Nestling in 28 acres of grounds overlooking the Severn Valley, Hammer Hill House in Romsley is nothing if not deluxe.
Extended and completely refurbished, it is luxurious, opulent and elegant. And now the property – owned by Poundland founder Steve Smith – is back on the market again.
While it will cost significantly more than the £1 deals he has made his reported £50million fortune with, the six-bedroom home, complete with five reception rooms in 14,000 sq ft of generous living accommodation, has been reduced further to attract a buyer.
Originally marketed for an eye-watering £6.5million in 2014, Hammer Hill House has now come back to the market with a guide price of £5.25million. The businessman, who sold his share in Poundland in 2002, bought the house about 11 years ago for £2.2million.
Designed by Sir Bertram Clough Williams-Ellis, the creator of Portmeirion in North Wales, Hammer Hill House is a country house with stately home proportions. Located on an elevated position, behind large electronic wrought-iron gates, it has glorious views over The Clee and Welsh Hills, with its own grounds and gardens that extend to just over 28 acres.
The specification throughout is exceptional and while it retains the grand designs of the original ornate ceilings and decadent wood panelling, it enjoys some modern high-tech touches, such as the BOSE surround sound system that serves the house and an Adapt control system that operates the doors and the specialist lighting.
The house is reached via a tree-lined driveway and sits behind a turning circle with fountain. It’s an impressive welcome and this continues once you go over the threshold. The entrance hall is a suitably grand space with wood floor, large crystal chandeliers and sweeping walnut staircase that leads up to the galleried landing. At 27’ x 19’, plus a gallery of about 30’ in length, it is huge – the grand piano that sits there is dwarfed by the sheer scale.
It’s a home that is made for entertaining. There is a generous wine cellar in the basement and off the hall is a bar with ornate ceiling and wood floor and HHH logo inset in contrasting wood.
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This room leads to a formal, walnut-panelled dining room, which boasts a fitted serving area, a feature ornate ceiling, crystal chandeliers and large bay window that looks out on to the grounds.
After dinner, guests can relax in the equally impressive drawing room, which has wood-panelled walls, a feature fireplace and ornate ceiling with specialist lighting. It also has a sprung and lit dance floor so you can practise your Strictly moves, should you wish to.
At the other side of the house, off the grand hall, are the music room and a light and airy sitting room.
The bespoke kitchen is capacious, with more than enough room for a huge table and chairs. The cream and gold trim units and display cabinets have been hand painted by Christians of Nantwich and there are contrasting black granite worktops. The kitchen is fitted – naturally – with an AGA, plus other integrated appliances.
The ground floor also houses an indoor pool in an orangery-style room that any hotel would be pleased to own. It has Jacuzzi, rectangular heated pool and changing rooms. There is also space for loungers, table and chairs, plus it opens onto the terrace – perfect for warm, summer days.
All the bedrooms are located on the first floor, off the magnificent galleried landing.
The master suite itself is a huge space, with a feature ceiling detail, a luxury dressing room with built-in wardrobes, dressing tables, seating, and a balcony; and a bathroom suite with separate wet room.
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There are five further deluxe double en-suite bedrooms, each individually styled and three of which have their own dressing rooms.
The first floor also accommodates a room that is currently used as a games room. It easily accommodates a full-size snooker table.
Head outside for the landscaped grounds, with their sweeping lawns, courtyard, walled garden, glasshouses, stocked borders and hidden pathways through wooded vistas, plus grazing land with four paddocks, won’t fail to impress.
Steve Smith owns llamas, which help to keep the grass trimmed, but the new owner may prefer to invest in a sit-on mower. As you’d expect for a property of this calibre, there is a helipad, too.
Further accommodation can be found in two period, three-bedroom gate houses, which are situated either side of the electronic gates, while the former coach house has been transformed into extensive garaging and modern office space.
Should you need further space, there is planning permission for an agricultural building and a detached garage.
Agent - Andrew Grant
Telephone - 01905 734 735
Guide price - £5.25million