Wilsford Cum Lake, Salisbury, Wiltshire

Wilsford Manor embodies the feel of a quintessential English country estate. The beautifully positioned manor house stands in peaceful and secluded grounds, looking over two lakes on the bank of the River Avon, of which everything in sight is owned.

Supporting the Manor house are six secondary dwellings including a substantial four bedroom dower house and various outbuildings necessary for a house of this stature. They form a ’village’ to the side of the manor house, ensuring the privacy of the main property. Once part of a larger estate, Wilsford Manor has 53.8 acres of grounds, including river frontage and 1,178 yards of some of the finest fishing on the River Avon.

Wilsford Manor is a fine Grade II* Listed Manor House enjoying an idyllic setting in the much sought after Woodford Valley, on the bank of the River Avon. The Manor, built on the site of an older house between 1904 and 1906, was the work of well-known architect Detmar Blow. Constructed of stone and flint with a chequer-board exterior, stone mullioned windows and a thatched wing, the Manor, secondary properties and grounds were subject to comprehensive restoration when the current owner acquired it.

Previously owned by the Tennant family (the 1st Baron Glenconner); during the 1920’s and 1930’s Wilsford was well known as the regular meeting place of the ”Bright Young People”; a bohemian group of aristocrats and socialites of the day, of whom Stephen Tennant was one, together with the Mitford sisters, Lady Diana Manners, Cecil Beaton and others.

The Manor House underwent very substantial renovation in the 1990’s when the current owner carefully restored original features such as plasterwork ceilings, oak panelling, beams, staircases and fireplaces. Discreet modernisations were made; a Bang and Olufson audio system, CTTV security installed, and the plumbing, central heating systems and wiring all completely renewed.

The accommodation is well laid out over three storeys, as shown in the floor plans and briefly comprises: A grand Entrance Hall with impressive stone fireplace; formal Dining Room; Library with oak panelling; Breakfast Room with breathtaking views over the lakes to the river; Kitchen with island and units; Boot Room, Play Room, Butler’s Pantry, integrated Leisure Complex including indoor Swimming Pool, Sauna, Turkish Hamam Steam Room, Gym Studio, Showering and Changing Facilities. An extensive Cellar was built by the present owner, including Spirit Store, Tasting Room, Wine Store and Dining Area.

The first floor comprises a Morning Room; Drawing Room; Ballroom with plasterwork ceiling; Study with oak panelling; Kitchenette, Master Bedroom Suite with private Drawing Room and a Guest Bedroom Suite. The second floor accommodation provides five further bedrooms and four bathrooms.

Beautifully landscaped gardens and grounds surround the property. The front lawn slopes down to a lake in front of the house with a brick bridge to the River Avon beyond. The lawn sits in a mature setting with some exceptional trees including Mulberry trees and Spanish Cork Oak. Within the grounds lie a number of outbuildings and facilities including an oak beamed barn, outdoor heated swimming pool with pool house, Edwardian children’s house, tennis court, granary, dovecote, apple, firewood and gardeners’ stores.

There are a number of hidden gardens including the secret garden; a walled garden with water feature, a croquet lawn and an orchard with mature apple, plum and pear trees. The property enjoys an idyllic waterfront position and has views across its own water meadows, woods and paddocks which extend to approximately 53.8 acres in total. Further land is available by separate negotiation.

The River Avon is renowned as an exceptionally biodiverse chalk stream and Wilsford Manor boasts extensive and exceptionally well managed fishing along the upper stretch, of which 908 yards are double bank and 270 yards are single bank. Under the owners’ passionate custodianship, the fishing at Wilsford Manor has become a mecca for discerning fly-fishing guests from across the globe. The last few years’ catch returns make for astonishing reading and are available. A former mill leat and therefore naturally deep anyway, comprehensive bank restoration has also created deep pools, which enables large fish to be held. A policy of returning fish above 15” means that brown trout of 10lb’s or more are not uncommon. There is a state of the art fishing hut with satellite TV, electricity, heating and water as well as a further hut with lavatory and changing facilities. In addition, there is the right to fish one rod on the true right bank of the river for a further stretch of almost a mile upstream.