
East Court enjoys stunning private gardens surrounding the house, which are divided into a number of areas providing private spaces to be enjoyed. There are water features and fruit trees beside the classically laid out lawns, box hedging and shrubs. Added to this is the use of the communal parkland grounds, which amount to approximately six acres.

There is parking by the property in a gravel parking area, and - within a short walk - two en block garages ideal for storage or further parking.

Location

There are local amenities in the nearby villages of Codford and Heytesbury with more extensive facilities including a Waitrose in Warminster which is 4 miles away.

The historic cities of Bath and Salisbury are both within easy reach.

There are excellent sporting and recreational possibilities in the area including fishing on the Wylye and Avon and many opportunities for walking and riding in the surrounding countryside.

The A303 provides good road access to the wider motorway network and London and there is a direct rail service from Salisbury to London Waterloo from 1hr 30 minutes and Westbury to Paddington from 1hr 19 minutes.

Square Footage: 5,186 sq ft



Directions

From London and the South East, take the A303 heading West. When you reach Deptford, take the A36 West towards Bath. When you reach the Heytesbury junction, turn right and the gates to Heytesbury House will be on your right hand side. Continue down the drive until you reach East Court. You will pass the garages on your left.