Huntington Hall
Serenely seated along an avenue belted in sycamores, discover the delights of Huntington Hall. Set upon 5 ½ acres of land, this private haven offers country comforts combined with city convenience and comes complete with its own swimming pool, tennis court, paddock and lake. Could this become your island paradise on the cusp of Chester’s hustle and bustle?

Pull off the main road and sense the separation from the rest of the world, passing beneath the cocooning boughs of the sycamore grove before arriving at the secure electric gated entrance to Huntington Hall, a prestigious home dating back to 1670.

Beyond, a circular driveway, providing visitor parking, sweeps around the front of this centuries-old manor house, once part of the Huntington Estate. A second set of secure electric gates leads to an inner courtyard, where is found more ample parking alongside a new double garage with electric doors.

Making your way to the main entrance, marvel at the serenity of your surrounds; birdsong heralds your arrival home, whilst traditional planting provides a welcoming committee of fragrance and texture in the rambling roses and billowing wisteria accentuating the walls, above neatly trimmed topiary balls.

Tiled underfoot, a portico provides shelter by the robust, original front door.

Welcome home.

Step into the lobby, where light flows in through a leaded window to the front and from the modern spotlighting above. Beyond glass-panelled wooden doors, the entrance hall, with its impressive solid oak staircase gives cause to pause for breath. Underfoot, original parquet flooring has been revitalised and restored; stripped back, re-stained and polished to a gleaming finish.

A heritage home with great bones, in recent years its owners have restored it to a new level of splendour. Broad and bright, views extend to a second staircase, whilst a piano sits comfortably to one side of the imposing stone fireplace, primed to provide evening entertainment for guests.

Travertine lines the floor in the cloakroom on the left, whilst a characterful vanity unit built by local firm The Cheshire Furniture Company contains a large wash basin with tap mounted within the iridescent mosaic tiled wall. Part tiled to the lower walls, this spacious room is filled with light from a window with leafy views; a precursor for the spacious, stylish rooms to come.

Across from the cloakroom, step beneath the ornately carved oak archway into the drawing room. Previously a games room, this room soaks up the late afternoon sunshine, making it the perfect choice for aperitifs before dinner. Oak parquet flooring continues through from the entrance hall, as does the original panelling to the walls, painted a refreshing shade of Farrow & Ball. Evening sunlight enters through French doors to the front whilst a window to the side captures views of the lush garden and lake. In winter the electric stove, nestled within the splendid Arts and Crafts style oak fire surround, adds warmth.

Panoramic views greet you before stepping through the threshold of the capacious sitting room-dining room. Situated next door to the drawing room, two broad bay windows invite you to bask in views over the substantial gardens, out to the lake with its pretty fountain and island connected to ‘the mainland’ by two bridges. Ancient beams overhead are painted in light tones for a modern lift, as wide floorboards extend underfoot, almost Georgian in their proportions.

The ultimate entertaining room, ideal for special occasions, dine beneath the chandelier, views seasoned by the serene and private garden views, before decamping to the sitting room section of this space, where a deep blue feature wall adds depth to the occasion, particularly when accented by candlelight upon the limestone hearth, furnished with a log-burning stove for winter months. In summertime, throw open the doors and flow out onto the extensive patio, where several seating areas allow you to relax and soak up the sunshine.

Across from the sitting-dining room, a passageway leads to a side entrance, secured by a heavy original door with authentic iron key. Underfoot, note the continuation of the wrought iron as it borders the oak parquet flooring, a vestige of the ancient heating systems which would have once operated at Huntington Hall.

Seek sanctuary in the peaceful study on the left, admiring the brass door handle – a motif found throughout the home. With original flooring underfoot, charcoal-toned tactile wallpaper creates a feature to one wall. Ponder the detail in the bespoke double-glazed windows – a feature throughout the home, commissioned to exactly recreate the patterning and leadwork of the original windows at Huntington Hall. Borrowed light flows in through glass bricks above, into the entrance hallway.

OWNER QUOTE: “This home has always had great structure and proportion to it, the bones were always there.”

Opposite, relax in the snug, a cosy room in which to snuggle up on the sofa and unwind with a favourite book. Bookcases fitted by the Cheshire Furniture Company blend seamlessly into the surroundings, whilst the bay window absorbs sunlight for a naturally illuminated, peaceful room, providing views out over the expansive lawn to the barn. Instil toasty cheer in winter by adding a log to the Coalbrookdale wood-burning stove.

OWNER QUOTE: “In this section of the home we’ve taken down walls and moved them to create new rooms and improve the flow.”

From the snug, enter an inner hallway, providing access to a new utility room and separate boot room, with handy everyday access out to the courtyard and parking area.

Hand-painted in the timeless desaturated blue shades of Mylands of London’s Oratory, Cheshire Furniture Company cabinetry provides a plethora of storage in the utility room, also accommodating a large wine chiller and drinks fridge to one side, with plumbing for a washer and dryer aside a deep, curved Belfast sink along another wall. Fitted storage also lies beneath the window seat, in this substantially sized utility, ideal for hiding away all your clutter and cleaning. Glance up to spy the integrated speaker system featured in many of the rooms throughout Huntington Hall.

Moving back through into the inner hall, pass the second staircase, opened up by the current owners to allow light through, as you enter another lobby area to the opposite side. Light and bright, there is easy access out to a seating area on the large patio, where the swimming pool glints sapphire in the sunlight. After a dip, rinse off in the adjacent shower room, another handy installation by the current owners, where a large, walk-in shower contains a drench head and handheld attachment. A wide wash basin features within the Cheshire Furniture Company dresser, whilst underfloor heating warms your toes beneath the Travertine tiles – continuing throughout this newer half of the ground floor.

Sneak a peek at the control room, the technical heart of the home in which all the controls for the music system, Sky, broadband, Apple TV, Ubiquiti ‘floating’ wifi, external lighting and heating controls are housed.

Finally, emerge into the kitchen, the homely hub and sociable centre of Huntington Hall. Modernised and relocated by the current owners, this room has been redesigned to maximise light and views. Overhead, a vaulted ceiling extends up; modern oak beams, perfectly at home in this ancient hall, are embellished by light-harnessing Velux windows.

Naturally flowing in three open-plan areas, a dining table precedes the central island breakfast-bar. The Cheshire Furniture Company deliver once again, with finely fitted, solid wood cabinetry, hand-painted in Farrow & Ball for a sleek, chic finish providing plenty of storage.

Contemporary wall and ceiling lighting retains a balance between greys and whites, whilst French doors to either side amplify the light flow, providing sublime vistas over the swimming pool and lake to one side and over the acres of flat garden to the other side, beyond which, the Cheshire countryside unfurls.

Blending into the sociable breakfast bar, where casual dining and conversation converge, the central island, topped in honed granite and accomplemted by limestone for a practical, luxurious finish, contains a double undermounted sink with grooved drainage, with instant Quooker boiling tap, alongside a Miele induction hob. Beneath, a Miele electric combination oven is set opposite a Total Control cream Aga, controllable remotely for your convenience. In addition to a pantry cupboard (housing kettle, coffee machine and toaster to create clutter free worktops) there is also a full-size fridge and freezer.

Moving through Huntington Hall, sense the smooth transition through time, as formal drawing and dining rooms give way to cosy snug lounges and open-plan, laidback living areas. Huntington Hall is a home that transcends periods, finding its own identity in the now.

Take the rear staircase up to the first floor, noting the continuation of monochrome striped carpet from the central oak staircase in the entrance hall, designed by the iconic Roger Oates.

Emerging on the light, long landing, sneak a peek through the door on the left. Refreshment and relaxation are assured in the spacious, luxurious ensuite to the principal bedroom. Sumptuously sized, a large, bathtub with showerhead attachment sits centrally, allowing you to soak up splendid views over the flower-filled garden, trees and lake as you bathe in the bubbles. Topped in polished granite to complement the surfaces of the Cheshire Furniture Company matching wash basins, which stand to either side of the bathtub, this is elegance at its best. A WC and separate shower cubicle also available. Underfloor heating warms the tiles underfoot.

Wrap up in a towel and step through to the principal bedroom. Bright and bountiful, the room has an airy feel courtesy of its vaulted ceiling and large window framing views of the lake from the bed. Admire the patterns of sunlight through the bespoke fitted windows, the curves and shapes moving over the plush silvery carpet underfoot. With abundant storage by Laurel Farm Kitchens, painted beams, subtle spotlights and integrated speakers also feature overhead, whilst an exposed stone fireplace, painted fresh white, is set above a stone hearth, embellished with the soft glow of candlelight.

OWNER QUOTE: “When in bed you can see the bridges, the fountain and the ducks on the lake.”

Opposite the principal ensuite, a fifth bedroom replaces what was formerly a dressing room, highlighting the versatility of this home. Spacious and light, this bedroom once again accommodates an array of wardrobes and a king bed. Farrow & Ball’s Strong White takes on a delicate grey tone on darker days, lifting to a crisper white in sunlight. Sink your toes into the plush carpet.

Refresh in the family bathroom, where limestone and granite surround the deep bathtub, with showerhead attachment, for a luxurious finish. Underfloor heating provides ambient warmth, whilst views extend from the large, ornately leaded window out over the fields toward Chester. Furnished with vanity unit dresser and wash basin courtesy of The Cheshire Furniture Company, alongside the wash basin there is also a separate shower cubicle, lined in limestone. A WC also features.

Next door, storage and the 300 litre unvented cylinder can be found in the deep linen cupboard on the right, before crossing the landing to peep through to bedroom three.

Plush carpet extends underfoot, padding each step toward the window where ever-changing views extend over the garden, bridge, lake and fountain. Above, another vaulted ceiling amplifies the light, with loft hatch access up into the attic.

Next door, bedroom two mirrors the principal bedroom in proportions, dressed in shades of subtle Farrow and Ball blue-grey and white. Pause at the window to admire the views out over the lake, whilst even more light enters through a window to the front. Throughout the home, the traditional windows have been lovingly and painstakingly replaced with new double-glazing to the highest standard, fitted back into original window frames within new insets and closures. Spy the difference on the two aspects between the wooden and metal frames. It is the subtleties of Huntington Hall which truly distinguish it.

Over the landing, arrive at the most unique of the five bedrooms; bedroom four, whose trio of picture windows with their incredible latticed leadwork frame rolling countryside views over the fields. Light and bright, with a quirky corner fireplace, this bedroom has its own ‘detached’ ensuite next door, discovered down a step on the right.

Amtico with underfloor heating extends underfoot, with modern white metro tiling to the walls. Three tiers of deep, built-in storage are available for towels with a large walk-in shower with drench head and handheld attachment available alongside a WC and wash basin.

Turning right, light spills in through the enormous window on the half landing of the gleaming, French polished oak staircase. A masterpiece of craftsmanship, it is impossible to resist running your hand along the smooth lines of the handrail as you descend, completing the clean and easy flowing circuit of this magnificent home.

Garage, gym and plant room
From the boot room, step outside and sneak a peek at the newly built double garage with two door (electric) access. Open the fire door and discover stairs leading up to a large room, with views extending over both the lake to one side and fields to the opposite side. Currently serving as a gym, this room could be the perfect den for children to spend time with friends, a games room, office or studio. Ample storage is available in the eaves, whilst the room is also served by the same speaker system as the main home.

Behind the garage, peep through to the plant room, concealed behind the tennis courts and containing the Mistral boiler and all the pump facilities for the swimming pool whilst providing additional garden storage.

Lakeside living
Stepping out onto the rear patio, running the length of the home, opportunities to escape into the sunshine are plentiful. Rising behind the swimming pool, the sun tours the garden over the course of the day, providing plenty of opportunities to bask in the heat, before moving over to the other side of the garden.

Cottage garden planting, including alliums and peonies, fills the borders amidst the blossom trees and wending wisteria, ensuring a cascade of colour throughout the spring and summer.

Rustic bridges connect an island in the centre of the lake with the main garden. Home to several species of trees including an impressive pink Hawthorne and two mature weeping willows, whose languid branches skim the water with their fingertips, the island offers another unique element to Huntington Hall.

Pause on the bridges and spy moor hens, ducks and the tell-tale ripples of fifteen or so koi carp who call the lake home. Decorated with waterlilies and a splash of yellow irises, this private lake is as impressive close-up as it is viewed like a watercolour from the bedroom windows.

Gardens surround Huntington Hall, offering different sights, sounds and catering to different moods throughout the day and night.

From the boot room, access the paved courtyard, lined in David Austin Roses, topiary balls and alliums, continuing the English cottage garden feel. To one side of the garage, a peaceful patio is the perfect place for an evening drink, with fantastic views of Huntington Hall.

Extending beyond the driveway, an extensive area of flat lawn stretches, banded by hedging, ideal for a game of rounders or croquet – or perfect your serve in a tennis match on the well-maintained court, concealed behind a mature, well-kept hedge of thick evergreens.

Relax in the evening and soak up the last of the sunshine. A mown pathway leads through the grass, providing a walkway for your daily exercise. Located in this large lawn is a large barn, used as both storage and workshop space. For those with an interest in all things equine, with its acreage and paddock, Huntington Hall is perfect for those looking to keep their own horses or ponies.

OWNER QUOTE: “On a Friday evening we sometimes have a game of rounders on the lawn.”

Convenient, accessible setting
With friendly neighbours, there is a respectful sense of community amongst the nearby homes.

Nestled in the heart of the pretty village of Huntington, on the cusp of Chester city centre and Aldford, there is much to see and do close by.

For families, the educational establishments close by are second to none, with a range of primary, secondary and well-reputed independent schools to choose from. Both Kings, Queens and Abbeygate independent schools are reachable in around ten minutes, with Christleton Primary and High Schools also within ten minutes’ drive.

Visit a museum, take in a show, browse the shops or dine out in Chester, only ten minutes away from Huntington Hall; leave the car in the garage and jump in a taxi. Et Alia at the Red House is a mere three minutes’ drive from the door.

For commuting, you are only minutes from the M53 for links to Liverpool and on via the M56 to Manchester or onto the M6 for the north and south. The mountains of Wales are so easily accessible; Snowdonia National Park can be reached in under an hour and a half, whilst you can be at the gateway to the Lake District, at the foot of Lake Windermere in under two hours.

Get to know your neighbours at the Grosvenor Arms just down the road, whilst the Rake and Pikel is also only minutes down the road. There is even a handy, well-stocked Co-op just moments away from the end of the sweeping driveway.

OWNER QUOTE: “Everything is on your doorstep and so easy. I can’t think of anywhere better to be. Chester is such a safe, small and beautiful city.”

An understated home with natural prestige and breathtaking beauty, step into the embrace of Huntington Hall, a warm and welcoming space in which to make memories that will last a lifetime.