Location

Charlton Park is situated within open parkland close to the village of Charlton. Malmesbury, England's oldest borough and with a stunning 12th Century Abbey, is about two miles away and provides a good range of everyday shopping facilities including a Waitrose. Other local centres include Tetbury and Cirencester. The major regional centres such as Bath, Bristol and Cheltenham, are all within easy reach and are excellent for specialist shopping as well as cultural amenities.

Recreational and sporting facilities in the area include racing at Cheltenham, Bath and Chepstow, polo at Cirencester Park and Westonbirt, eventing at Badminton and Gatcombe, golf at Castle Coombe, Bowood and Minchinhampton, motor racing at Castle Combe and water sports at the Cotswold Water Park. In addition nearby places of interest include Malmesbury Abbey, Westbonbirt Arboretum, The National Trust Properties at Laycock and Dyrham Park, Bowood House and the historic village of Castle Coombe.

The property is also well placed for the commuter being accessible to both junction 16 and 17 of the M4 which provides fast access to the east and west. There are regular mainline services from Swindon, Kemble and Chippenham to London Paddington taking just over 60 minutes.

Description

Charlton Park House dates from early 17th Century and was built for the Countess of Suffolk and the first Earl of Suffolk. Their son Thomas, who was the first Earl of Berkshire and his descendants, lived at Charlton until the union of the Suffolk and Berkshire families in the mid-18th Century.

The south west front entrance dates from 1607 and has striking Jacobean style towers joined by a long open fronted loggia. Further alterations were made to the house between 1772 and 1776 by Matthew Brettingham. In 1975 the property was converted into 18 apartments by Christopher Buxton.

Double oak entrance doors from the logia open into a panelled outer hall and beyond to the great hall which is galleried and has a fantastic glazed oval dome over the centre. Off the great hall is the communal drawing room which has outstanding plasterwork attributed to James White. Both rooms maybe pre-booked for special occasions.

For aviators there is the possibility of being able to use the estate airstrip. This is completely at the discretion of the Estate Office and cannot be guaranteed. This also applies to the stabling of horses.

The Apartment
The apartment originally formed two separate apartments which have been cleverly combined to form one majestic home. Indeed great glair and imagination has been used by the present owner to create a stylish apartment which offers nearly 2,600 square feet of living space In doing so a high standard of craftsmanship has been used which complements the equally impressive fittings. There are tall ceilings throughout and all rooms are very well proportioned. Most of the work has been overseen by the well known architects, Verity and Beveley.

Internally, the front door opens from the great hall into an entrance hall off which is a cloakroom. The splendid kitchen provides plenty of additional space for eating and sitting. Indeed it is a multi purpose room which includes a fireplace with wood burning stove. There is a range of custom built units, an Aga cooking stove and underfloor heating below the flagstone flooring. Also on the ground floor is the elegant bedroom with its luxury en suite bathroom. From a grand inner hall a hand crafted staircase sweeps up to the first floor and the graceful drawing room. Here there two mullioned windows overlooking the park, a full height bespoke bookcase and a fireplace. One of the bay windows forms an ideal study area as does the one in the inner hall.

Arched doors open out onto the garden terrace from both the kitchen and bedroom. Beyond is an area of private lawn which adjoins the communal grounds.

The apartment has a double garage in the nearby garaging complex.

Communal Grounds
The house is approached by a three quarter mile tree lined drive with shared use of the surrounding grounds and arboretum. To the front and rear of the house, the large expansive gravel provides ample car parking for both residents and visitors.

Directions

From Malmesbury take the A429 towards Cirencester. After about a mile and a half the pillared entrance and driveway to Charlton Park House will be seen on the right. Follow the long driveway bearing right through an avenue of trees to the courtyard in front of the mansion house.