A Unique Setting
Date: 15 August 2007 | 
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The success of the late Lord King of Wartnaby is manifested within the splendour of the house, gardens and grounds of his estate in the picturesque Leicestershire countryside. Lord King was one of the most famous British 20th Century aviation industrialists and the tenacious champion of free enterprise who brought British Airways back from the brink of ruin. Wartnaby House is now renowned in the region in its own right for its quintessential English traditional country house gardens that have been painstakingly and immaculately created by Lady King over the past 34 years; the gardens are now open to the public. On behalf of the executors of Lord King’s estate, Knight Frank and Shouler & Sons are selling Wartnaby House and its 75 acre estate at a guide price of £3,750,000.
Wartnaby House is a fine example of Arts and Crafts Elizabethan revival. The original house was built in 1865 as the vicarage to the local church and was practically rebuilt in 1934, extended in 1957 and again in 1998. The seven bedroom/ seven bathroom house has a southerly aspect with wonderful views across the terrace, lawn and ha-ha to the parkland beyond. The converted coach house is now a billiard room and library and with a first floor, 3 bedroom flat. Further accommodation has been created for the more noisy guests by converting the Potting Shed into a single storey en-suite bedroom.
The gardens are spectacular and include a formal, ornamental Rose Garden with its impressive collection of old and new roses. This leads on to herbaceous borders and through to a further garden planted with an array of stunning white flowers. Beyond this is the purple-bordered garden and fountain. A pleached hornbeam tunnel with hellebores, hostas and allium leads from the collection of main, formal garden rooms to the well designed orchards, fruit cages, vegetable gardens, tennis court and fountains, all surrounded by cypresses fir trees. An arboretum has been created behind the Clock House which contains some rare and interesting trees and shrubs. The front lawn lies below a large terrace in front of the house and is divided from the terrace by a long border. The front lawn looks out over the ha-ha across to parkland beyond. To the front and side of the property lies a Japanese water garden comprising of series of three linked ponds with waterfalls and wooden bridges. Beyond the water garden is a private cricket pitch.
Rupert Sweeting at Knight Frank says “Wartnaby lies in the heart of some of the best hunting country in England and, with its immaculately designed and lovingly kept gardens, it is a real gem. It is rare for such a fine house with a parkland setting and such beautiful gardens to come to the market.” With its own cricket pitch, the property would ideally suit a family that loves the outdoors and sporting life, but above all a gardening enthusiast who can do justice to all Lady King’s hard work and talent.” Wartnaby is fabulous estate with a truly special garden.
For further information, please contact:
Olivia Smith, Partner, Residential Press Manager, Knight Frank, 020 7861 1034
olivia.smith@knightfrank.com
Rupert Sweeting, Partner, Country Department, Knight Frank, 020 7629 8171
olivia.smith@knightfrank.com
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