THE NUNNERY

The Nunnery is superbly situated in the heart of the picturesque Eden Valley, close to the village of Kirkoswald. The property sits in an elevated yet sheltered position, set back from the road, with magnificent uninterrupted views towards the River Eden.

The Nunnery is an excellent example of a small private residential Estate, the origins of which can be traced back to a mid 13th Century Benedictine Nunnery. The property has been renovated, remodelled and extended significantly to create a beautiful home with some outstanding features, grounds and gardens.

In addition to the Principal House, the property includes a large courtyard with further residential property and a range of additional buildings, with further accommodation, offices and stores.

In all, the Estate extends to approximately 51.78 acres, approached through electric gates and a short private drive passing stunning mature trees to a carriage sweep east of the house, framed by woodland adjoining Croglin Water.

The Estate includes parkland, mature woodlands with stunning waterfalls and river frontage to the Eden.

The property retains wonderful historic features such as stone flag floors, exposed beams and traditional fireplaces, but now provides exquisite modern family living spaces and an abundance of natural light, which compliment and enhance the property significantly.

Internally extending to over 12,000 sq ft. the ground floor accommodation includes boot room with door to the courtyard and parking area, WC with basin and gun room, opening into an lobby with stone flag floors, plant room and pantry, north hall and reception area with log burning stove, further WC and wash basin.

There is a bespoke kitchen with Mercury Range Cooker, island and dining space with door to the terrace and gardens.

The principal rooms comprise of a well-proportioned dining room with butlers pantry, large entrance hall, with doors to the carriage sweep and internal porch, drawing room and sitting room with exposed stonework, large inglenook fireplace and log burning stove.

In addition there is a library, garden room and WC with wash basin off the stair hall. The wonderful staircase frames this space, with large window and arch to the entrance hall.

The first floor extends to seven bedrooms each with en-suite facilities seamlessly incorporated into the accommodation. Of particular note are bedrooms one and two, which provide exquisite spaces and finishes and bedroom five with historic oak panel work. The second floor provides further extensive storage space and could be developed into additional living space with two staircases from the north and south corridors.

In addition, the property has been extended into the adjacent courtyard with a bespoke structural glass staircase and divide framing the billiards room, beyond which is a spacious and flexible hobbies room, which could also provide a studio, office or meeting space. The first floor includes three further en-suite bedrooms centered around the stunning staircase and hall. Across the arched courtyard entrance is a estate office, gym and laundry room, with the first floor a further en-suite guest bedroom and dressing room.

The highest quality materials and finishes have been used throughout including Villeroy & Bosch sanitary ware and various bespoke joinery, steel and structural glass pieces incorporated into the design. The property has LPG fired central heating, with underfloor heating on the ground floor and a private drainage system.

Gardens and grounds

To the west of The Nunnery is a sun terrace onto which various doors open, this space is framed by the castellated southern courtyard wall, fully restored.

Beyond the formal terrace, the gardens includes large lawn area, framed by beautiful mature trees, shrubs, borders and water feature. This provides a superb sheltered outside space yet has panoramic views over the adjoining countryside. The east elevation of the property has a gravel area and carriage sweep, with woodland bank and specimen trees before the gardens fall away into the woodland and croglin water beyond.

Courtyard, garaging, workshops and stores

To the northwest of The Nunnery is a large courtyard of traditional sandstone buildings which provide extensive ancillary accommodation, part incorporated into the core residential living space and estate office, all have been meticulously restored with enormous potential for further development should a purchaser wish.

There is a wide range of garden rooms, machinery stores and dog kennels. The building adjacent to the estate office is double height with some wonderful wood beams, fully insulated with solar panels in place to provide water heating for a proposed leisure and pool area.

The extreme west of the courtyard, also double height, is part converted into a two bedroom property adjacent to Corner House, with a similar space on the south west courtyard corner which is an obvious area for further conversion and development.

Barn

Sandstone and timber frame building west of the courtyard and Corner House, with steel profile roof, Yorkshire boarding and concrete floor. This building provide additional storage.

Corner House

Corner House is a traditional staff house located in the northwest corner of the courtyard, completely renovated, incorporating some wonderful period features, stonework, exposed beams with a high quality finish. The property is of stone construction under a slate roof extending to over 1,400 sq ft. Ground floor accommodation includes kitchen with fitted units, living room with log burning stove, hall, utility and WC with wash basin. The first floor accommodation includes three double bedrooms, the largest of which benefits from an en suite shower room with WC, wash basin and shower, there is also a large family bathroom, with WC, wash basin and bath with shower over.

There is a private gravel parking area to the west of the property, which is bordered to the north by lawns over overlooking the adjacent farmland and a kitchen garden enclose by a picket fence complete with glasshouse. The property has air source central heating and a private drainage system shared with The Nunnery.

The property is currently occupied under a licence agreement to a member of staff, but could provide additional family, guest or visitor accommodation.

Land and Woodlands

The farmland has a gentle southerly aspect and predominantly lies to the south of The Nunnery. The freehold extends to around 51.78 in all, with about 47.59 acres of parkland and mature mixed woodland, the remaining 4.19 acres or so comprises properties, grounds and gardens. The land to the south of The Nunnery is arranged as parkland with some stunning mature trees. The remaining land is predominantly mature woodlands,which adjoin both Croglin Water and the River Eden, include ancient trees, blue bells and clearings, all which make for a very attractive and private setting.

The Nunnery Walks

Croglin Water descends through a beautiful sandstone Gorge to meet the River Eden, the route is punctuated by a series of stunning waterfalls and pools, which can be viewed and accessed via a series of steps and pathways carved into the stone gorge in the 19th Century. The also include a Grade II listed Summer House constructed in the same period, stone built and incorporating eight stone carved panels of coats of arms dating from the 15th Century. The walks continue through the gorge to flank the River Eden, some section require repair or clearing of debris but are an entirely unique and wonderful addition to the property.