PALACE House on the outskirts of Bishop's Waltham enjoys stunning gardens and an intriguing medieval history.

The pretty Grade II listed house dates back to the Tudor times, primarily from 1690 with additions in 1840 and in the 1900s. Palace House also owns the freehold to the historic ruins of the adjoining Grade I listed scheduled ancient monument Bishop’s Palace, although its maintenance is the responsibility of English Heritage.

In the Middle Ages, the Bishop’s Palace was one of the finest residences for the Bishops of Winchester.

The house has retained an array of characterful period features, notably in the reception hall with its beautiful panelling and double height arched window. The remainder of the ground floor includes a drawing room, dining room and study, which are all well-proportioned rooms with cornicing, high ceilings and large sash windows, as well as a cloakroom, good sized laundry room and boot room.

Downstairs, on the lower ground floor, is a large, south facing family kitchen with original beams, which opens onto a terrace and the gardens beyond. There is also a sitting room, wine cellar and further cloakroom on this floor.

Four large bedrooms are arranged on the first floor, including a master suite, family bathroom and cloakroom, and there are three bedrooms and two bathrooms on the second floor. There is planning permission in place to reconfigure and extend the first and second floors.

There is also an attached annexe, with sitting room, bedroom, bathroom, kitchen and its own entrance, as well as a former coach house with gym and studio above, a tennis court and swimming pool with pool house.

The grounds and gardens are privately set within a Grade I listed 15th century wall, and form a particular feature of the house. The wall is part of the scheduled ancient monument, and apart from the section between the two gravel driveways, is maintained by English Heritage.

The mature gardens have been beautifully designed and provide a sea of colour from extensive borders, banks of flowers, pergola rose walk and orchard. There is also a kitchen garden, south facing terrace next to the kitchen, front lawn, croquet lawn, large greenhouse, brick potting shed and apple store. In keeping with the history of the house, there is a Grade II listed granary covered in wisteria.

Within the gardens are manmade brick streams built as far back as the 13th century. The river of the Lord was blessed when it ran under a carved bishop’s head in one of the streams before it passed under the house. Another stream along the southern edge was built in about 1275 as an overflow from a neighbouring fishpond and was restored 12 years ago as the centrepiece of a ‘wild garden’ under the guidance of distinguished landscape designer Kim Wilkie.

The property extends to about 9.7 acres including the historic ruins and a four acre paddock.

Steven Moore, head of residential at Savills Winchester, said: “This is a truly charming house with a fascinating history. I love how it is privately set within its attractive wall and yet is only a short walk from the centre of the popular small market town of Bishop’s Waltham.”

Palace House is being marketed by Savills with an asking price of £2,475,000.

For more information, contact Savills Winchester on 01962 841842.