St. Georges Way, Thornton Hough, Wirral, CH63

A wonderful period property requiring a scheme of modernisation, occupying an extremely private position surrounded by expansive grounds, in the centre of the village.

Accommodation in Brief

• Porch
• Reception Hall
• Lounge
• Sitting Room
• Kitchen
• Utility and Pantry
• Derelict Orangery
• 3 First Floor Double Bedrooms
• 2 Bathrooms
• Separate W.C.
• Second Floor Double Bedroom and Single Fifth
• Extensive Outbuildings and garaging
• Lawned Gardens front and rear with former vegetable garden
• In all about ¾ of an acre

Description

Thicket Ford is an impressive period house which bears the date 1892 set in carved sandstone above the front door. Built by Leverhulme, the house remains part of the Estate and has, until recently, been let. Typical of the building period at that time, Thicket Ford is impressive in stature, constructed of brick with part black and white half-timbered elevations beneath a tiled roof with high brick chimney stacks. The property requires a comprehensive scheme of upgrading to meet with modern standards, but has many characterful and interesting features both to the exterior of the building and internally, including decorative plaster moulded motifs, lovely period windows, doors and floors, decorative fireplaces, and of particular note is the impressive turned staircase with carved newel post depicting a marine caricature.

The accommodation is spacious and well proportioned, arranged over three floors together with a cellar. At ground floor level there are two elegant reception rooms both with fireplaces, parquet flooring, bay windows and coved ceilings. One room has part timber panelled walls and decorative carved timber mantle above the fireplace. The kitchen includes a range of floor units with cupboards and drawers beneath worksurfaces, along with a two oven Aga and space for a table and chairs.

Double doors provide access into the orangery. This room is derelict and unsafe, and includes what appears to be a former inspection pit or dipping pond. There does, however, seem to be great potential to create a spectacular kitchen and everyday living area on the footprint of the conservatory, and perhaps incorporating the existing kitchen, subject to obtaining any necessary consents. This room links through to the outbuildings which provide useful storage but could also be redeveloped either to further accommodation or perhaps partially removed to open up this part of the living space with the rear garden.

The first and second floors are approached by an impressive turned staircase with a spacious first floor galleried landing. The bedrooms are well proportioned with plenty of space for free standing furniture or to add fitted wardrobes, and have lovely views across the grounds, with the main front bedroom also enjoying an open aspect across part of the village.

In summary Thicket Ford is a charming period house, and offers an exciting opportunity to create a wonderful family home situated in a prime position in the centre of the village. It enjoys great privacy surrounded by walled gardens and grounds yet is within a short walking distance of all amenities that Thornton Hough offers.

Location

Thicket Ford occupies a prime position in the centre of Thornton Hough, set well back from the land and surrounded by mature gardens. The village is within a Conservation Area and much of it still forms part of the Leverhulme Estate which had a significant influence on the village’s design and layout during the late 19th century. The village includes many attractive buildings of architectural note, including Thicket Ford, and particularly the church and numerous other black and white dwellings arranged around the village green.

Thornton Hough has a lovely feel and atmosphere, and provides services for everyday needs including a church, café, and pubs, and has an extremely popular primary school which is rated ‘Outstanding’ and one of the top performing primary schools in Wirral. Heswall, Willaston and Neston offer a more comprehensive range of shops, high street banks, pubs and restaurants, chemists, doctors and supermarkets, while the cities of Liverpool and Chester are both within easy reach with a selection of shopping and leisure facilities.

On the recreational front there is a rugby club at Clatterbridge, cricket and tennis clubs in the village and several golf clubs locally including Royal Liverpool and Heswall. The Neston Club at Parkgate offers hockey, tennis, squash and cricket as well as a busy social calendar. Schooling is well catered for with other primary schools in Willaston and Heswall, and a choice of state and private secondary schools nearby including Wirral Boys and Girls, Calday Grammar, West Kirby, Upton Hall, Birkenhead, and King’s and Queen’s in Chester.

Communications

Thicket Ford benefits from excellent road communications being approximately 2 miles from the M53 motorway facilitating easy access to Liverpool and Chester and beyond to the M56 for commuting to Manchester. For travel to London there is a rail link from Hooton to Chester from which is a 2 hour service to Euston via Crewe. For further afield there are international airports in Liverpool and Manchester.

M53 2 miles • Chester 12 miles • Liverpool 13 miles • Manchester 45 miles (distances approximate)

Outside

Thicket Ford is surrounded by mature grounds which are entirely walled, providing an extremely private and secluded setting whilst being in the centre of the village. The property is approached through a pair of brick and stone pillars and over a drive to a parking area beside the house. An area of bushes and small trees beside the drive would seem a suitable space for extending the parking area, beyond which is a brick and timber garage (6.2m x 3.6m) with attached lean-to garage (6.2m x 2.5m), both with double doors.

To the front is a wide lawn screened from the lane by hedgerows and a stand of mature trees, notably impressive beech. To the rear of the house is an enclosed courtyard and a series of brick and tiled outbuildings comprising two general store rooms, log store and W.C, together with a larger room which accommodates the boiler and also has a separate W.C. This is connected to the conservatory.

The main gardens are to the rear and have been well landscaped in their time, with kitchen garden and several fruit trees. A path leads towards the rear of the site where there is wide lawn, believed to have once been a grass tennis court.

Directions

To reach the property from the centre of the village on Thornton Common Road, turn opposite The Seven Stars pub into St Georges Way. Travel past the school and a pair of semi-detached properties, and the entrance for Thicket Ford will be seen on the right hand side.

Property Information

Address: Thicket Ford, St Georges Way, Thornton Hough, Wirral, CH63 1JJ

Tenure: Freehold

Services: Mains water, electricity and drainage. Gas fired central heating.

Local Authority: Wirral Council Tel: 0151 606 2004

NB: The orangery and open dipping pond is derelict and unsafe. Interested parties enter the property at their own risk.