Walnut Bank, Stodday, Lancaster, LA2

Walnut Bank is the kind of country house that makes an immediate and lasting impression. Elegant, imposing and rich in period character, this exceptional home dates from 1837 and occupies a wonderfully private position within the picturesque village of Stodday, surrounded by approximately 1.78 acres of established gardens and mature woodland.

Approached through stone pillars and impressive steel gates, the driveway winds through mature trees before the house gradually reveals itself. There is a wonderful sense of arrival here, the feeling of coming home somewhere that is entirely your own. Beyond the handsome elevations lies a house of remarkable scale and personality, with high ceilings, fireplaces, timber detailing, stained glass and beautifully proportioned rooms, all thoughtfully brought together by the current owners to create a sophisticated yet genuinely comfortable country home.

What makes Walnut Bank particularly special is the way the house continually engages with its surroundings. Views across the gardens are captured from so many parts of the property, from the principal reception rooms and orangery to the bedrooms and, rather wonderfully, even from the bath. The grounds are not simply an attractive backdrop, they form an integral part of the experience of living here, changing character with the seasons and providing a constant sense of greenery, privacy and space.

The accommodation is substantial, with five bedrooms, three bathrooms, an exceptional collection of reception spaces and a generous lower ground floor offering considerable additional versatility. Outside, the mature gardens, woodland, former stable range, extensive garaging and storage create a property with all the ingredients of a true country lifestyle.

Ground Floor

The approach to the house is wonderfully theatrical, with stone steps rising to the part-glazed arched entrance. The porch immediately introduces the quality of the property, with attractive tiling and high ceilings, before a further glazed door opens into the impressive entrance hall.

The hall is an elegant introduction to the house, with an attractive staircase, panelled detailing and a sense of volume that immediately communicates the scale and heritage of the property. From here, the ground floor unfolds naturally, with a series of reception rooms that offer both formality and intimacy, while repeatedly drawing the eye towards the gardens beyond.

The dining room is an atmospheric space for entertaining, with an open fire providing a natural focal point and a window seat positioned to take advantage of the outlook across the gardens. It is easy to imagine long lunches here, with the changing seasons providing an ever-changing backdrop beyond the windows.

The reception accommodation is exceptionally versatile. The main sitting room has a handsome marble-surround fireplace and an incorporated bar area, creating a particularly inviting setting for an evening by the fire. French doors lead through to the orangery, where the gardens come dramatically into view.

The formal lounge is a further beautifully proportioned reception space, flooded with natural light and again centred around an impressive open fire. Its connection to the orangery creates a lovely sequence of spaces, allowing the house to open out towards the gardens when entertaining while retaining a sense of warmth and intimacy during quieter moments.

The study is altogether more private, with distinctive turret-style stained-glass windows, timber panelling and timber flooring. It is a room with genuine character and would make an inspiring home office, reading room or place to retreat from the main flow of the house.

At the heart of Walnut Bank is the kitchen and adjoining reception space, arguably the room that best captures how the property works for modern country living.

The kitchen is beautifully integrated into a much larger sociable space, with granite work surfaces, extensive cabinetry and a central island incorporating an induction hob. The electric Aga provides a traditional country-house focal point, while an integrated coffee machine and provision for an American-style fridge freezer add modern practicality.

Beyond the kitchen, the generous reception area accommodates both informal dining and comfortable seating, making this an ideal space for everyday family life as well as entertaining. Patio doors open directly onto the gardens, allowing the room to flow naturally outside during warmer months.

Here, the garden becomes part of the room. Views extend across the lawns and established planting, creating an unusually strong connection between the interior and exterior. Whether enjoying breakfast, entertaining friends or simply sitting with a coffee, there is always something beyond the glass to draw the eye.

A substantial boot room and boiler house sit towards the rear, providing the practical support expected of a genuine country property. With ample space for outdoor clothing, boots and equipment, together with the biomass boiler, this is particularly well suited to the demands of country living.

First Floor

The first floor continues the generous proportions and individuality of the house, with five bedrooms and three bathrooms.

The principal bedroom is an especially appealing retreat, with a feature fireplace, attractive views over the front gardens and a generous walk-in wardrobe. Its en-suite is beautifully appointed with a double-ended bath, walk-in shower, wash basin and WC.

The positioning of the principal bedroom and its balcony doors creates an especially lovely relationship with the grounds. There is a sense of looking out over the estate rather than simply looking out of a bedroom window, with the established gardens providing privacy and greenery immediately beyond.

The second bedroom enjoys a similarly attractive outlook to the front and combines part timber-panelled walls, a feature fireplace and fitted wardrobes. Its en-suite includes a chrome double-ended bath with shower fitting, wash basin, WC and heated towel rail.

There are three further bedrooms, one with its own walk-in wardrobe, providing excellent flexibility for family and guests.

The family bathroom is perhaps one of the property's most memorable spaces.

A feature fireplace, separate walk-in shower and beautifully proportioned double-ended bath create an indulgent bathroom setting, but it is the position of the bath and the outlook beyond that really sets this room apart. From the bath, the gardens unfold through the window, giving an unusually peaceful view across the established grounds.

It is a simple pleasure, but one that speaks volumes about Walnut Bank, this is a house where the gardens have been considered as part of the living experience. Bathing here becomes less about looking into a conventional bathroom and more about pausing to enjoy the changing landscape outside: mature trees, lawns, planting and the shifting light across the grounds.

Across the first floor, the views continue to provide a recurring theme. The rooms benefit from the property's elevated relationship with its gardens, while the mature planting ensures privacy and a sense of being surrounded by nature.

Lower Ground Floor

The lower ground floor provides a significant amount of additional accommodation and storage, currently arranged across five rooms.

A wine store and library create an appealing foundation for the property's more leisurely pursuits, while the remaining rooms offer considerable flexibility. The current arrangement includes space suitable for a gym or yoga studio, together with further storage, but the possibilities are extensive.

This level could readily adapt to suit the next owner's interests, from wellness and exercise to a home cinema, games room, extensive hobby space, office accommodation or simply the practical storage that a substantial country house demands.

External & Grounds

The grounds are a defining feature of Walnut Bank.

Approximately 1.78 acres surround the house, providing a rare combination of mature woodland, expansive lawn, established planting and beautifully considered garden spaces.

The gardens have been lovingly tended by the present owners and possess the maturity and depth that can only really come with time. Sweeping lawns lead through areas of established planting, while richly stocked herbaceous borders provide colour and interest across the seasons.

Mature British native trees form important areas of woodland and create a wonderfully private setting, while the variety of planting ensures that the views from the house are never static. In spring and summer, the gardens become particularly impressive, with colour, texture and scent drawing the eye from the many rooms that overlook them.

There are numerous vantage points from which to enjoy the grounds. The reception rooms look out across the gardens; the orangery brings them directly into the entertaining spaces; the bedrooms benefit from elevated views, and the bathrooms have been positioned so that even those quieter moments can be accompanied by a view of the landscape.

This is perhaps the greatest pleasure of the property, the garden is experienced from almost everywhere.

The approach is equally impressive. From the road, the private drive passes through mature woodland before reaching the impressive stone pillars and steel gates. It then sweeps towards the house and its large turning circle, providing generous parking and a wonderful first view of the property.

The grounds also retain an interesting equestrian heritage. Previous owners created a ménage and used the former stable buildings for stabling, providing an indication of the versatility of the land and buildings.

Garage & Outbuildings

An extensive L-shaped range of former stable buildings provides substantial garaging and storage.

The buildings have already been adapted from their original stable use, creating an extremely practical ancillary area for vehicles, equipment, workshop use, garden machinery and the many requirements that accompany country-house living.

There is considerable scope to make these buildings work around the lifestyle of the next owner, whether that means keeping extensive vehicle and storage provision, creating workshop or hobby space, or exploring alternative uses subject to the necessary permissions.

A Remarkable Country Home

Walnut Bank has a presence that is difficult to replicate. Its handsome period architecture, generous proportions and established grounds give it a sense of permanence, while the thoughtful improvements made by the current owners have created a home that feels both beautifully considered and entirely comfortable.

There is a particularly lovely rhythm to life here. The gardens are never far from view, whether from the formal reception rooms, the orangery, the kitchen and family spaces or from the bedrooms above. Even the bathrooms have been positioned to make the most of the outlook, with the opportunity to linger in the bath while looking across the mature gardens adding a quietly indulgent quality to everyday life.

Beyond the house, the grounds unfold through lawns, established borders and mature woodland, providing privacy and an ever-changing backdrop throughout the seasons. The former stable buildings and extensive garaging bring a practical dimension, while the sheer amount of space allows the property to accommodate the many different aspects of modern country life.

It is a home for long lunches and evenings around the fire, for muddy boots after a walk through the grounds, for summer days spent between the house and garden and for quieter moments when the only thing to do is look out across the landscape.

Walnut Bank has been carefully nurtured into the country home it is today. It retains the character and individuality of its 1837 origins, but has evolved into a house that is wonderfully suited to contemporary life. A substantial and deeply characterful home, with beautiful gardens, an exceptional sense of space and a setting that allows you to enjoy the simple pleasures of country-house living every day.

Location

Location

Walnut Bank enjoys a particularly appealing position in Stodday, a small and picturesque rural hamlet within the parish of Aldcliffe-with-Stodday, immediately south of Lancaster. The setting has a distinctly countryside character, with open farmland, mature trees and the River Lune landscape nearby, yet the city itself is remarkably accessible. Stodday lies close to the A588 and benefits from being sufficiently tucked away to feel peaceful without becoming isolated.

The immediate surroundings are well suited to those who enjoy an outdoor lifestyle, with the wider Lune landscape providing opportunities for walking, cycling and exploring the countryside. The proximity of the River Lune adds to the appeal of the area, while Ashton Hall, a historic mansion now associated with Lancaster Golf Club, lies nearby.

For everyday amenities, Lancaster is only a short distance away, providing an excellent range of independent and national shops, supermark...

General Information

EPC E
Council Tax Band G
Gas Central Heating
Mains Electric
Mains Water
Freehold

Disclaimer

These particulars are intended as a general guide only and do not form part of any offer or contract. Whilst prepared in good faith, Lune Valley Estates Ltd has not independently verified all information and cannot guarantee its accuracy. All measurements, floor areas, plans, photographs and descriptions are approximate and for marketing purposes only.
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