A spacious 8 bedroom manor house, with delightful and generous interior spaces, set in its own very large well maintained garden.
To the south of the house is the walled Forecourt a lovely setting for summer meals al fresco, either in full sun or the dappled shade of the trees.
The space
This ancient house is unique , with large but cosy wood panelled dining and sitting rooms perfect for groups to be together. There's a really functional galley kitchen, where a chef - or designated guests -can work undisturbed, as well as a spacious relaxed kitchen/breakfast room. The bedrooms are large and comfortable. The atmosphere is friendly and warm. Looking out over the garden from the mullioned upstairs windows is a sheer pleasure.
Guest access
The whole house is for your personal use. We use certain areas beyond the galley kitchen for storage which is not for guests. You will have exclusive use of the Forecourt, the walled garden immediately to the south of the house, where there are benches and a table for eating outside in the summer. There is a Chapel within the forecourt. It is absolutely fine for you to be in the rest of the garden where other tenants are also allowed. However there are one or two designated private gardens nearby, where we do ask you not to intrude . When there is livestock in the Orchard, to the east of the house, please do not go in.
Other things to note
The 14th Century manor house of Sheldon is at the top of a lime avenue in its own grounds, not far from the old market town of Chippenham in the Parish of Chippenham Without . It is 10 miles from the beautiful Regency town of Bath, and 8 miles from picturesque Malmesbury. |There are many handsome Cotswold villages nearby. The house has the most delightful friendly atmosphere - get there and you'll know what I mean. There is a Chapel which my mother in law had re consecrated which has been used for family services.
The house is surrounded by a walled forecourt, ideally sheltered for summer meals al fresco. Below this the larger garden contains many unusual and interesting shrubs. Lawns are spacious and well maintained . There are walks to nearby Biddestone with its charming village green and duck pond, and ,for immediate needs, there is Allington Farm Shop within half a mile .
The house is a unique, beautiful and made of local mellow yellow stone, roofed with Cotswold stone tiles . The rooms are oak panelled, and comfortably sized for larger family gatherings. We hoped that having two kitchens or rather a breakfast room and a kitchen would help guests cope with larger numbers There is an open fireplace in the Hall, which must be strictly supervised at all times if used. Dry wood is available for our guests
You enter either via the Plantagenet porch into the oak panelled Hall ( the family downstairs sitting room) with its huge open fireplace , capacious sofas and mullioned windows looking out to the south and west ; or via the side door into the breakfast room (also with a fireplace) , a large dining table , range cooker, and other kitchen necessaries The breakfast room gives onto the Hall, and is beside the dining room. Towards the back of the Hall is a passage to the VERY functional galley kitchen, where there is a LaCanche extensive range cooker, loads of cupboard space, a fridge freezer + ice maker, 2 dishwashers, washing machine , tumble dryer etc
The first floor landing gives onto the south facing master bedroom ( Elsie'e Room) which is panelled in duck egg blue.
Bedroom 2 ( ER 2 ) connects with the step in shower and Bathroom 1 whihc also gives onto the 1st Floor landing.
Bedroom 3 is the Glass Room where my husband slept as a boy.
Bedroom 4 is the Priest Room up some steps to a fabulous room with wooden vaulted ceiling and pretty mullion window looking southwards onto two ancient yew trees and the Forecourt .
Bedroom 5 is the Nuns Room which is large. It was used as an upstairs sitting room by my husband's family. We have put a couple of beds in here because we thought it might make a really nice family room. Again the ceiling is vaulted up to the roof, the mullioned windows look to the south and east
Bathroom 2 is in the passage outside the Nuns room and has a superb new shower and bath etc
The second floor was always very popular with our children for exam revision
Bedroom 6 The Top Spare is vey comfy and cosy with a double bed and a modern day bed, and windows looking out to the west and south over the whole of the property .
It adjoins Bathroom 3 which has a shower, and beside it a little bathroom under the roof top! There is room in the extra space for another spare bed
Bedroom 7 is known as the Bunk Room - It's alright we no longer have such uncomfortable beds but a good double instead . Romantically situated at the top of the house it looks put onto the stone rooftops and trees beyond.
Bedroom 8 is known as Lal s Lair and has a little bed on a plinth, and a second divan bed The North facing window looks over fields and the wood to the west
