One of the finest privately owned country houses in the South of England.A magnificent Grade II* listed Palladian mansion with stunning far-reaching views.
Pythouse is a Grade II* listed property and is undoubtedly one of the finest country houses in the South of England, with its exceptional setting. The house is constructed of local Chilmark stone and sits on an elevated position surrounded by immaculate lawns, below which delightful mature parkland and farmland slope gently down into the valley below.The house has been in private hands for nearly 20 years. Whilst the present owners have carried out substantial works, the house has enormous potential for further improvement according to a new owner's requirements.The property is entered through impressive entrance gates with large stone piers past the entrance lodge. An impressive tree lined carriage drive leads up to the main house. A flight of wide stone steps rises to a portico of 4 giant unfluted columns to the front door.GROUND FLOORThe entrance hall features diagonally laid marble flooring and has doors off the drawing room, situated in the south west corner, and a morning room in the south east corner. Both are well-sized double-aspect state rooms, which benefit from their south facing aspect and the stunning views.The drawing room has a fine Italian fireplace with classical scenes. The morning room has a similarly impressive 1553 grey marble fireplace, with a floral frieze and a plaster ceiling frieze. A further door leads into the impressive staircase hall with its stone staircase that rises up to the first floor landing with marble lonic columns. To the west of the staircase hall is the dining room, with 3 sets of double doors leading out onto a loggia, a two columned 3 bay portico with steps leading down to the garden. There is an identical loggia on the east side of the house, set off the billiards room. The kitchen is situated in the west corner of the Victorian part of the house and is currently of a semi-commercial specification.The Victorian wing in the north part of the house accommodates the kitchen and domestic offices, together with 3 large ground floor guest suites.LOWER GROUND FLOORExtending over a large part of the footprint of the house, the lower ground floor has a boiler room, extensive wine cellars and a range offurther storage rooms.FIRST FLOORThe first floor is arranged as 13 bedrooms/bedroom suites, all with well-sized bedrooms, including a principal apartment which occupies the entire front elevation of the house, with two bedrooms (or bedroom and dressing room), two bathrooms, kitchen, dining room and lounge.SECOND FLOORThere is second floor accommodation above the central section of the main body and over both of the Victorian wings. These provide 2 further apartments and further ancillary staff rooms, which are in need of modernisation.In addition to the main house, there are 3 further cottages providing ample staff or guest accommodation. GARDENS AND GROUNDSPythouse is surrounded on three sides by large areas of formal lawn. The lawn at the south front slopes away from the house down to exceptional mature farmed parkland interspersed with mature trees. To the north is an impressive backdrop of mature woodland interspersed with rhododendrons, magnolia and wild flowers. Hidden in this woodland, immediately to the north of the house, lies a Grade II* listed private chapel, believed to have been built around 1827 but is currently derelict. The listed buildings register confirms that the private chapel was in a ruinous state before it was listed. Further to the west, in the woods, there is a historic ice house, and off the rear drive a classic Grade II listed dovecote. The Palladian style orangery, with its flagstone floor, was built around 1750 and overlooks the west lawn. An old surviving well lies to the west of the house, with a stone balustrade staircase rising up to aterrace.
Tisbury 3 milesSalisbur