Handsome and striking, with plenty of room to accommodate visiting relatives, Pride and Prejudice’s Mr Bingley would have found all he was looking for and more in Pengethley Manor, should Herefordshire have been his destination.

Ledbury Reporter:

This beautiful Grade II-listed Georgian house in Sellack, near Ross on Wye, displays all the values beloved of those living during the 18th and early 19th centuries, including a symmetrical design, high ceilings and sash windows, which let in plenty of light.

The property has 13 acres of grounds, including vineyards and a heated outdoor swimming pool, and looks out over National Trust parkland and beyond to fields owned by the Duchy of Cornwall, both as safe an assurance as any that the view is unlikely to be compromised in the future.

The main house has 11 bedrooms, along several spacious rooms on the ground floor. In addition there are two further buildings offering a number of apartments. In total Pengethley Manor has 28 bedrooms, which means there’s scope for it to be used as a hotel or wedding venue, or simply as a wonderful family home in a glorious setting. Business use for the property is in place and there’s planning permission for it to be used as a residence as well.

Ledbury Reporter:

Pengethley Manor’s history can be traced back to 1583, when the estate was purchased by a John Powell. A devastating fire in the early 19th century caused much of the old house to burn down, after which the then owners, the Powell Symonds family, built a new one on the site. Thomas Powell Symonds served as an MP for Hereford between 1806 and 1819.

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The estate remained in the hands of the Symonds family until 1947, after which it was converted into a hotel. In recent years it’s been a popular spot for short term holiday stays.

Ledbury Reporter:

The vineyard was planted in 1993 and has gone on to produce grapes used to make some celebrated wines.

The description ‘classically elegant’ sums up the feel of the main house, with its beautiful period features such as tall windows, high ceilings and decorative coving.

The front door, with its expansive fanlight, leads to a beautiful reception hall with tiled flooring and wooden panelling on the walls. This leads to the inner hallway, which has exposed floorboards and an impressive staircase to the first floor.

Ledbury Reporter:

The lounge, situated at the front of the house, has a stunning outlook to the front of the property and an open fireplace, while the games room has doors leading outside to the rear gardens and is the ideal place for guests to unwind.

There is a large dining room that’s separated from the library by a set of folding panel doors that can be opened up to create an even bigger space.

Other significant spaces on the ground floor include a double home office, a home cinema room/conference room served by a 900mb high speed internet connection, a games room and commercial-style kitchen . There’s also a roomy cellar, perfect for storing wine made from the vineyards.

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All the bedrooms in the main house have recently furbished en suites and many enjoy stunning views over the surrounding countryside. Four bedrooms lie to the rear wing.

Ledbury Reporter:

Next to the main house, with a separate front courtyard and parking area, are The Old Stables, which consists of four units and has period features such as exposed beams and floorboards, alongside stylish contemporary kitchens and bathrooms. Hentland House offers a further six bedrooms, all with en suite facilities.

The grounds of the property offers a wonderful array of garden styles and spaces for practical use. There are several acres of gently rolling lawns to the front, offering stunning views to the west over National Trust parkland and the Herefordshire countryside beyond.

Ledbury Reporter:

The 12m x 6m heated swimming pool is the perfect spot to enjoy the warmer months. Close by is a garden chess board and hot tub.

The vineyard is enclosed by beautiful old red brick walls. Grapes produced here have in the past been sent to the Three Choirs Vineyard near Newent.

A large parking area with space for a couple of dozen vehicles lies to the north of the main house. A sweeping driveway with views to the left hand side leads to the house and provides a wonderful first impression of the property.

The current owners of Pengethley Manor, Steve and Rhoda Worrallo, are selling the property for family reasons and say they will be sad to leave it.

Estate agent Patrick Downey from Fine & Country’s Hereford branch, which is marketing Pengethley Manor with a guide price of £3m, says large houses surrounded by unspoilt countryside but close to a thriving market town are few and far between.

“Pengethley Manor is a beautiful historic home,” he said. “It has a long history and is looking for new owners to take it into the future.”