Country house living without the hassle

This month sees the completion of the grand mansion house at the Grade II Listed Woolley Hall estate in Littlewick Green by developer, Millgate.

The iconic 18th century house provides a magnificent focal point within the new 24-acre parkland estate. It has  been carefully converted  into six grand apartments ranging in size from 1,500 up to 3,700 sq ft.

 As part of the meticulous conservation process, a wealth of original period features have been preserved and incorporated into the new homes, creating a perfect blend of elegant contemporary living within a unique and historic building.

Each apartment includes features such as decoratively carved wood panelling, ornate plasterwork, elaborate ceilings with decorative motifs, fireplaces and chimney pieces with carvings, and bay windows decorated with heraldic glass.

The large numbers of beautiful original stained glass windows, which reflect the house’s history and depict heraldic crests and family coats of arms, have also been painstakingly restored.

A grand semi-circular columned entrance porch with carved lion heads, striking communal vestibule and magnificent wooden staircase provides a majestic entrance to one of the apartments. The house’s original dining room, which was was inspired by the style of Sir Christopher Wren with its English interpretation of classical architecture, carved cherubs around the door frames, plaster ceiling with garlands of foliage and flowers, now forms another one of the apartments.

Woolley Hall gives purchasers a rare opportunity to live within a historical country mansion without the typical responsibilities of maintaining an estate of its size. Each of the homes in the mansion will have access to the stunning formal gardens, which have been restored to their former glory.

The apartments themselves overlook the beautifully restored cloister, pergola and east gardens, where the ornamental pond and formal gardens were designed and installed by world-famous landscape architect Thomas Mawson in 1918.

Jonathan Cranley, sales and marketing director for Millgate, said: “We are excited to have finished restoring the hall into what it was designed for – to serve as a grand Berkshire residence.

“We have ensured  this magnificent property of vast historical importance has been restored to its former glory by preserving the best bits of its heritage and giving it a new future.”

For more information about Millgate's Woolley Hall development see www.millgatehomes.co.uk