Lanwades Hall is a breathtaking property with an interesting story located near Newmarket
Built in the style of a large Tudor manor house, Lanwades Hall is a striking Edwardian grade II-listed mansion with two fine gate lodges and attractive grounds extending to 11.4 acres. The property was completed in 1907 and was commissioned by James Larnach using his £5,450 winnings from a £500 bet he had placed when his horse, Jeddah, won the 1898 derby. King Edward VII even stayed here while attending the Newmarket races.
The house is now used as administrative offices and a luxury wedding venue by the Animal Heath Trust, the respected world-famous charity who has owned the site since 1948. Lanwades Hall has been sold to a private buyer by Jackson-Stops & Staff and Merrifields and the guide price was £2.5 million.
“Our clients are very pleased with the outcome. In 2017 they will be celebrating their 75th anniversary and this sale is a key milestone in helping them deliver their future strategic goals,” said Jock Lloyd-Jones of Jackson-Stops & Staff.
Anthony Marshall, speaking on behalf of the Animal Health Trust, added: ”We are delighted with the timing of the sale and the target price achieved. Our agents did an excellent job.”
Jock Lloyd-Jones elaborated further on the sale: “The Animal Health Trust is a highly-respected, world-famous charity and they do a lot for the benefit of animals. They want to expand their research and facilities for smaller animals, particularly cats and dogs, and therefore believe that their money should be going into projects like that, rather than maintaining a massive building like Lanwades Hall. So that’s the drive behind what they’ve done.
“They still own a lot of property there; they’ve just sold the big house and a few acres and they’ll stay on campus. It’s a bit like a univerrsity campus and they’ll just expand their existing facilities there. They’re not closing down – far from it – they’re expanding and this is a very practical and sensible way of achieving their goals.
“In the short term, what they’re going to do is lease back some of the offices in the main building.”
Jock continued: “It was a very friendly transaction; there was lots of goodwill between the buyer and seller. The buyer is very compatible with the Animal Health Trust’s ongoing plans and I’m sure that they’ll be happy neighbours.”
Although the Trust no longer owns the mansion, certain long-standing traditions look set to remain. “It’s a fully-licensed wedding venue and my understanding is that the new owner will continue with that enterprise,” said Jock.
Lanwades Hall is thought to be named after a wading place through the River Kennet which flows across the stud’s land (the stud was founded well before the 1880s) and, unsurprisingly, the interior is equally as impressive as the exterior.
Attractive period features of the house include original oak panelling and joinery in a 16th century-style, open stone fireplaces, linen fold panelled doors, mullioned and transomed windows with moulded limestone frames and oak floors.
Principally arranged over four floors, including the basement, the ground floor has a welcoming reception hall, a number of reception rooms (where the weddings are held), eight offices, a staff kitchen and utility room, cloakrooms and a former game larder. The basement has a wine cellar and stores.
The first floor boasts an attractive galleried landing, 14 offices, two meeting rooms, a library with a reading room, two kitchenettes and cloakrooms. The second floor has seven bedsits, three bath/shower rooms and archive stores.
The two fine gate lodges are attractive period cottages re-roofed and refurbished in 2012, including new kitchens and bath/shower rooms.
Arranged over two floors, the accommodation extends to approximately 1,238 sq ft per property, with both benefiting from enclosed rear gardens and allocated parking.
There is parking for several vehicles to the front of the building and the large and attractive grounds have been well maintained, with extensive sweeping lawns and woodland with specimen trees including cedar and beech.
A York stone path and terrace to the side has stone steps down to the wonderful sunken walled garden. A former tennis court, bowling green and tree-lined avenue adjoin the sunken garden. A recreational ground is also located nearby.
Lanwades Hall is set in stunning established grounds within Lanwades Park, home of the Animal Heath Trust, in Kentford, set in attractive countryside on the Suffolk/Cambridgeshire border, just under four miles away from Newmarket.
“Lanwades Hall has definitely got the ‘wow’ factor,” concluded Jock. “The approach up the quarter-mile, tree-lined avenue is second-to-none.”
He added: “On turning into the gravel frontage, the impact of the magnificent facade is truly wonderful.”
jackson-stops.co.uk