Cross Ash, Abergavenny

Full Details

Step Inside
A wide flight of stone steps lead up to a stone terrace encircled by urns on panelled pedestals; it is believed the original entrance was to the front of the house and when the house was remodelled, was re-positioned to the side. An impressive portico with fluted columns shades the decorative, glazed wooden entrance door which leads to the entrance porch. An attractive Victorian geometric mosaic floor continues to the entrance hall, entered via double doors with stained glass panes believed to portray King Henry V and King Henry VI. Doors lead off to the principal living rooms which include three elegant reception rooms and the kitchen. A bright and contemporary sitting room has a splendid bow window with original shutters offering easterly views over the garden and beyond. There is a cast iron fireplace with marble surround flanked by alcoves with shelving. Along the hall is a generous drawing room with shuttered French windows opening onto stone steps framed by urns on pedestals leading down to the driveway and front lawn. A stone hearth with wooden surround houses a multi-fuel stove. Off the drawing room and accessed through a wooden door with wooded beehive furniture is the study with a shuttered sash window to the side. To the other side of the entrance hall is a very attractive dining room with a vast inglenook fireplace with deep stone lintel and flagstone hearth. A large window to the front has shutters and a window seat – a perfect spot to enjoy the garden views. Off the dining room is a boiler room with storage cupboards, space and plumbing for appliances and glazed door to the rear courtyard. Steps from the dining room lead to an inner hall with a glazed door to the rear courtyard and onto the kitchen/breakfast room which is fitted with a range of light painted, handmade bespoke cupboards with marble work surfaces and complemented by a matching island and painted stone wall. An original arched fireplace houses an ‘Esse’ multi-oven range cooker with 5-ring induction hob, set on flagstones with backlighting and a mantel shelf over. An original rear stone staircase rises to the first floor with small feature ‘witches’ window with deep stone sill and wooden lintel. Adjacent to the kitchen is a useful pantry with shelves and windows to either side, possibly the site of the main entrance to the property before the Regency remodel.

First Floor
At the far end of the entrance hall the main staircase is approached via an attractive, arched opening rising past a quarter landing with stained glass window. Doors lead to a W.C. and separate family bathroom which comprises a contemporary suite, grey metro tiles, glass shelves and a window over the gardens. Along the hall are two large double bedrooms with exposed beams, one with a cast iron fireplace with marble surround and the principal bedroom with a stunning wide bow window with elegant cast-iron balconette and swept canopy roof. At the end of the landing is a dressing room with built-in wardrobes and vanity sink unit. Steps lead to a large, bright inner landing which may have previously been a library, with panelled window seat and wide stain glass window which is believed to depict Socrates, Milton, Prince Hal (Henry V to be), Shakespeare and Chaucer. Off this landing is a double bedroom with cast iron fireplace and stone surround, a single bedroom and another family bathroom with free-standing rolltop bath, modern suite and separate shower. The original rear landing gives access to the back staircase leading down to the kitchen.

Second Floor
A wooden staircase rises from the inner landing to a wooden door which opens to an original confessional room now used as a linen store. The landing has wide wooden floorboards and an opening to substantial roof space and storage. There are two attic bedrooms and a bathroom, each with a small lunette style window and cast iron balconette, all ripe for renovation and decoration.

Step Outside
Graig House is approached from the lane via a metal gate set into stone pillars. The sweeping gravel drive passes the former Coach House and continues to the main house, encircling a large, level lawn. It is edged to one side by a 4m high, 60m long high screen wall and established evergreen trees to the other. The Coach House and attached wall attract a separate Grade II listing status. At the base of the wall is a well-stocked flower bed and an arched doorway near the house gives access to the rear of the property. Wide stone steps lead up to a stone terrace which runs around the house and is interspersed with urns on panelled pillars. This area would once have been covered by a verandah (the original metal fitments are housed in the Coach House). To the front of the house are two flat, lawned terraces of the former upper and lower tennis courts, ideally situated to enjoy views over the surrounding countryside. The upper terrace could be restored to its former glory or could provide a perfect sun terrace or outside seating area. To the rear is a paved courtyard with chimneyed alcove which can be accessed from the kitchen and would provide an ideal barbecue or ‘al fresco’ dining area. A former walled kitchen garden has the remains of a pergola with stone bases, a lovely sunny spot laid to grass and wild flowers. The grounds of circa 5 acres are predominately laid to lawn with rough paddocks interspersed with mature trees including a Chilean Pine (Monkey Puzzle) and Wellingtonia. To the south of the grounds is a ha-ha (in need of restoration) which shields the house from the slope running down to a small valley with pretty meandering stream and affords the house views to the surrounding countryside. There is a long-standing covenant to prevent building on the neighbouring fields to the immediate south and east of the house to ensure the views are protected.

Outbuildings
A second entrance from the road, with specially commissioned wrought iron gate, gives vehicular access to a ‘village’ of stone outbuildings, in various states of disrepair. Although in need of restoration these buildings could, subject to the necessary planning permissions and listed building consent, be converted into separate dwellings or annexed to the main house.

Well House
A Grade II listed Well House on the north side of the lane opposite the house, built of red brick with a tall pyramidal slate roof. A further two-storey stone building consists of several rooms, the first with a huge salting stone on brick pillar base, the second with a similar salting stone and two further storage rooms.

Coach House
A Grade II listed building of red sandstone rubble with a slate roof, thought to have been built in the earlier 19th Century when Graig House was remodelled and attached to the main house via the screen wall. Accessed at the front via wooden doors in the site of the former arched, wagon doorway or via a pair of double wooden doors to the left, and from the rear, to the first floor, via external stone steps. The roof is topped with a weathervane in the form of a cantering horse. Parking for the building could be provided at the rear via the second entrance. In the centre is the former coach stall with flagged floor to the rear, inset bricks to the front and a high level window to the rear. Wooden doors lead to rooms on either side with continuation of the flagged and inset brick floor and remains of horse stalls with wooden boarded sides. The first floor is accessed via external stone steps and to each side are large storage areas. To the front of the building is a large room with wide lunette window with views down to the stream and to the countryside beyond.

Barn, Calf Shed and adjoining buildings
A late medieval stone built ‘cruck’ barn features impressive, original, exposed timbers and corrugated sheet roof. There is a high level window to the rear and evidence of further blocked off windows including an arrow slit window. To the east is a smaller store room with single pitched roof and stone floor. These two rooms are open above a half height wall. To the west is a two storey building consisting of a calf shed with brick stalls and other storage rooms. The second storey is accessible via a roof access from the rear of the furthest storage room. To the front of this building is a cobbled forecourt enclosed by unroofed stone continuation walls.

Workshop and Former Dairy
The workshop is stone built with corrugated sheet roof and a large front opening. The former dairy is also of stone construction with a breeze block wall to the front and a single pitched corrugated sheet roof. Two open doors to the rear into the walled garden.

Location
The village of Cross Ash sits between Abergavenny and Monmouth in an area renowned for its rolling countryside and traditional stone houses. It has a well-regarded primary school and is a short distance from a local garden centre and well known restaurants. Cross Ash lies approximately 9 miles from the historic market town of Abergavenny which has a range of amenities including doctors’, dentists’, high street retailers and individual shops, banks, cinema, library and several supermarkets together with a general hospital. The town hosts numerous events including the annual Food Festival and in the town centre are the remains of a medieval castle housing a small museum. Open air events are held in the castle grounds during the summer. On the outskirts of the town (adjoining the comprehensive school) is a leisure centre with swimming pool. There are good road links for commuting (A40/A449/A465 linking to the M4, M5 and M50) and a mainline railway station. Monmouth has a variety of amenities and an excellent choice of state and independent education is available for pupils of all ages including Monmouth Comprehensive, Haberdashers’ Monmouth School for Girls and Monmouth Boys School. Monmouth provides road connections to the M4 and M5 motorways and the regional centres of Bristol and Cardiff.

Tenure
We are advised the property is freehold.

Services
Mains electricity. Private water supply via a bore hole and private drainage via a septic tank. There is Grade II listed Well House on the north side of the lane. Oil-fired central heating.

Fixtures & Fittings
Unless specifically described in these particulars, all fixtures and fittings are excluded from the sale though may be available by separate negotiation.

Wayleaves, Easements and Rights of Way
The property will be sold subject to and with the benefit of all wayleaves, easements and rights of way whether mentioned in these particulars or not.

Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008
All measurements are approximate and quoted in imperial with metric equivalents and are for general guidance only. Whilst every effort has been made to ensure to accuracy, these sales particulars must not be relied upon. Please note Parrys have not tested any apparatus, equipment, fixtures and fittings or services and, therefore, no guarantee can be given that they are in working order. Internal photographs are reproduced for general information and it must not be inferred that any item shown is included with the property. Contact the numbers listed on the brochure.