Location

Colebrook House, Colebrook Street, is situated adjacent to Wolsey Palace at the eastern end of Winchester’s High Street in a quiet backwater behind the cathedral in the heart of ancient Winchester. The property, which has some fine views of the eastern end of Winchester Cathedral, is also a short distance from the famous Winchester College and the water meadows of St Cross which stretch along the banks of the River Itchen. The property is situated ideally for the pedestrian precinct in the High Street with access to a wealth of shopping, dining and recreational facilities including the Theatre Royal and local cinema.

Winchester is 59 minutes by train from London Waterloo. The M3 motorway (junctions 9, 10 and 11) is within easy reach, making both London and Southampton readily accessible. The inter-connection with the M27 makes Southampton International Airport easily commutable, and also opens up the South Coast and New Forest. The A34 to the north provides access to Oxford, the Midlands and the A303 to the West Country.

In addition to Winchester College, Pilgrims Prep School is a short walk from the house. Twyford Preparatory School is at nearby Twyford, and there are various preparatory establishments close to the city including Prince’s Mead. St Swithun’s School for Girls is a short drive away, approximately 1 mile, and there are a number of well regarded state assisted schools within walking distance including Peter Symonds Sixth Form College, which has an exceptional reputation.

Description

Colebrook House is one of Winchester’s finest private residences, being Listed Grade II*. It is one of the most important historical buildings in the city with its royal connections, having been passed by Mary Tudor to the City Council on the occasion of her wedding in the cathedral to Philip II of Spain. The property is surrounded by Anglo-Saxon streams which pass through the garden, two of which are reputedly known as St Ethelburga and the Lock Burn. The property was much later used as the choristers’ school prior to the opening of Pilgrims School.

This classical Georgian house with Tudor origins has a most attractive William and Mary facade which is draped with a most impressive old wisteria entwined with mature roses. The accommodation is equally impressive, arranged over three floors. The property benefits from a wide range of original architectural features including fine linenfold panelling in the drawing room, exposed timbers, oak boarded floors and a Jacobean oak main staircase. Many of the rooms feature large stone fireplaces in the principal reception rooms and bedrooms, and a most attractive barrel vaulted kitchen / breakfast room with doors which open out onto a terrace overlooking the stream. The property’s accommodation is predominantly laid out over three floors with a large attic space. The accommodation, which extends in total to approximately 7,000 sq. ft, also has the facility to create a staff flat on the second floor.

OUTSIDE
Colebrook House benefits from immaculately presented English style gardens extending in all to approximately 0.53 acres. The gardens are a sanctuary in the centre of Winchester in its peaceful location only minutes from the city centre itself. The formal gardens lie to the western side of the house bordered by delightful high brick walls and interspersed with specimen trees and shrubs. The pathway continues round the southern side of the house where a large terraced area adjacent to the conservatory provides a perfect sitting and entertaining environment. Beyond here one of the streams runs through the garden with railings providing a walkway adjacent to the house, and bridges that lead across to the kitchen and fruit gardens. These feature a variety of cordoned fruit trees with a gravelled path leading through vegetable beds and an adjacent potting shed with mature vine. The property has the benefit of a garage and an additional private car parking space within the courtyard, which is approached from Colebrook Street.