When an historic house has alleged connections to Lady Godiva and Guy Fawkes, it’s definitely worth taking a second look.
The present Bell Hall in Belbroughton is believed to be the third property to be built on the grounds, dating to Victorian times and likely to be on an Elizabethan footprint. However, an early incarnation is said to have been owned by Lady Godiva and the monks of Worcester before the Norman Conquest, while Guy Fawkes is also believed to have sheltered there when he was on the run.
While the historical references may be hazy, that Bell Hall is a magnificent, showstopping property, built to impress, cannot be doubted. Set in just over 34 acres of grounds, it comprises a main house and a range of outbuildings, including a coach house, and clock tower. Oh – and there’s a Norman chapel, too.
The present owners have lived there for 20 years and they describe it as “amazing”.
They said: “Bell Hall is an amazing family home that presents comfortable and splendid living in an idyllic but convenient location. For 20 years, we have had the privilege to call Bell Hall home; it’s now time for another family to enjoy all that Bell Hall offers.”
You’ll need deep pockets to secure this wonderful property – it’s on the market for about £3million – but what a lot you get for your money.
It’s not just the striking architecture of the house, with its panelled window shutters, high ceilings, decorative cornices and mouldings, which makes it so distinguished. It is the wonderful setting, with extensive views over the gardens and parkland and even the Clee Hills on the horizon.
There is 11,819 sq ft of living accommodation, including eight principal bedrooms, three secondary bedrooms, four reception rooms and an imposing reception hall that is generously sized, which means you’ll need a lot of grand furniture to fill this country house.
Most Read
Despite its size, the agents say the house offers a huge amount of versatility and is as well suited to family living as it is to entertaining.
Every inch of the hall provides interest, from the oak-boarded floors and large oak doors to the fine stonework, copings and an ornately carved coat of arms over the main entrance
The main reception hall is a superb entertaining space and is dominated by an impressive oak staircase.
The main three reception rooms are off the hall and all overlook the grounds. Double doors connect the drawing and sitting rooms, enabling owners to open up the space even more. The sitting room is a generous size and the drawing room is even bigger, making it a truly magnificent space. The drawing room also has French doors that lead to the south-facing gardens.
The elegant dining room is close to the kitchen wing, while the inner hallway leads to the study, morning room, billiards room and cloakroom.
The kitchen was designed by Richard Lane, of Stourbridge-based interior design consultancy The Establishment, and features handmade furniture with granite work surfaces, a range of integrated appliances, a circular island and a four-oven Aga cooker in an illuminated alcove. It leads on to the open-plan breakfast room, which has views over the main gardens and French doors.
The ground floor also accommodates a large utility room and store room.
Don’t miss
Climb the main oak staircase, passed a triple arch picture window, to the principal landing off which is the huge master bedroom. This suite comprises bedroom with fitted wardrobes and a luxury en-suite bathroom.
The other principal bedrooms are at the western end, three of which have en-suite facilities.
Two further double bedrooms, a storeroom and a bathroom are reached via a rear landing and the staircase leads to the second floor, where there are two large bedrooms and storerooms.
Outside, the driveway leads to a long courtyard, which is surrounded by a number of buildings, including the original stables and further loose boxes and tack rooms.
Part of the coach house has been converted to a display garage for several cars and this range of buildings also has a potting shed, greenhouse and a garden room that overlooks the walled garden.
Additional accommodation is found in the clock tower, which houses an internal staircase to an apartment with large living room, kitchen area, two double bedrooms and a bathroom.
The grounds of Bell Hall are breathtaking. A long tree-lined driveway en-route to the hall passes the Norman chapel and there is open pasture, a number of mature trees, including oak, copper beech and sycamore, as well as acres of mature gardens and a traditional parkland.
The drive continues up to a large parking and turning area at the front entrance where there is a Lebanese cedar and two sets of original stone steps lead down to the west lawn, which ends with a ha-ha, allowing uninterrupted views of the pasture land.
The main gardens are to the rear of the hall and are south facing, with lawns leading out to borders and shrubbery. An indoor swimming pool in a detached building now needs refurbishment and the original walled kitchen gardens are no longer productive. To the east of the hall there is a tennis court and access to the two courtyards, which have vehicle parking, four garages, oil store and gardeners’ WC.
It may be a splendid country house in a rural setting, yet Bell Hall is just one mile from the village of Belbroughton and three miles from junction 4 of the M5.
Agent details – Fisher German
Telephone - 01527 575525
Guide price - £3million