A GRADE ll listed house built with a steep history, from being built for a five-time mayor to being divided into flats and then occupied by a tutorial school, is now on the market.
The Pagoda House, in St. James Lane, was built in 1848 for Richard Andrews, the five-times mayor of Southampton, known as the town’s own Dick Whittington. Andrews rose from humble origins to become one of the wealthiest men in the south of England.
Andrews built himself this extraordinary house in the Chinese style, seen as unique, flamboyant, a tour de for ce and whilst out of step with the architectural movement or fashion at the time, it was believed to be in keeping with Andrews’ extravagant nature. Andrews, who entered politics late in life entertained some of the most influential political figures on the continent at The Pagoda House, including the Italian revolutionary Giuseppe Garibaldi and leading Polish dissident Count Czariski.
The Pagoda House was bought by Winchester City Council in the mid 1930s. The property was then subdivided into three flats and occupied at some time by Water Board employees. This unsympathetic conversion was reversed in 1973 when the Bucknall-Hitchin Tutorial School occupied the building, and it returned to domestic use in the late 1970s.
The Pagoda House went through two ownerships before being purchased by the current owners in 2001, their significant and exacting restoration programme involved structural repairs that focused on floors and balconies, internal alterations and the reinstatement of missing or decayed original details. The work carried out was given a Design Award by the City of Winchester Trust in 2007.
The magnificent Pagoda House offers elegant and beautifully presented accommodation over three floors extending in all to in excess of 5,000 sq ft.
The property is perched on West Hill with a southerly aspect offering accommodation both internally and externally that fully embrace this wonderful position with far-reaching open views over the city to St Catherine’s Hill in the distance.
This most distinctive property features a delightful trelliswork balcony that wraps around the front aspect of the house connecting an open conservatory with the orangery and running the full width of the property. It is one of the most recognisable properties in Winchester, a landmark house of great historical provenance.
There are too many period features to mention; every room has significant character, and each is finished to the same exacting standard.
The property is on the market for £2,950,000. For more information and to arrange a viewing, contact Savills, Winchester, on 01962 460041.
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