It may be only 20 minutes by train from Central London, but life at Mottisfont Hall feels like a rural idyll from an earlier era. This impressive 1860s detached Victorian Villa sits on just under an acre and has been carefully restored to provide over 14,000 sq ft of comfortable, eye-catching living spaces that celebrate the heritage of the building while equipping it for modern life.
The main entrance of the house sets the tone, with a riotous Victorian mosaic floor and wood-paneling to enliven the spacious hallway, complete with a sweeping staircase.
There are five large reception rooms to be found on the ground floor, each with it’s own stylistic flourish and allowing for designated spaces to suit the people and the purpose.
One of the most impressive yet comfortable spaces is the bright and unique living-dining-cooking space, where windows and a glass roof provide natural light for as long as the sun shines.
This will undoubtedly become the hub of the home, and the smart well-equipped kitchen should delight the home cook, not least for the views down across the grounds.
The property is large enough that corridors and hallways become rooms and splendors in themselves, such as the Orangery – with its tiled floors and ample windows.
Take the stairs – either those for the main house or for the servants – up to find the eight generously-sized bedrooms. The current owners have taken pains to make each room unique, which could be a good approach to deploy so you can keep track of them all!
This also allows for guests to find their most inviting decor style, whether it’s regal modernity or historical quirk. Five of the bedrooms have en-suite bathrooms, all of which are restored to an incredibly-high level (the Victorians would be bamboozled) and provide the space and choice for indulgent bathing.
The lower floor or basement has become the leisure zone, with a snooker room, sauna, gym and cinema room. There is also a 25-m pool and jacuzzi on the cusp on completion to round off an impressive package of fitness and pleasure options.
Standing separate to the main house is a completely self contained unit which could be used for a variety of purposes, depending on the new owner’s needs. The cottage has three bedrooms but could be turned into two apartments, all of which could serve visitors, multi-generational family living or paid short-term lets.
The garden (approx. 125ft deep) is charming. It’s mainly laid to lawn with a large raised patio area accompanied by an extensive pond. The peace and space of the garden allow for outdoor dining or drinks, while a Summer House nestling down the lawn is a super spot for quiet contemplation or reading.
Victorians certainly didn’t collect cars like we do, so it’s useful that the restoration of this house has created ample space for off-street parking along the private driveway as well as a large garage.
Mottisfont Hall is a five minutes walk from the town of Eltham, where a supermarket, pubs and restaurants and a cinema can be found. There is also a train station with regular services into central London (20 minutes train journey). The pretty villages of Blackheath and Chislehurst are a 10 minute drive, while the ancient Blackheath Golf Course and Eltham Palace are a stone’s throw from the villa itself.
London Heathrow Airport is just over 1 hours drive away and London City Airport can be reached in 20 minutes.
Source: RightMove
Marketed by Knight Frank, Canary Wharf
11 bedroom detached house for sale in Court Road, Eltham, London, SE9 (rightmove.co.uk)
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